Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumbleSun editorial:
Strong praise for Obama
Colin Powell expresses full confidence in the Democratic candidate
Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 | 2:07 a.m.
Colin Powell’s words Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” reflected more than a thoughtful endorsement of Barack Obama. They also reflected sincere doubt about the direction of the Republican Party and strong criticism of John McCain’s ultra-negative campaign.
Coming from someone with Powell’s international reputation, the words carried authority. They put to rest the opposition’s allegations that Obama lacks experience, that he is short on leadership abilities and that his faith and patriotism are areas of concern.
Powell spoke uninterrupted for several minutes, addressing all aspects of Obama’s presidential aspirations. Summing up, he said Obama is a transformational figure representing a new generation coming onto the world stage and onto the American stage. He said Obama has met the standard for being a “successful president, an exceptional president.”
Powell said he decided to vote for Obama only after watching him for the past two years, and watching him intently for the past six or seven weeks as the economy unraveled. He said he had gotten a “good measure” of both candidates during this time, and that it was Obama who had shown the qualities, including “steadiness” and “depth of knowledge,” a president must possess.
A former secretary of state under President George W. Bush, a former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under President George H.W. Bush and a former national security adviser under President Reagan, Powell has the background to judge such qualities.
Although Sen. John McCain is a fellow Republican and a friend of 25 years, Powell criticized his leadership and even his knowledge on the economic meltdown issue. He criticized his choice for vice president, saying he doesn’t believe Sarah Palin is ready to be president. And he was especially critical of McCain’s campaign, which he said is being offensively negative by focusing on false attacks instead of what the American people need to hear.
He also criticized today’s Republican Party for abetting such negativity and for being so “polarizing.”
The safe path for Powell would have been to back McCain. That he so strongly endorsed Obama speaks volumes.
Discussion: comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
No trusted comments have been posted.
Post a comment
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Discussed
- E-mailed
- Photos: Olivia Culpo, 20, of Rhode Island is crowned 2012 Miss USA at Planet Hollywood
- Photos: Derek Hough celebrates 27th birthday at Tabu Ultra Lounge
- More than 43,000 have voted early in Clark County
- Firefighters respond to reports of explosion; find vacant building in flames
- Learning about fans of the Electric Daisy Carnival will help Las Vegas court them long-term
Everything Under the Sun
Blogs
The Kats Report
Las Vegas Philharmonic says search for new music director to begin 'immediately' (1 Comment)
With Shenandoah project stalled, Wayne Newton hits back legally (7 Comments)
Where does a Playmate play when she turns 21? Vegas! (3 Comments)
Ice Ice Billy
The road to six-toed cats and Mayor Bubba
The Kats Report
David Itkin tells L.V. Philharmonic officials he's on his way out (14 Comments)
Diamond Dave sells it well as Van Halen pours out the power at MGM Grand (2 Comments)
Entering debut at Tryst, Nick Hissom is a model for a rapid rise to prominence (3 Comments)
- Locally owned and independent since 1950; Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, best news website in the nation & DuPont Award for broadcast journalism
Looking for Presidential material in Mr Obama.
Mr. Barack Obama's has opinions on many subjects, has been in very few positions in government where his ideas have been put to the test.
This gentleman, whom I regard in high esteem, and who has a Moslem father, is an intellectual, who does not have the practical experience to be Commander in chief or CEO of the United States of America.
This person has one qualification, he can talk, and discuss in a charming manner.
Let him continue his Senate role, in future years, run for top job in America.
Talking and promising, is all very well, it has it's place certainly, but the President of the United States has to consider Congress and the Senate, the golden voice of Senator Barack Obama does not qualify him to move into the White house with disregard for practical experience, not yet attained.
I wish him well in his future endeavors. Advise him to sit out this particular endeavor.
Thoughts for the Voters".
Has he got what it takes ..it will be too late after he is elected, and you desire to change your mind.
He is a Lawyer"
How many years has he practiced law, that career is now at an end.
He appears as a honest person, he has not been in any position as such to be a proven honest
He obtained some experience in State legislature, but for how long.
He can talk that is true, a great communicator, most lawyers are, and he promises much.
But these are just promises, none of which may come to pass.
He appears friendly that also is true, politicians are always friendly till they get elected.
Where is all his political experience, that I do not see. How many years has he had in the Senate.
Where does his experience come from to be knowledgeable about our the economy and our country..
Where does his experience come from to be Commander in Chief of all the Military in USA.
