Colin Powell endorses Obama, says Palin unqualified, defends Muslim-Americans

It was not a great surprise that retired four-star Gen. Colin Powell, the first secretary of State in George W. Bush's administration, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president today.

He had served in several Republican administrations — as a national security adviser in the Reagan White House, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the first President Bush during the Gulf War. But after leaving government in 2004, Powell and his wife, Alma, formed America's Promise, an organization dedicated to helping children from all socioeconomic groups. So it was not unimaginable that he would prefer a candidate who advocates more spending for education, healthcare reform and tax cuts for the middle class, over his friend of 25 years, Republican John McCain.

And maybe it's not even a surprise that Powell, whose reputation was tarnished by his support for the war in Iraq with his vigorous claim to the United Nations that Iraq's Saddam Hussein was harboring weapons of mass destruction, would embrace the antiwar Obama. On NBC's "Meet the Press," he even endorsed Obama's call for diplomatic outreach to countries like Iran and North Korea, saying:

We have managed to convey to the world that we are more unilateral than we really are. The new president is going to have to fix the reputation that we've left with the rest of the world ... and show that there is a new president, a new administration that is looking forward to working with our friends and allies. And in my judgment, also willing to talk to people who we have not been willing to talk to before. Because this is a time for outreach.

But it was a surprise — at least to our ears — to hear the 71-year-old Powell so roundly declare that Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was not qualified to be president of the United States.

She's 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 the vice president. And so that raised some question in my mind as to the judgment that Sen. McCain made.

And it was also a surprise — and a refreshing one at that — to hear a leading American figure rise in defense of Muslim Americans against stereotypes about their patriotism.

For months, rumors have spread that Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, was a Muslim. In fact, the Illinois senator is a Christian. But Powell is the first high-profile leader to raise a larger question, to wonder what would be disqualifying if Obama were a Muslim American.

Telling the story of a mother at the Arlington Cemetery graveside of her 20-year-old son, Kareem Rashad Sultan Kahn, who died for his country in Iraq, Powell said the "right response" to rumors that Obama is a Muslim is not only to deny them but to expose them as bigoted and un-American.

I'm also troubled by, not what Sen. McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said, such things as, "Well, you that know Mr. Obama is a Muslim." Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a 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's no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some 7-year-old Muslim American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, "He's a Muslim and he might be associated with terrorists." This is not the way we should be doing it in America.

— Johanna Neuman

Photo: Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images

Comments

[Carlo Rivers]

Collin Powell has just released the last and final blow to the McCain campaign. For weeks, the arrogance of the McCain Campaign has only made them sink so low that not even my 5 year old son respects what he considered old. Old not in age but in the rotten ways of politics. Ayers, Robocalls, Sarah Palin's empty sounbites and NOW comes this DECISION and endorsement form Powell. McCain afterall can fool the blind Republicans but not the thinking ones like Powell whose qualification and experience makes mentioning Palin's name very embarrassing to say the least. Im independent. Here's another storty I wanna add to this news. I did not make my decision until after Powell's interview. Like him, I weighed in, I observed not just the words said but the body language of both McCain and Obama, Biden and Palin. I'm working in British Columbia but as an American Im going home to Washington State to cast my ballot. On it I will write "BARACK OBAMA" for President. Its a decision thats easy to make and Im happy for the chance to be heard and counted on election day.

[Rafe]

Colin Powell. Now THERE is the man who should be President!

[Toonces]

If Palin is unqualified, then Nobama is no where near it either. She has more government management experience than Nobama.

Powell has sucked up huge gulps of Nobama's Jim Jones kool aid.

[Margo]

That is the most refreshing statement I have heard in a long time. I am glad that Mr. Powell pointed out that being a Muslim does not make someone un-American and that patriotism is not reserved for white Christians from middle America.

[sbnative]

Powell is correct to state no thinking person should say Obama IS a Muslim... What is omitted is that Obama supported Raila Odinga in Kenya who in turn signed an agreement with radical Muslims to enact Sharia Law. I don't call this reaching out - I call this very scary. THAT is question American citizens need an answer to. But heaven forbid the press do its job! Google it. Odinga Obama. Watch the YouTube videos of what happened when Odinga didn't win, see the ethnic cleansing (murder/rape) that happened until Odinga was GIVEN a post. Obama supported this man (who signed an agreement with radical muslims.) Those are the scary facts. Where is our press???

[fergieinva]

Palin has more executive experience than Obama, Biden AND McCain. And at LEAST as much political experience as Obama. Even Obama seems to realize this and appears to be very defensive about it. Comparing his experience with his presidential campaign to her experience as mayor of "Wasilly" as he calls it, deftly avoiding the fact she has been GOVERNOR of Alaska.

Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xxIU_q-ujk

Judging by how STUPID the general public is, he will likely become our president and we will likely suffer for it.

[fergieinva]

Palin has more executive experience than Obama, Biden AND McCain. And at LEAST as much political experience as Obama. Even Obama seems to realize this and appears to be very defensive about it. Comparing his experience with his presidential campaign to her experience as mayor of "Wasilly" as he calls it, deftly avoiding the fact she has been GOVERNOR of Alaska.

Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xxIU_q-ujk

Judging by how STUPID the general public is, he will likely become our president and we will likely suffer for it.

[Steve Barry]

Colin Powell knew the evidence he was presenting to the UN was false, but he went ahead and presented it anyway. There is no escaping that, he was wrong and he knows it.

[Vincent Douglass]

I commend the General for explaining his real views of the world since he is no longer tethered to the Republican party. He is a loyal man and I am sure that his loyalty caused him many sleepless nights. Now he can breathe and be loyal to this country and all its inhabitants first.

[dkn999]

Its too bad that Colin was such a coward.....and thank God he was replaced for our sack and for the sack of the Iraq people.

I think all of our young people need to be worried about what Obama will bring for them if elected. Our service man and women will start dropping and will not volunteer anymore because why support a country when Obama does not believe in America or our service people.

Once our volunteer service people start dropping out .....then guess what will come.....Yes young people....DRAFT.....be ready you are next

It is somewhat of a shock to me that there are no vitriolic postings about this story. I have always admired Colin Powell as a thinking, well rounded individual even though he chose to work for Republican administrations. Better late than never to recognize the folly of your previous choices.

[Anietie Ukpe]

He is right. Even Palin knows that she is not qualified, but she is hoping against hope for it. She is too petty and always focusing on distractional issues. If she were an Hilary Clinton, that would have been fantastic. But she is not. She is Palin..

[muhairwe kahuuta]

Yes. Colin Powel is on the mark. It is not correct to say every muslim is a terrorist or every terrorist is a muslim. There are loads of good muslims as well as loads of evil christians. It is shocking that religion is being propped up as if it is of essence in the quality of a leder.

[D. Grant Haynes]

One more responsible and intelligent American turns away from the absurd, ill-advised, and desperate ploy that is the McCain-Palin ticket.

Thank you, General Powell.

May Barack Obama win by a landslide on November 4.

The Bush neocons need to cool their heels and lick their wounds for at least eight years as they consider the error of their attempt to destroy a nation for their own selfish agenda.

[dressypink]

I am very proud to be an American today listening to Powell's endorsement. At last this man has begun an effort to right some of the wrongs and lies he had supported or consented to by his silence during the failed Bush presidency. At least the redemption of his image and reputation will begin in earnest. Thanks for being man enough to finally stand up for numerous lies and insults perpetrated by GOP.

We are now expecting other giants like Paul O'neil, Larry Summers, Gen. Shinseki, Gen. Casey, Gen. shoomaker, and so on. They should redeem themselves before, they are weaved into Bush numerous failures. These men were men of honor and very high repute before they went along with Bush failed policies that has destroyed our economy, weakened our military and tarnished our image around the world. They should stand up to be counted before Nov. 4th.

[Liliana]

Hear, hear, Mr. Powell!

[Elayne]

I am glad someone important finally came out in support of Muslim Americans. The Republicans and bigots, have determined that Moslems are persona non gratis. That all Moslems are terrorists. Over the various periods in American history various groups have been discriminated against by white Anglo-Saxon bigots, the Catholic Irish, Japanese, Porto-Recans,etc, etc. Many of the ancestors of these white Anglo-Saxons came here as indentured servants- white slaves. Africans sold their enemies into slavery. So who was the despised person, the ones sold as slaves or the slave sellers and traders?.
However, America is a nation of immigrants. Only the Indians are true Americans. Yet the white Anglo-Saxons immigrant blue-nosed Protestant Americans from Europe discriminate against every other culture who emigrate to the USA looking for a better life, seeking freedom from persecution, etc. Opportunities should be available equally to all of these off springs of emigrants.All of these emigrants are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights, not just the white Anglo-Saxons. It is time the inhabitants of the United States of America act like the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NOT THE DIVIDED STATES OF AMERICA..THIS IS NOT THE DARK AGES ANYMORE,

[John]

Today, I lost all respect for Colin Powell. Shame on him.

[none of your business]

Colin Powell must have always been a RINO. To take revenge on the party in this manner is regretful. It is puzzling to see so-called black conservatives who jettison their beliefs for race. As Kruschev prophesized - the United States will crumble from within. However, even he did not invision the full scope of that fall!

