# Colin Powell endorses Obama **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 19, 2008, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636 "2008-10-19T13:25:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/61 "2008-10-19T18:52:50Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > What is shows is that a black person will vote for a black person regardless. I take offense to that. Being black myself I happen to know other black people that aren’t voting for Obama. Also, even though I am voting for Obama are you suggesting that I’m only doing so because I’m black? What, you think I don’t have a mind of my own to consider my choices? My wife is white and she’s voting for Obama. She was going to vote for McCain but changed her mind after Palin. i suppose i should have divorced before she did that. after all, the only reason she’d vote for McCain is because he’s white too. :rolleyes: I guess you think black people are unable to explore the issues and that the only reaon they could be voting for Obama in numbers is because of race. If you’re not thinking that, your post sure doesn’t show it. > [@](#): > > The real question is would Powell have endorsed Hillary? No, would he endorsed Edwards? No, if Obama wasn’t 1/2 black would he endorse him? I really doubt it. I won’t say I know Powell’s mind, but I don’t think thats fair. You don’t know his mind either. You know, maybe he just thought he liked Obama’s actions, ploicies and ideas more. Its not like Colin Powell is hanging with the brothers at the barbershop. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/62 "2008-10-19T18:54:29Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I find it a distrubing trend. Clinton, Gore and Kerry each got about 90% of the black vote. Obama is getting nearly all of it. What is shows is that a black person will vote for a black person regardless. No, that shows that black people vote overwhelmingly Democratic. Clinton, Gore, and Kerry are not black. This is evidence against your point, not for it. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/63 "2008-10-19T18:55:28Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > I find it a distrubing trend. Clinton, Gore and Kerry each got about 90% of the black vote. Obama is getting nearly all of it. What is shows is that a black person will vote for a black person regardless. > > The real question is would Powell have endorsed Hillary? No, would he endorsed Edwards? No, if Obama wasn’t 1/2 black would he endorse him? I really doubt it. > > IF and IF it were true that Powell had no reason to endorse McCain than he simply would’ve said “I’m not making an endorsement.” > > So you see this truly says something. In this country a white person voting for a McCain because he’s white is racist, but a black person voting for Obama because he’s black is NOT a racist. > > Even if it weren’t true, that is still the message that is getting sent. Powell gave money to McCain’s campaign early on, that showed to me that this racist point is bananas. Powell mentioned that one of the main reasons he will not continue to support McCain was McCain’s choice of Palin for VP. There are many reasons other than race to arrive to the conclusion that McCain just does not know how to select people. Many right wing commentators, that put integrity over dogma, have said that in these times it is crucial to have a President that will appoint people to positions of power in a careful way rather than just following their gut. We already had 8 years of that and we for sure do not need more of that. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/64 "2008-10-19T18:59:00Z")
I have to admit Powell spoke remarkably honestly and well in that interview. He was frank, clear, and addressed every point with intelligence and relevance. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/65 "2008-10-19T19:00:27Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > Do you want to know what this post of yours shows me about you? I know what it tells me, but I didn’t say it in my last point. Its not worth the effort. Archie Bunker was the last lovable bigot, and that was a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![IClaudius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c37758/32.png) [@IClaudius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IClaudius)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/66 "2008-10-19T19:08:47Z")
This is pretty despicable. McCain received the endorsement of 5 white former SS, but somehow their endorsement isn’t brought into question as a matter of racial solidarity. It’s ridiculous blather. Powell is the archetypal good soldier who has, if anything, carried too much shit for the Republicans over the years, which contradicted his personal integrity. Why can’t he just be taken as having his own considered individual views, which happen to depart from the current GOP candidate? Why must he be infantilised and dehumanised as a racial identity category? The guy gave express reasons in poignant and careful language - why not actually accept that as given. I thought conservatives were meant to despise the very idea of a collectivisation of racial identity as politics, yet the moment one of their own black moderate conservative bucks the party - hey, he’s a fist pumping, hip-hop dancing black power member. FFS grow up. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/67 "2008-10-19T19:11:41Z")
I’m inclined to see Powell’s “defection” as an indication of how the Republican moderates (all eight of 'em) are reacting to the choice of Sarah “Dingbat” Palin. If McCain had picked a reasonably housebroken ultraconservative to balance the ticket, the moderates would had accepted it as part of the cost of doing business. But Palin was way beyond the pale. Honestly imagining her as president will make one either laugh, cry, or puke. Personally, I can’t even imagine her successfully running a moose jerky stand. ---
**Author:** ![guyblond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@guyblond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guyblond)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/68 "2008-10-19T19:30:00Z")
Folks seem to have differing opinions on how much Powell knew about the run up to the war. But I wonder if he has an idea of the effect that an Obama presidency will have of the chance that some of the current administration members will be looking at possible jail time. Depends on what he knows. Obviously McCain will pardon everyone. I find it interesting that Powell’s endorsement comes after Obama pretty much has the election in the bag. ---
**Author:** ![IClaudius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c37758/32.png) [@IClaudius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IClaudius)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/69 "2008-10-19T19:34:42Z")
> [@guyblond](#): > > Folks seem to have differing opinions on how much Powell knew about the run up to the war. But I wonder if he has an idea of the effect that an Obama presidency will have of the chance that some of the current administration members will be looking at possible jail time. Depends on what he knows. Obviously McCain will pardon everyone. > > I find it interesting that Powell’s endorsement comes after Obama pretty much has the election in the bag. It’s generally poor form to go after evicted political foes, though we can be certain that more abuses will be exposed and investigated. However, it is undeniably true that many administration officials will have to be very careful about where they travel in the future due to their complity in the use of torture etc. Developments in terms of jus cogens norms and the application of CAT under universal jurisdiction in European domestic courts means that they, like Henry Kissinger, will not be able to travel lightly. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/70 "2008-10-19T20:00:03Z")
