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

[Robert Donnelly]

Thank you Secretary Powell for arcticulating the reasons why you could not vote for McCain. What astounds me is how many people in this great country don't understand your arguments. McCain is a fine man, but he has evidently surrounded himself with some really horrid advisors. His campaign seems to be in tatters. As for Obama's lack of experience, we might all reivew the resumes of some of our greatest presidents- Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln- to find that experience was the least of their qualifications.

Robert Donnelly
Montclair NJ

[Roy in Vegas]

I'm sure there is going to be all kinds of commotion from people saying this is to do with race...I'm sure the reoublican party (and Sarah Plain especially) will forget that Powell was speaking positively on behalf of Alaska senator (R) Ted Stevens. I guess that doesnt mean anything.

The man is a fountainhead of integrity and respect. I think an endorsement from him represents a full house. Ante up for the next hand...(Sorry, being from Las Vegas, I could not resist the gambler comment, Hee!)

[crazysupporter]

I laugh at you people. You all liked Powell when he was sucking up to Bush Jr. and doing the dirty work of the administration, you loved it when he came out as a Republican, you liked him as a soldier, but all he has to do is not endorse Another White Man With No Plan, and suddenly you turn on him.

Bush blew out the deficit, got us in a war we didn't need, failed to kill Bin Laden (hey his family pals around with the bin Ladens, and the Saudi fundamentalists who are muslim and hate america, look it up) and the GOP congress was full of corrupt congressional leaders who are indicted, or were chasing interns and pages.

Barry can't do any worse. Just because you are so angry your side is now the side of pathetic PC lies, pathetic whining, and manufactured outrage over silly stuff while you can't speak to the issues is your problem. You're just like what liberals were like in the 80s against Reagan. BOO HOO HOO for YOU!

[Archie haase]

Powell and his son need to go away! Who cares what he thinks?

[Marc]

Don't be retarded people! Colin is very intelligent you can hear in the way he speaks Colin has thought hard about who would be better president and I feel the same way. McCain ran a horrible campaign and Obama ran a flawless campaign and managed to avoid telling lies about McCain. It's very interesting to hear Colin's perceptive of the Ayers and other lies that have been told. Anyone who thinks Colin picked Obama because he is black, well then you are retarded and you are a sheep who buys into all this McCain propaganda. McCain Hothead with no clear plan!!! Obama very cool, calm and who has an obvious better plan for America then the Bush Clone!!!

[Bud]

Wow, did you read the transcript of the whole thing? Powell really told it just like it is. Great stuff, I always did like that guy.

MICHELLE 2016

[Ted]

I believe Powell doesn't know which end is up. I recall he was involved in which intelligence to use in the run-up to the Iraq war. Remember him using the wheels on mobile labs Saddam was suppose to be employing? Colin helped make the decisions then, as now I believe he doesn't use common sense. He is as much responsible for the bad intelligence as anyone else, because he chose which to use.

[WZ]

A very thoughtful, carefully constructed endorsement crafted by a well respected, intelligent man based on tangible, concrete evidence presented by the McCain campaign. Republicans like myself are painfully reminded that the party has been hijacked by a group of individual who believe that if we dont stand with them and devalue the currency that our ideals (equality/respect/ freedom of thought etc). McCain has lost this campaign because of his choice in VP/ various choices in message. This country belongs to all of us not just to teh people that has been reference to by pallin, she ahs really hurt this campiagn. Thank you Noonan, Kristol and others who have seen through the haze and focused on the true mismanagement of this campaign.

[Marc]

Colin did not vote because he is black if that was the reason he would have just said I vote for Obama. Instead he gave a very intelligent and obvious distinction between the two and has thought hard on WHY! He has a reason people and it's not because he is Black!!!

Watch the video again if you are confused on the reason why he picked Obama.

It's sad so many of you are narrow minded.

[annmarie]

One of the intelligent Republicans left. I am concerned where this party is going and I am glad someone spoke about it! I am voting Democrat until Republicans change their ways.

[Klaw]

Powell's endorsement is based on one factor and one factor only. RACE. Everyone knows it.

