Colin Powell endorses Obama
(CNN) - Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will be voting for Sen. Barack Obama, citing the Democrat's "ability to inspire" and the "inclusive nature of his campaign."
"I think he is a transformational figure, he is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama," Powell said on NBC's "Meet the Press."
Powell said he was concerned about what he characterized as a recent negative turn of Republican candidate Sen. John McCain's campaign, such as the campaign's attempts to tie Obama to former 1960s radical Bill Ayers.
"I think that's inappropriate. I understand what politics is about -- I know how you can go after one another, and that's good. But I think this goes too far, and I think it has made the McCain campaign look a little narrow. It's not what the American people are looking for," he said.
Powell, a retired U.S. general and a Republican, was once seen as a possible presidential candidate himself.
Powell said he has some concerns about the direction of the Republican Party, adding that it has "moved more to the right than I would like to see it." Read a transcript of Powell's remarks
In regard to the financial crisis, which Powell called the candidates' "final exam," Powell said McCain appeared unsteady in dealing with it, while Obama had excelled in handling the situation.
"Obama displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge," Powell said.
"He has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president," he said.
During the campaign, Powell has met with both candidates and said he has a lot of respect for McCain. He said Sunday that he thinks both candidates are qualified to be president.
"It isn't easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that," Powell said.
Speaking on Fox News Sunday, McCain said he respects and admires Powell, and the announcement "doesn't come as a surprise."
"I'm also very pleased to have the endorsement of four former secretaries of state -- Secretaries [Henry] Kissinger, [James] Baker, [Lawrence] Eagleburger, and [Alexander] Haig -- and I'm proud to have the endorsement of well over 200 retired Army generals and admirals," McCain said.
Obama called Powell on Sunday and thanked him for his endorsement, communications director Robert Gibbs said.
In their 10-minute conversation, Obama said he looked forward to taking advantage of Powell's advice in the next two weeks and hopefully over the next four years, Gibbs said.
Powell served as Secretary of State under President Bush from 2001 to 2005.
The possibility of a Powell endorsement has been rumored for several months.
On August 13, Powell's office denied a report on Fox News by commentator Bill Kristol that Powell had decided to publicly back Obama at the Democratic National Convention.
Powell himself brushed off queries on any potential presidential nod but told ABC News in August that he would not be going to Denver, Colorado, for the convention.
Back in February, Powell told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he was weighing an endorsement of a Democratic or independent candidate.
Powell has offered praise for Obama, calling him an "exciting person on the political stage."
"He has energized a lot of people in America," said Powell. "He has energized a lot of people around the world. And so I think he is worth listening to and seeing what he stands for."
The former general, who has largely steered clear of politics since leaving the Bush administration, noted that the next president will need to work to restore America's standing in the world.
Powell gave the keynote address at the Republican National Convention in support of George W. Bush in 2000.
Powell said Sunday that he has no plans to campaign for Obama.
- Re: Colin Powell endorses Obamaposted on 10/20/2008
back-stabling? - Re: Colin Powell endorses Obamaposted on 10/20/2008
鲍威尔一度被认为是麦坎的running mate,此番倒戈一击,应该被共和党开除党籍,至少记大过一次吧?
- Re: Colin Powell endorses Obamaposted on 10/20/2008
鲍威尔入小布什的阁,是他的蠢举,最后搞得谁都不开心。鲍威尔要有所作为,必须在一个温和派共和党内阁或民主党内阁。他支持欧巴马是聪明之举。他当欧巴马内阁的国务卿应该很不错。鲍威尔的选择,连金瑞奇都理解。
选佩林的蠢人,能当美国总统吗?
在美国,党籍比一泡尿还不值。登记选哪个党你就是哪个党的党员了。
- Re: Colin Powell endorses Obamaposted on 10/20/2008
完了,秃邪教的幽默感(或者读幽默的感觉)也没了,劈头盖脸就是一泡尿,活学活用的马桶思维,难怪有人嫌咖啡味道掺假:)) - posted on 10/20/2008
I don't think he will be the sec state. Not in his gene to be high profile in a dem admin.
Watched "W" over the weekend. It's a Greek trajedy that he got tangled up with this crowd. The obedience of being a good soldier ruined his good name.
It was a riot watching Condi in this movie. Stone must be a Pat Oliphant fan. ;-)
touche wrote:
鲍威尔入小布什的阁,是他的蠢举,最后搞得谁都不开心。鲍威尔要有所作为,必须在一个温和派共和党内阁或民主党内阁。他支持欧巴马是聪明之举。他当欧巴马内阁的国务卿应该很不错。鲍威尔的选择,连金瑞奇都理解。
选佩林的蠢人,能当美国总统吗?
在美国,党籍比一泡尿还不值。登记选哪个党你就是哪个党的党员了。
- Re: Colin Powell endorses Obamaposted on 10/20/2008
In the TV news yesterday, Powell was quoted saying in an interview that he was not angling for a position but would do it if offered.
Anyway, both candidates have expressed the intention to bring the best qualified people to fill the cabinet from across the party line. This is certainly a brighter spot.
tar wrote:
I don't think he will be the sec state. Not in his gene to be high profile in a dem admin. - Re: Colin Powell endorses Obamaposted on 10/20/2008
Black for black.
Plus, Powell is angry that McCain did not choose him a VP. - posted on 10/21/2008
How about this: White GOP for black?
+++
Ken Adelman Backing Obama
By Michael D. Shear
First Colin Powell. Now Ken Adelman?
Adelman is the latest Republican foreign-policy heavyweight to endorse Sen. Barack Obama, telling the New Yorker's George Packer that he intends to vote for the Democrat in two weeks.
"When the economic crisis broke, I found John McCain bouncing all over the place. In those first few crisis days, he was impetuous, inconsistent, and imprudent; ending up just plain weird," Adelman wrote, according to Packer. "Having worked with Ronald Reagan for seven years, and been with him in his critical three summits with Gorbachev, I've concluded that that's no way a president can act under pressure."
Adelman was a key part of George Bush's defense agency and has held senior policy positions under Presidents Reagan, Ford and even Nixon. He's a staunch conservative, though he has broken with Vice President Dick Cheney and former Defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld over the handling of the Iraq war.
But he told Packer that Sen. John McCain's pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate was the last straw.
"That decision showed appalling lack of judgment," he wrote in an e-mail, according to Packer. "Not only is Sarah Palin not close to being acceptable in high office -- I would not have hired her for even a mid-level post in the arms-control agency. But that selection
contradicted McCain's main two, and best two, themes for his campaign -- Country First, and experience counts. Neither can he credibly claim, post-Palin pick."
In today's Post-ABC tracking poll, Obama is winning 22 percent of conservatives. That's his best showing yet among these voters, and if the percent holds on Election Day, it would be higher than conservative support for any Democratic nominee since 1980.
Obama also wins 12 percent support among Republicans in the tracking poll -- exactly double Kerry's 2004 Election Day haul.
truth wrote:
Black for black.
Plus, Powell is angry that McCain did not choose him a VP. - Re: Colin Powell endorses Obamaposted on 10/21/2008
Adelman who? Did he ever held minstry level position?
It's the 1st time I heard about his name.
- Re: Bernanke endorses Obamaposted on 10/21/2008
And WSJ predictably smears him for "ingratiating" himself to Obama to keep his job. ;-)
It's quite an amazing sight to see the numbskulls contort out of shape to convince themselves that they don't harbor racism in their inner souls and yet the venom keeps oozing out of all their pores. - Re: Colin Powell endorses Obamaposted on 10/25/2008
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