John Avlon
Author, Independent Nation: How Centrists Can Change American Politics
This is big – rarely do endorsements matter – but Colin Powell's announcement that he is endorsing Barack Obama for president was a bombshell that will reverberate throughout the last 16 days of this race.
It is not the unprecedented sight of an incumbent administration's former Secretary of State crossing party lines to endorse the opposition's nominee. It is not just that Powell's record of military and government service lends credibility to a candidate whose lack of executive experience and military service is a subject of doubt for many undecideds.
It is that Colin Powell has unparalleled credibility with Independent voters, and his performance on "Meet the Press" today reaffirmed why. He is thoughtful and measured, he puts patriotism and principle ahead of partisanship.
He, like many independents, has wrestled between support for Obama and McCain. He respects them both. He honors McCain's personal and political courage over decades of service. But what ultimately helped push him over to Obama was the selection of Sarah Palin and the negative and divisive tone of the play-to-the-base attacks from the Republican operatives surrounding McCain.
Today, Powell reaffirmed his leadership of the "common sense center" in American politics. Obama will need to keep faith with this constituency to win this election and be the truly "transformational leader" that Powell sees in him.
| Vic |
October 21st, 2008 3:06 am ET Colin Powell was George Bush’s most trusted advisor. He sold the war in Iraq to the American people and the U.N. Selling Barrack Obama should be a “slam dunk”. |
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| Noel Khattary |
October 21st, 2008 10:43 am ET Hi, I am a 33 year old white, American female raised in a southern small town. My husband is Arab-African, raised Muslim. We have 2 beautiful daughters. I was very proud of what Mr. Powell said on Meet The Press in regard to race and ethnicity. My daughters are Arab "American"...that's right, "American" and I want them to understand that they can grow up to be anything they want in this great nation. I must say, it has been an insult to me and my family, each time that someone in either campaign says, Obama is not Muslim, or he's not Arab...he's "Christian"....and NO ONE (not the campaigns, media,etc) has ever said, "SO WHAT IF HE IS" This is a great nation however this undertone of racism on behalf of nearly EVERYONE is shameful. I believe, this is why the rest of the world has such negative feelings towards the U.S.....Americans just don't "get it". We HAVE to wake up, grow up, and get over ourselves, understanding that the world is much bigger than us. |
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