Powell and Obama share NOTHING in common politically. The only reason Powell endorsed Obama is because he would have caught holy hell from his black brethren if he had endorsed the white man.

[sultan]

Powell knew from the first day Obama announced that
he will have his endorcement.
Sultan

[aj]

I'm sure Colin Powell made his decision in good conscience, but he was wrong when he endorsed Bush- Cheney and he's wrong again. He obviously believes what Obama says and If I believed him, I might vote for him too. Hollywood likes Obama because he's a great actor.
Colin Powell complained about Republicans accussing Obama of being Muslum and made a good point in saying that even if he was it shouldn't matter to anyone; however, Obama had every opportunity to say that himself & hasn't. Instead his campaign asked the woman with headscarfs to move so as to not be in the picture. Does that represent standing with American Muslums if they face discrimination as he writes in his book he would do? Would he have apologized to them if the press didn't jump all over it? Obama gives a speech about uniting people but attended a church that preaches separatismfor 20 years. He says he can't disown his pastor and then does just that three days later. What about his pledge to accept public funds for his campaign and then renegging. These are important character issues and in each instance he has done what benefited him and his campaign at the moment. Colin Powell is right, Obama is smart, has a depth of knowledge, leadership skills and is inspiring. All of that is great if the person possessing those attributes can be trusted to not put their own personal agenda first. If they can't be trusted to do that, those attributes can be very dangerous.

[David T]

To all you people who accused Colin Powell of lying when he went before the United Nations, you have to know that he was lied to and used by the administration for which he worked because they knew he was the only administration official with the ethos to convince the world that Iraq did pose a threat to the United States and the rest of the world. One of the reasons he didn't serve a second term as Secretary of State is because whenever he would provide his solid advice/dissent to the Bush Administration, they would freeze him out of the conversation or simply not answer his phone calls.

All you hateful, swift-boating Republicans would be singing his praise right now if he had endorsed Jon McCain.

Keep on hating, and we'll elect who will be one of the greatest presidents in American History. I cannot wait for the celebration to begin on Obama's inauguration day.

[Charlesh]

This is so sad. This man has served the last 3 Republican presidents, and as soon as he endorses a democrat, the Republican commenters say things like "Of course the black man will vote for a black candidate" and "Obama has no experience and will ruin this country". Do you think these EXPERTS are ignorant idiots who haven't examined Obama's policies closely and decided they are superior to McCains? The man is going to change our lives for the better.

[Akibu Tiwalade]

I am a keen watcher of the US presidential campaign. The truth is many countries of the world would buy an Obama if they can. An Obama black or white is what many countries of the world are looking for. Collin Powel made an informed choice.

[Ricky]

I think this was a tough choice for Powell. He is a black military man, a centrist Republican, and some naturally expected him to fall into the McCain camp because of that. And he might very well have, except that McCain couldn't act very presidential in a crisis. That was one major reason why Powell came out for Obama.

It's not just "black for black".
It could've been "military for military".

Let's face it, Obama's the better candidate this time around.

Obama/Biden 2008

[M. J. Bee]

While Mr. Powell's endorsement comes as no surprise to conservatives; there's something else here that comes as no surprise... The obvious hypocrisy of the Anti-American socialists in this country.

Now that Powelll has decided to endorse Obama - the liberals praise and embrace him. But, not so long ago, as a member of the military and while working in republican administrations, these same socialists were quick to call him an Uncle Tom, a sell-out and "the house N-----". (The latter by his own race)

The mainstream press will obviously overlook the obvious here - never shedding light on those who called Mr. Powell names, nor will they discuss the quotes from Mr. Powell regarding the likes of the radical he's just endorsed.

While I certainly disagree with Powell's decision, he's an American who has the freedom to do so thanks to those who preceeded him in the battle for our freedom and those who now are engaged to keep it.

Like Powell, I'm a veteran. Unlike Powell, I won't let race shame or influence me into voting for a candidate who is certainly ill-equipped to handle the highest political office in this country.