Watching Powell’s interview with Meet the Press, I am extremely impressed with his presentation and the points that he made. It saddens me that he is becoming a victim of the knee-jerk reactions on the part of the extreme right wing. Here is a man from a top level of authority and experience within the party, making very eloquent and valid points about a candidate that I hope will not be largely disregarded, and will be a wake up call to members of his party. He’s being called a traitor for god’s sake. Very good show. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/71 "2008-10-19T20:05:05Z")
For those of us who missed it this morning, _Meet the Press_ reruns today at 6:00 p.m. eastern time on MSNBC. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/72 "2008-10-19T20:06:20Z")
The clip is all over youtube as well. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/73 "2008-10-19T20:07:41Z")
[Rush speaks.](http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1008/Limbaugh_Where_are_the_inexperienced_white_liberals_Powell_has_endorsed.html) > [@](#): > > Rush Limbaugh said Colin Powell’s decision to get behind Barack Obama appeared to be very much tied to Obama’s status as the first African-American with a chance to become president. > > “Secretary Powell says his endorsement is not about race,” Limbaugh wrote in an e-mail. “OK, fine. I am now researching his past endorsements to see if I can find all the inexperienced, very liberal, white candidates he has endorsed. I’ll let you know what I come up with.” I’m shocked, shocked, I say, to hear this. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/74 "2008-10-19T20:25:10Z")
Actually, I’d like to slightly revise my earlier opinion. While I still believe that the major effect of Powell’s endorsement will simply be to win Obama a positive headline for the next couple of days, denying McCain publicity he desperately needs to reverse the polls right now, I also think that this will have a secondary effect of provoking more racist statements from the Republicans. This is the kind of thing that will kill the GOP’s standing in the long term. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the demographic math just doesn’t favor the Republicans as they currently stand on issues of diversity. It’s becoming increasingly hard to win with just white people. And the kind of moaning and dismissals we’re hearing from the right these days isn’t helping them. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/75 "2008-10-19T20:48:27Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > [Rush speaks.](http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1008/Limbaugh_Where_are_the_inexperienced_white_liberals_Powell_has_endorsed.html)I’m shocked, shocked, I say, to hear this. :rolleyes: Its not like i was unaware of the true colors of Rush’s “dittoheads”. Anyone who takes his inflammatory BS seriously is a moron. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/76 "2008-10-19T21:10:02Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I kind of am okay with this, since it’ll actually correct the general impression of Powell closer to the truth (IMHO.) Again, IMHO, Powell is not the hero he’s made out to be; I think he’s a sycophantic careerist. I hope this wins Obama a vote or two all the same, and suspect it will. Powell white washed My Lai and he gave that horrible speech filled with lies at the UN. He wasted enormous talents. > [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > _ **Great Ceasar’s Ghost!** _ \*Amazing…these same people should be crying “sexism”. Do they think Palin got the nom for VP on her merits? Its because she has tits. She doesn’t have much else. That’s a bit coarse. Palin indeed, does have tits, but was chosen because of her appeal to the base. Her physical attractiveness is part of that. What disqualifies her is that she is not qualified to step in as president because she knows nothing about national or international politics because she has been uninterested in them. ---
**Author:** ![guyblond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@guyblond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guyblond)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/77 "2008-10-19T21:12:13Z")
Sometimes subtle paybacks are a bitch! Powell’s comments seem to be more like a slam of the party than of McCain. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/78 "2008-10-19T21:18:01Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > [Rush speaks.](http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1008/Limbaugh_Where_are_the_inexperienced_white_liberals_Powell_has_endorsed.html)I’m shocked, shocked, I say, to hear this. :rolleyes: Did you read any of the replies to that article? The majority of them were complimentary of Powell and called Limbaugh a bigot. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/79 "2008-10-19T21:21:13Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Powell white washed My Lai and he gave that horrible speech filled with lies at the UN. He wasted enormous talents. > > That’s a bit coarse. Palin indeed, does have tits, but was chosen because of her appeal to the base. Her physical attractiveness is part of that. What disqualifies her is that she is not qualified to step in as president because she knows nothing about national or international politics because she has been uninterested in them. Coarse, maybe. But McCain could have picked plenty of others that do have the qualifications. He picked Palin because he wanted to appeal to women and HRC fans that might swing his way. I will admit that I don’t know what McCain’s thinking processes are. But thats my reading on it. If I’m proven wrong, she is still a horrible choice, just not one made for her gender. But i don’t really think I’m wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Soggy\_Biscuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Soggy\_Biscuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soggy_Biscuit)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2008, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636/80 "2008-10-19T21:23:45Z")
> [@Jolly\_Roger](#): > > Coarse, maybe. But McCain could have picked plenty of others that do have the qualifications. He picked Palin because he wanted to appeal to women and HRC fans that might swing his way. I will admit that I don’t know what McCain’s thinking processes are. But thats my reading on it. If I’m proven wrong, she is still a horrible choice, just not one made for her gender. But i don’t really think I’m wrong. I think her being female was a big factor, but I think the primary reason she was picked was due to her closeness to the fundamentalist protestant right. There were other female politicians who were far more qualified who were passed over because they would not pass the Jerry Falwell litmus test (i.e. Linda Lingle, who was the first Republican governor in a VERY blue state). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/colin-powell-endorses-obama/468636.md?page=5)