Powell Endorses Obama

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright October 19, 2008
All Rights Reserved.                    

      Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell slapped GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the face, endorsing Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Il.).  While somewhat expected, Powell’s announcement throws cold water on McCain’s campaign, only two weeks before Nov. 4.  McCain’s long-shot battle for the White House just got more complicated, after Powell, a decorated Vietnam war hero, former Reagan National Security Advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under former presidents George H.W. Bush nd Bill Clinton and Secretary of State in President George W. Bush’s first term, threw his support to Obama.  Powell expressed some regret over running afoul with the GOP but shared his belief that Obama would make a "transformational" president.  He left no uncertainty about his belief that Barack would make an outstanding commander-in-chief.

            Powell’s endorsement gives the 47-year-old first-term Illinois senator added foreign policy clout.  Considered one of the great military and foreign policy minds in the country, Powell’s endorsement allays remaining doubts about Obama’s readiness to be commander-in-chief.  Powell’s endorsement sent shockwaves through the McCain campaign, whose major selling point involves foreign policy and military experience.  Since the economic meltdown, Obama has seen a steady bump in the polls, proving, if nothing else, that voters don’t trust McCain on the economy.  Republicans scrambled to explain Powell’s endorsement, implying it’s because of race.  Powell denounced such notions giving a detailed account of why he sees Barack as best equipped to deal with the partisan divisions that have left Washington in gridlock, unable to do the people’s business.

            McCain was still smarting from endorsements by the nation’s most prestigious newspapers, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune.  McCain’s running out of time convincing people Obama is unfit for the Oval Office.  Powell directly questioned McCain’s pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, flatly saying she was not qualified to be commander-in-chief.  “She is a very distinguished woman, and she’s to be admired.  But at the same time, now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she’s ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of vice president..  And so that raises some question in my mind as to the judgment that Sen. McCain made,” Powell told NBC's Tom Brokaw on "Meet the Press."  Powell also expressed concerns about the McCain political tactics, tying Barack to former ‘60s radical Bill Ayers or questioning Obama’s Christian faith.

            Powell said he became disheartened watching the McCain campaign get ugly, especially Palin’s attacks about Barack “palling around with terrorists” and questioning whether he was really Christian.  “He’s always been a Christian.  But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?  The answer is no, that’s not America,” said Powell.  “Is there something wrong with a some 7-year-old Muslim-American kid to believe that he or she could be president?” realizing he affiliated himself with a parochial, chauvinistic Party.  Powell still stings from his February 2, 2003 presentation to the U.N. Security Council in which he sold the White House case for war against Saddam Hussein.  Endorsing Obama, a vehement anti-War critic, speaks volumes about Powell’s realization that he did the country a disservice selling Bush’s war.

            Republicans reacted fast-and-furious to Powell’s announcement, containing the damage control that McCain’s best argument against Obama was his “youth and inexperience.”  Powell’s unequivocal endorsement sets record straight about who the four-star general thinks is most qualified to lead the country.  “Well, I’ve always admired and respected Gen. Powell.  We’re longtime friends.  This doesn’t come as a surprise,” McCain said on Fox News Sunday, implying that Powell backed Obama because he’s African American.  McCain would have loved Powell’s support.  He might have gotten it had McCain not picked Palin or gone so negative.  Powell, like Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), ranking member of the Sen. Armed Services Committee, denounced McCain’s choice of Palin, calling it “bad judgment.”  McCain continues to insist that picking Palin was the campaign’s best decision.

            Powell’s endorsement changes the dynamics of the race, forcing McCain to stop attacking Barack’s foreign policy credentials.  Though McCain and Palin’s personal attacks lightened up last week, they’ll be running nonstop between now and the election.  Calling Obama a “socialist” for daring to offer middle-class tax relief shows the no-win situation.  McCain also condems Barack’s heath care plan as socialist, despite the fact that it was widely attacked by former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-Nl.Y.).  McCain knows, but continues to blow smoke, that Hillary’s plan is the single-payor government plan, not Obama’s.  McCain also knows that Barack’s tax plan offers tax-relief to 95% of taxpayers. Powell also endorsed Obama because he believed McCain had no coherent fix for the economy.  Powell sees Obama as a “transformational” figure, giving hope to all.

  John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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