Should Barack Obama be elected President, I will be in constant fear for the security of our country and the safety of my family.

[David T]

AJ,

Thank you for repeating what Sarah Palin and Jon McCain have been saying incessantly for the last, um, forever. If I wanted to hear any more of their talking points, I would turn on Fox News.

[Tom]

The racism coming out in the comments against Gen. Powell is truly heartbreaking. If you disagree with his opinion, that's fine. However, if you can't defend your ideas and positions with anything other than thinly disguised hate, it does nothing else than show how vacuous your positions and ideas truly are.

[RDW]

As a white male, I am HORRIFIED by the remarks that are coming from a lot of (what I would assume to be) other white citizens. As someone who was born and raised in Chicago, I've constantly been around diverse people all of my life; however, as I have just moved to Colorado recently to pursue a Ph.D. program, I have interacted with many white voters who have not tried to interact with minorities and, because of the lack of interaction, are far more ignorant about issues of diversity than the day is long. EVERYONE - including white people - need to be cognizant of their own power and privilege that they inately have - whether it be race, gender, socio-economic status, or something else. The GOP has turned this - at certain points - into a racial divide. As Colin Powell indicated, would it be wrong for a young Muslim-American child to believe that one day he/she could be able to be President of the USA? If this REALLY is a free country, then I challenge those of the (racial) majority - including myself - to re-think structures of power and who it seeks to serve.

Additionally, Barack Obama is beyond intelligent. He holds degrees from excellent institutions of higher education, and he has held the position of lecturer at the University of Chicago for a number of years - which is no small feat. Right now, this country needs better educated - not priviliged - leaders who will give American people the hope and direction that has been absent for the past eight years.

Obama/Biden - 2008!

[Who Cares?]

Who Cares? There have been several prominent Democratic defections to McCain -- remember Joe Lieberman? Oh that's right, Joe's a traitor; while Colin is a hero. Nonsense. Colin Powell is irrelevant. Look at the candidates' proposed policies and not their endorsements.

Obama's policies will wreck the country for generations. In that sense, it's true when Powell says Obamas is transgenerational. With his tax policies our great great great great granschildren will be servicing not a 10 trillion dollar debt, but at least twice that four years from now.

Ignore the pundits, the commendators, the endorsers and all their ilk, and make an informed vote based on reading what these candidates stand for. The operative word is the last sentence is "read."

[Moby]

It is so heartening to see a person of Collin Powell's stature, reaching across the party line and saying what's right!

His comments about the 20 year old Muslim soldier who died protecting USA and 7 year old Muslim American kid who dreams of becoming an American president, capture the spirit of change that we need in this country. USA is a land of equality, opportunity and justice. By stereotyping Arabs or Muslims as terrorists, we sow the seeds of segregation and hatred.

[dennis austin]

Wow .... I loved that comment about how the republican party has moved so far to the right...C'mon Colin ....
It is now a done deal ,the left wing liberals can start abortion clinics ,marriage chapels for gays ,and gun check-ins at a 7-11 store
near you .
And that will be just for starters ....
Thanks GW for being so far to the right ,the middle class is now discharged ... And it's not honorable either....

Now if we could get a response from George Soros that would help us all feel better too ! The 40 million dollars he's dumped in the last few years is
finally paying off ...And during these tough times (supposedly the toughest time since the great depression) Obama has spent 500 Million dollars and counting ...
Raise the French flag and drink whats left of the Kool-Aid ...
Salute

[Daniel B.]

I am grossed out by the (I dont know what to call them at this point- conservatives, republicans, ....) reaction to the Powell support. Instead of being level headed and listening to what he said- which is more than obvous- this country is in a mess, domestically and internatinally- and we need a cool, level headed, well informed (Harvard Law- you do not get there by being ill informed by the way) leader.
And all this group of disgruntled used up Bush supporters can come up with is that this is racial?? Even George H.W. Bush admin people have off the record said that Obama would be a better choice. McCain is irresponsible. How can you attack your opponent about being unqualified (Harvard Law, State Senate, US Senate..hmmm seems pretty qualified to me)... and turn around and pick... