It's official: Colin Powell endorses Barack Obama

Retired Army Gen. Colin L. Powell, an advisor to the last three Republican presidents, said today that he is crossing party lines to support the Democratic candidate for the White House.

“I think he is a transformational figure … and for that reason, I’ll be voting for Barack Obama,” Powell said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” (We'll publish excerpts from Powell's comments on the jump; click the Read more line to get there.)

“We need a president who will not just continue … basically the policies that we have been following in recent years,” said Powell, who once briefly considered his own run for the 1996 Republican presidential nomination. “We need a president who is a generational change.”

The 71-year-old Powell, who was President Bush’s first secretary of State and served Bush's father as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Ronald Reagan as national security advisor, said he believed that Obama had the style and substance to be successful in the role at a time when America must be better represented and involved on the world stage.   He cited a need to speak to world figures “who we have not been willing to talk to before.”

“This is a time for outreach,” Powell said.

He cited the Illinois senator’s “ability to inspire” and the “inclusive nature of his campaign.”  He said that Obama in recent weeks has “displayed a steadiness” and “showed intellectual vigor” in ...

... addressing issues as diverse as the economy and the selection of his running mate -- Sen. Joe Biden, one of the Senate's leading experts on foreign affairs.

But despite his long friendship with and admiration for the Republican nominee, John McCain, Powell said he was concerned about the Arizona senator's approach to those same two issues. "I found that he was a little unsure as to deal with the economic problems that we were having, and almost every day there was a different approach to the problem," Powell said of McCain.

As for McCain's running-mate choice (Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin), Powell said that "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."

The election of Obama as president, Powell said, would “electrify the country and electrify the world.”

(For another take on the Powell endorsement, see our colleague Frank James over at the Swamp.)

-- Richard B. Schmitt

Photo credit: Associated Press / "Meet the Press," Brendan Smialowski

Excerpts from Colin Powell's comments on NBC's "Meet the Press" Oct. 19, 2008:

BROKAW: In all your years of public service, have you ever seen an incoming president face such daunting challenges?

GEN. POWELL: No. I have seen more difficult times in our history. I think about the early '70s when we were going through Watergate, Spiro Agnew, Nixon period, that was not a good time. But right now we're also facing a very daunting period. And I think the number one issue the president's going to have to deal with is the economy.

That's what the American people are worried about. And, frankly, it's not just an American problem, it's an international problem. We can see how all of these economies are now linked in this globalized system. And I think that'll be number one.

The president will also have to make decisions quickly as to how to deal with Iraq and Afghanistan. And also I think the president has to reach out to 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.

...

BROKAW: General Powell, actually you gave a campaign contribution to Senator McCain. You have met twice at least with Barack Obama. Are you prepared to make a public declaration of which of these two candidates that you're prepared to support?

GEN. POWELL: Yes, but let me lead into it this way. I know both of these individuals very well now. I've known John for 25 years as your setup said. And I've gotten to know Mr. Obama quite well over the past two years. Both of them are distinguished Americans who are patriotic, who are dedicated to the welfare of our country. Either one of them, I think, would be a good president.

I have said to Mr. McCain that I admire all he has done. I have some concerns about the direction that the party has taken in recent years. It has moved more to the right than I would like to see it, but that's a choice the party makes.

And I've said to Mr. Obama, "You have to pass a test of do you have enough experience, and do you bring the judgment to the table that would give us confidence that you would be a good president." And I've watched him over the past two years, frankly, and I've had this conversation with him.

I have especially watched over the last six of seven weeks as both of them have really taken a final exam with respect to this economic crisis that we are in and coming out of the conventions. And I must say that I've gotten a good measure of both.

In the case of Mr. McCain, I found that he was a little unsure as to deal with the economic problems that we were having and almost every day there was a different approach to the problem. And that concerned me, sensing that he didn't have a complete grasp of the economic problems that we had.

And I was also concerned at the selection of Governor Palin. 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 Senator McCain made.

On the Obama side, I watched Mr. Obama and I watched him during this seven-week period. And he displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge and an approach to looking at problems like this and picking a vice president that, I think, is ready to be president on day one.

And also, in not just jumping in and changing every day, but showing intellectual vigor. I think that he has a, a definitive way of doing business that would serve us well.

I also believe that on the Republican side over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party and Mr. McCain has become narrower and narrower.

Mr. Obama, at the same time, has given us a more inclusive, broader reach into the needs and aspirations of our people. He's crossing lines-- ethnic lines, racial lines, generational lines. He's thinking about all villages have values, all towns have values, not just small towns have values.

And I've also been disappointed, frankly, by some of the approaches that Senator McCain has taken recently, or his campaign ads, on issues that are not really central to the problems that the American people are worried about.

This Bill Ayers situation that's been going on for weeks became something of a central point of the campaign. But Mr. McCain says that he's a washed-out terrorist. Well, then, why do we keep talking about him?

And why do we have these robocalls going on around the country trying to suggest that, because of this very, very limited relationship that Senator Obama has had with Mr. Ayers, somehow, Mr. Obama is tainted. What they're trying to connect him to is some kind of terrorist feelings. And I think that's inappropriate.

Now, I understand what politics is all 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. And I look at these kinds of approaches to the campaign and they trouble me.

And the party has moved even further to the right, and Governor Palin has indicated a further rightward shift. I would have difficulty with two more conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, but that's what we'd be looking at in a McCain administration.

I'm also troubled by not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said such things as, "Well, you know that 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 terrorists." This is not the way we should be doing it in America.

I feel strongly about this particular point because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards--Purple Heart, Bronze Star--showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old.