Where has all his campaign money come from. However he knows some people who to say the least, have a reputation that is soiled and associated with people of ill repute..
He is a religious man, but the church he attended appears he should have rejected many years ago, because of his minister.
Been involved with the Weather man a group who attacked America, started his career in this mans living room.
Mr Obama simply puts it down to dirty politics, he was associated with those people, requires investigation before he is elected.
Mr. Colin Powell has highly recommended Obama , great but what has Mr. Obama done to deserve that recommendation, his efforts in the Senate certainly do not..
His promises, he has made many, and fulfilled none, nothing there to deserve a recommendation,
His military career of which he has none.
Be honest, praise from the General does not give Mr Obama experience, he requires to be Commander in Chief of all the Military in the USA.
General Powell and Mr Obama are from the same race.
General is an honest man, race would not influence his judgment.
Colin Powell says it's not about race. Endorsing a man who opposed everything he led. Joe Biden voted against everything Powell led. If a vote against Obama is racist then why isn't an endorsement of someone that is against everything you did not racist in reverse?
Collin Powell had a distinguished career, was respected, and his support to a presidential candidate 10 years ago would have been a plus.
Not anymore. Collin Powell now is a discredited former Secretary of State that was used as an errand boy by Cheney, Rove, and other Bush insiders to fool the American public and facilitate the disastrous war in Iraq. He was never in control of his Department of State, like the legendary John Foster Dulles, and he didn't even have access to the president. He could reach the president only through Ms. Rice -then National Security Advisor. His infamous testimony about Saddam's Weapons of Mass Destruction at the U.N. Security Council, and the
disclosure later that it was all concocted to justify the war, diluted Powell's prior military career reputation, and established him as a meek
play-along bureaucrat to other figures of lesser stature in the Bush Administration.
Then came the ultimate insult. His dismissal by George Bush -even though it was presented publicly as a resignation. That was the end of Collin Powell's distinguished career: an unceremoniously disposed meek and weak Secretary of State.
Powell had no choice but to support Obama. He couldn't have supported the republicans who have
marginalized his prior status by pushing him to support a disastrous against his will, then showing him the door. Bush's public ratings now are about 20%, and Powell's public reputation is reduced to about an equal margin. And that leftover margin is probably hard core republicans that won't benefit Obama. It only makes another good slogan for the Obama campaign due to the Sunday's shows headlines, but, in terms of votes, his endorsement is just an empty bag.
Obama is ahead in the polls because he focus his message on the financial situation that concerns the electorate deeply now. McCain is a shadow of George Bush, and has been trying to win the election by throwing naive bombshells at Obama, as the Bill Eyers association; Joe the poor Plumber who claimed he wanted to buy a plumping company, but actually had no money or a plumbing license to, and now McCain is throwing the sickle and hammer of "socialism" on Obama to slow down his march to victory.
Obama is where he is at the polls on his own, and on John McCain's foolish political strategy. Powell's endorsement this late in the campaign was redundant for Obama, but it only served Powell's effort to rehabilitate himself. Nikos Retsos, retired Pol.Sci. and History professor
Powell waited this long to make sure "his guy"
looked like he would be victor.
I think Powell wants to be on the winning team,
the race issue is a bonus, so, for colin it is
a "two fer".
And to think I once thought Colin Powell was truly an intelligent man - goes to show things aint' always what they appear to be - so sad.
Discredited former Secretary of State Colin Powell's said Obama is a transformational (an act, process, or instance of to change in composition or structure b: to change the outward form or appearance of c: to change in character or condition) figure.
In the most important decision on going to war in Iraq both Biden and Powell supported the war that Obama opposes, but now Obama will lead the fight in Iraq.
Except for moving toward socialism, Obama is not transformational figure.
Barack Obama has said that the Gen. David Petraeus troops in Afghanistan are "air-raiding villages and killing civilians".
Obama has made actionable decisions of:
-disapproving of Gen. David Petraeus,
-disapproving the Petraeus designed Surge operation (because he said it would fail),
-and refused to approve funding for Iraq and Afghanistan.
Does Powell agree with Obama on Gen. David Petraeus? Does Powell agree with Obama to fire Gen. David Petraeus?
Powell made a point of saying he is for the Obama wealth redistribution tax plan. A major move to socialism is transformational.
Powell who is black has said that it is racial bias to think that he would vote for Obama (as are 95% of other blacks).
The former military man said that that a woman is not ready to be president. No reason was given for rejecting a sitting Governor Palin over a half term Senator Obama. Powell refused to talk to Gov. Palin to get a measure of her meddle.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell could not even give John McCain, a friend of 25 year, a courtesy call to discuss policy issues, for elaboration or clarification.
Colin Powell has never recognized that the Obama's campaign has been offensively negative by focusing on false attacks instead of what the American people need to hear.
Colin Powell never recognized the Democratic Party for abetting such negativity and for being so "polarizing.
Except for moving toward socialism, Obama is not a transformational figure.
lol, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol
All of you have lost all semblance of reality.
You have twisted and distorted the facts beyond recognition.
It is time to "click" your heels together and say, "There is no place like home".
lol, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol
To the far right wing, who operate with limited information and an extremely narrow view of the world, it doesn't matter how many generals or war heroes line up behind Sen. Obama. To the extreme right wing, every argument depends on a lie or exaggeration. This is all they have to work with. You can see it right here. If you disagree with their cultish world view, you are discredited. You are just siding with your race. You are a socialist. You are anti-American. This is the greatest threat America faces -- the divisive, power-hungry right wing that controls the White House and who hates the idea of sharing power -- even with moderate Republicans. ESPECIALLY with moderate Republicans, who are after all, anti-American.
Thank you Las Vegas Sun for your thoughtful editorial.
Isn't it mettle, and not meddle? As in I guess Palin's been unmasked by Scooby Doo and the gang, and she says, "I would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling kids."
Seriously, I haven't laughed half so hard in days.
Also... so Powell shouldn't support Obama? And this is because it would be racist for a black man to support the first black candidate? Maybe this is Powell's mea culpa. He knows he was used by the past administration, and wants to make amends and hope we don't repeat the same mistakes.
This entire campaign season boils down to race. A large segment of white Obama supporters are suffering from "white guilt", IMO. Clearly Obama has the black vote based on race (as evidenced by polls among the military).
When it comes time to actually cast a vote, all the closet bigots can vote white in secret but still feel good about having given a black man the chance to be on the ballot.
Jack, they're just spinning out because one of their own, a big one, just defected and endorsed their enemy. That's got to hurt. A lot!
But seriously, what do you expect them to say? They have no choice but to play the "blacks are for blacks" card. It is literally all they have to stave off this devastating blow.
Personally I think Powell told the truth about his reasons. I don't think somebody automatically becomes a liar just because they do something you don't like or say something you disagree with.
If we remember Powell's UN speech, we must conclude that he is:
A) a very good liar
B) a complete fool who was used
Neither of those conclusions provide any reason to attach any weight to his "reasoned" endorsement of Obama.
"This entire campaign season boils down to race. A large segment of white Obama supporters are suffering from "white guilt", IMO. Clearly Obama has the black vote based on race (as evidenced by polls among the military)."
Obama promises 90% of the black vote. Democratics already get 90% of the black vote, lol. Obama adds nothing.
Today, a military polling data came out; McCain, 68% - Obama 23%; 9% undecided.
http://warnewsupdates.blogspot.com/2008/...
xxxx
"When it comes time to actually cast a vote, all the closet bigots can vote white in secret but still feel good about having given a black man the chance to be on the ballot."
Promoting racism to help your black candidate? What a shock? America will have its say - without some ACORN GOON staring you down!
"This entire campaign season boils down to race."
Obama's a political puppy social communist wealth spreader who his VP, Good Ole Joe, says will invite a major international crisis to America. That has nothing to do with race! Never did from the McCain side. It means EVERYTHING from the Obama side.
NVMakz, you left out the most telling part of that poll, blacks in the military overwhelmingly support Obama. There is no other single poll that so glaringly shines the spotlight on the racism present in this campaign that cost Hillary (a much better candidate IMO) the nomination.
Also, if you read my posts you'll see that I am no fan of Obama and am voting for him instead of "none of the above" ONLY because I dislike Sarah Palin more.
Obama is simply a puppet for the DNC, with any luck he'll enough mistakes like Carter did and will be gone in 4 years instead of wating for a second term to really screw us.
Powell's as big of an opportunist as Barry. He's simply covering the bet that was made when his son assumed a high level position in the McCain Campaign.
Is Obama Jesus?
"Is Obama Jesus?"
No, but I bet we're going to be hearing some good arguments for him being the Anti-Christ if he wins. :)