HI
AKOCTOBER 25, 2012 6:16 PM
Why Colin Powell’s Obama endorsement matters
BY DAVID SWERDLICK
Don’t worry, conservatives, I’m well aware that Gen. Colin Powell’s re-endorsement of President Obama probably won’t make much difference on Election Day.
But if you’re wondering why, then, Powell told CBS News this morning that he’s “signed on for a long patrol with President Obama,” the answer is actually simple:
Where else is he going to go?
Powell probably doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Obama on everything, but the general is still a leading indicator that the President is a better choice for centrists than “Old Moderate Mitt”— calling Romney’s foreign policy outlook “a moving target” and questioning Romney’s “plan” to cut taxes while also increasing defense spending.
And as a general, after Monday’s foreign policy debate in which Romney glommed onto Obama’s hawkish war policy while simultaneously serving up pageant-worthy platitudes like “we want a peaceful planet,” there really wasn’t much of a choice for Powell between Obama — who reintroduced the “speak softly and carry a big stick” doctrine — and Romney, whose war stance seems to be “speak one notch louder and carry a stick of as-yet-undetermined size.”
Saying that “I’m a Republican of a more moderate mold and that's something of a dying breed, I'm sorry to say,” today’s GOP is becoming unrecognizable to Powell. His brand of Republicanism fits with the “compassionate conservatism” of George H.W. Bush — the President under whom Powell served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — Mitt’s late father, Michigan Gov. George Romney and Massachusetts Sen. Ed Brooke, the GOP’s last African American to serve as governor or U.S. Senator.
Sticking with Obama is a recognition that Powell’s “Rockefeller” Republicanism — a nod to New York’s 49th governor and the nation’s 41st vice president — finds its analog in the centrist, low-boil approach of Obama far more than Romney the son.
Nothing’s been undertaken by Obama in these last four years that wouldn’t have been undertaken by any of the moderate Republican Presidents — now derided as “RINOs” or Republicans in Name Only — of the last century: Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford and the aforementioned Bush.
And Powell, in public life for 30 years, knows it — whether or not anyone else does.
But if you’re wondering why, then, Powell told CBS News this morning that he’s “signed on for a long patrol with President Obama,” the answer is actually simple:
Where else is he going to go?
Powell probably doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Obama on everything, but the general is still a leading indicator that the President is a better choice for centrists than “Old Moderate Mitt”— calling Romney’s foreign policy outlook “a moving target” and questioning Romney’s “plan” to cut taxes while also increasing defense spending.
And as a general, after Monday’s foreign policy debate in which Romney glommed onto Obama’s hawkish war policy while simultaneously serving up pageant-worthy platitudes like “we want a peaceful planet,” there really wasn’t much of a choice for Powell between Obama — who reintroduced the “speak softly and carry a big stick” doctrine — and Romney, whose war stance seems to be “speak one notch louder and carry a stick of as-yet-undetermined size.”
Saying that “I’m a Republican of a more moderate mold and that's something of a dying breed, I'm sorry to say,” today’s GOP is becoming unrecognizable to Powell. His brand of Republicanism fits with the “compassionate conservatism” of George H.W. Bush — the President under whom Powell served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — Mitt’s late father, Michigan Gov. George Romney and Massachusetts Sen. Ed Brooke, the GOP’s last African American to serve as governor or U.S. Senator.
Sticking with Obama is a recognition that Powell’s “Rockefeller” Republicanism — a nod to New York’s 49th governor and the nation’s 41st vice president — finds its analog in the centrist, low-boil approach of Obama far more than Romney the son.
Nothing’s been undertaken by Obama in these last four years that wouldn’t have been undertaken by any of the moderate Republican Presidents — now derided as “RINOs” or Republicans in Name Only — of the last century: Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Nixon, Ford and the aforementioned Bush.
And Powell, in public life for 30 years, knows it — whether or not anyone else does.
Colin Powell Endorses Obama For President
The Huffington Post | By Luke Johnson Posted: 10/25/2012 7:56 am EDT Updated: 10/25/2012 12:27 pm EDT
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed President Barack Obama for a second term Thursday.
"You know, I voted for him in 2008 and I plan to stick with him in 2012, and I'll be voting for he and Vice President Joe Biden next month," he said on CBS' "This Morning."
Asked whether it was an endorsement, he said, "Yes."
Powell praised the president's handling of the economy and ending of the Iraq War.
"I think we ought to keep on the track we are on," he said.
Powell said he had the "utmost respect" for Mitt Romney, but criticized his tax plan.
He said Romney's foreign policy was a "moving target." "One day he has a certain strong view about staying in Afghanistan, but then on Monday night he agrees with the withdrawal. Same thing in Iraq. On every issue that was discussed on Monday night, Gov. Romney agreed with the president with some nuances. But this is quite a different set of foreign policy views than he had earlier in the campaign."
Powell, a Republican who served in President George W. Bush's first term, backed Obama in 2008. He was frequently mentioned as a potential Republican challenger against Bill Clinton in 1996, but decided against it.
UPDATE: 12:27 p.m. -- President Barack Obama called Powell on Thursday morning to thank him for the endorsement, according to Obama campaign traveling press secretary Jen Psaki. They did not discuss joint appearances. She said they were "very excited" about it and said they “think it sends a strong signal about why [Obama] should be sent back for another four years to be commander in chief.”
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) blasted Powell on Fox News Radio's "Kilmeade & Friends" Thursday morning.
"Well, I’m just saddened because, you know, I used to be a great admirer of Colin Powell. We were friends. I think one of the sad aspects of his career is going to the United Nations Security Council and telling them things about Iraq that were absolutely false," he said.
"Obviously, my view of the situation in Iraq is we’re losing," he continued. "We’re losing what we won thanks to the surge. Al Qaeda is doubled. There’s training camps in Western Iraq. In Afghanistan, all we do is say we’re leaving. Al Qaeda is on the comeback all over northern Africa. They’ve taken over parts of Mali. All I can say is that Gen. Powell, you disappoint us and you have harmed your legacy even further by defending what has clearly been the most feckless foreign policy in my lifetime."