And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life. [For more on this soldier, go here.]

Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourself in this way. And John McCain is as nondiscriminatory as anyone I know. But I'm troubled about the fact that, within the party, we have these kinds of expressions.

So, when I look at all of this and I think back to my Army career, we've got two individuals, either one of them could be a good president. But which is the president that we need now? Which is the individual that serves the needs of the nation for the next period of time?

And I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities--and we have to take that into account--as well as his substance--he has both style and substance--he has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president.

I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into the world-- onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama.

BROKAW: Will you be campaigning for him as well?

GEN. POWELL: I don't plan to. Two weeks left, let them go at each other in the finest tradition. But I will be voting for him.

Comments

[Mia]

And now, let us brace ourselves for the bashing this great hero will receive from his own party - "Traitor, Socialist, Racist" - you name it... Sad, yes. Surprising, no.

Desperate and losing, the GOP will now begin to eat its own.

[Ed]

Someone should endorse McCain for President of Iraq

[MyReligionIsBiggerThanYours]

What did McCain mean when he said he "wasn't surprised" by Powell's endorsement? Is McCain trying to discredit Powell by implying a black guy would naturally vote for another black guy?

[George]

Kiss of death for Obama. And, by the way, this presidency thing for Obama gets more of a racial cause by the day...

[JEB]

Well, thats all I needed to hear. I put alot of faith in Colin Powel.

[Maria]

Not only did Powell endorse Obama, he spoke truthfully about the sad state of the Republican party. Many moderate Republicans and Independents are voting for Obama because the McCain campaign and the Republican party have run the most divisive, hateful, xenophobic campaign we have ever seen. When Obama becomes president he will not only unite the country, but restore our stature in the world. Obama has the wisdom, intelligence and judgement to be an exceptionally good president.

[jabber_wolf]

Yet Obama with almost NO EXPERIENCE...

He is confident in economic plans are are blatantly stupid and destined to fail. Confident in being an idiot is not what a president needs to be. Being cautious and unsure, is more apt for the position.

Powell you are a moron !!

[Cl J]

I can't believe this. Why is that people are overlooking the facts that he used associated himself with people who despised this great country. That says a lot about OBAMA.
Don't you think?

[Phil]

Next he'll say there was no evidence
of WMD!

[dkn]

Colin Powell is a coward.....

[Norm Rourke]

Gen. Powell is a man of integrity and has tremendous respect from Americans. His decision, I'm sure, was not made in haste. He is a man of honor who has served his country well. Unfortunately under Bush II, his talent, expertise and wise counsel was frittered away like almost everything else under GWB. I, like many others, trust his judgement and for all these reasons, he solidifies my choice of Barack Obama over John McCain who, in the waning days of the campaign, is waging a bitter, nasty and divisive effort to become president.

[Tyler Jensen]

No surprise here. Powell obviously regrets being the Bush front man on the WMD intelligence. He spent his political capital then. He's largely irrelevant. This won't change anyone's mind.

[Jim]

Of course...black people will endorse black candidate, that's acceptable. Can that be called racist?

[Richard Hall]

This is no big surprise to me. It was determined when he was considered as a potential VP several years ago that his politics were slightly left of center, thus far to the left of the neo-con Republicans. Now he doesn't have to worry about biting the hand that feeds him. Just the same, I applaud General Powell for being a Republican who is showing good old common sense. That has certainly been rare over the last eight years.

[Greg Jacobs]

Now watch the conservatives headed by FOX and their hit men Hannity and Oreally denigrate Powell. Because even though for the most part much of our problems happened under their watch and much of it because of their chooses whether as a party or individual republicans like executives of the banks,Us chamber of commerce, they can never accept responsibility. It is there MO.

[Benny]

Wow, this is the first time I have heard a powerful and known figure describe the situation and the way things are and should be. We need more American to think like Powell!

[MajKitab]

I want to see how Undecideds and Independents react.

I think this is BIG and the nail in the coffin.

[David]

This is a stunning and overwhelming endorsement of one of the most substantive figures in our country over the past 25 years. This comes from a man who could have been president himself, but chose instead to serve as Secretary of State and was thrown under the bus by the Bush administration. Well, Rove and Co., you've reaped what you sowed.

[Randall Bobbitt]

Wow.. This is a huge blow to McCain...

[Karen]

Thank you Colin Powell. You are a man of great wisdom. To the republicans: we will see your Joe Lieberman and raise you a Colin Powell.

In seriousness, republicans do not fear, we will ALL be OK under Obama

[jebuff]

With the Republican pols getting into formation for a circular firing squad, already slinging blame at each other for this failed campaign, this endorsement just about does it. The fat lady is warming up to sing.

[Bud]

Spin THAT, McCainiacs!

Thanks, General.

[cwmaxson]

Great! It is complete.

[Huckleberry]

LOL, This has nothing to do with a candidate....Its all racial and because he was passed over. I guess he likes terrorist too!

[William Collins, Jr.]

I welcome Mr. Powell's comments concerning the tone of this election campaign's process.

It is truly frightnening to a 69 year old black man such as myself. I am well educated (holding graduate and post gdraduate degrees) and believe that I have been a truly good citizen. My children are equally as well educated and are good citizens. We all contribute to our communites. Never-the-less, I have come to feel recently that all of my hard work counts for nothing.

Maybe our country will come to its senses and use the talents and skills of all of its people at every level.

We have our fringe element just as whites to. Those of us who are rational should not let these people have the public stage without countering them.

Trusting in God,
William Collins, Jr.