[Chicagoguy]

Finally, one open hearted, unprejudiced, educated, and intelligent American leader showed some guts to stood up, even against his own narrow minded, hate mongered, war benefited, and corrupted army of Islamophobic republican crusaders, to say aloud that ' Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?", as John McCane 'corrected' that illiterate woman's comments at his rely that 'Obama is not trust worthy since he is an Arab', by saying that Obama is not an Arab but 'a decent, family guy',(like as opposed to being a Muslim or an Arab). This is an insult to 4.7 million, peaceful, hard working and patriotic American Muslims, who are not only comprise 1.5% of national population, but contribute to the all the ways of American life, as doctors, lawyers, businessmen, politicians, soldiers and ordinary working people. Are they not true Americans, who, along with every other American, live in peace, work hard with honesty and make sacrifices every day to make this country better and safer for all of us?

[Daisy]

I thought members of our military had better reasoning skills than this. How about some policies that you support ,Mr. Powell? Have you switched over to socialism? Or, are you just afraid of a woman leading the way? I'm not a big fan of McCain, and I don't like Palin very much...but I'll take them over leftist Obama anytime.

[Hussein McCain]

What we need to be concerned about are the white supremacist racist terrorists masquerading as the Alaskan independence party, who's America hating, and violent terrioist followers include Palin's husband and the fact that Palin said that she "shares their vision". We dont need to waste time getting involved in African politics to decide what ticket to support in the USA. Anyone that suggests that is a nut. What we need to be doing is looking at the Palin Klan and the terrorism that it supports right HERE in the USA. In terms of ethnic cleansing, do not forget that the goal of the Alaskan independence Party is to ethnically cleanse Alaska of it's native peoples and their rights to their traditional political rights. NO One is probing this threat to the integrity of the union and the fanatics and terrorists that support it inc the present governor of Alaska. Once Obama is president I am sure a renewed Justice department will be free to probe this cancer in Alaska as well as all the corruption and crime that the republicans have been able to conduct under cover of the Bush administration. This is the real reason why "republicans" are so wont to elect a third term of Bush. To give time and cover to the past 8 years of corruption , mismanagement, crime and mayhem.

[Anna B]

Thank you Colin Powell! You are truly a decent, honorable, and honest man. I am truly appreciative for the more mainstream republicans, such as Powell, who are finally saying "Enough!" to the radical right fringe and trying to take back their party. As Americans, we need to engage in political discourse and take different positions without slandering the other party or telling lies. Although, as a democrat, I have had many differences with Powell's actions in the past, I am truly thankful that he took this stand, and we moved by his announcement/explanation - particularly the parts about our need to reach out to other countries and re-establish ourself internationally, and about the whole generalistic degrading disgusting and irrational fear of Muslims that has pervaded our country. Thank you so much for speaking out on this Powell - it is time that we became a nation where we can respect our fellow country men in spite of these superficial differences or differences of opinion on policy. The wholesale fear tactics employed regarding anyone of the Muslim faith has been one of the most disgusting things of the past disgusting 8 years I am so thankful for Powell on speaking up on this and the other fear tactics of McCain/Palin (and I'm a white middlie class woman - no religious bent myself). We need to heal our nation people. Please vote Obama/Biden '08.

[Ozziet]

I think it is very funny to characterize McCain as "right-wing" and "conservative" and to call Obama a "Socialist and a "leftist." If you actually look at their beliefs and ideologies you will find that they are very close on the spectrum of political belief. A really good exercise for many readers and writers here would be to go to http://www.politcalcompass.org and take the test there. Its a test to measure your belief in certain values- there are no wrong answers. Then compare the results of your test with those of others. Most people in this country are pretty close to the norm, and that includes McCain and Obama. Not me however! I am proudly on the libertarian and leftist side of Gandhi and that's pretty far from the American norm!

[Ray]

It amazes me that there are still some stupid people, yes, stupid people, who do not THINK! They obviously did not truly listen with an open mind to the very cogent and well reasoned conclusion reached by Colin Powell. To those who think that Palin is more qualified than Obama, you obviously do NOT believe in putting country first. To you, that is just a slogan to prevent a black man from becoming president. That speaks to the underlying racism in your own heart. If people were truly being objective, you would conclude that Obama has had the steady hand and has been presidential in our time of crisis and that he does have the intellect and strength of character to steward this ship called the USA. Colin Powell does not agree with Obama about everything, but he is truly willing to put COUNTRY FIRST because it's not just a campaign slogan to him. He realizes that the time is now for the type of great president Obama can be. I know that those cretins who still back McCain-Palin are not able to change and can only continue to tells lies and distort the truth about Obama. Shame on all of the people of that ilk. Get a brain!!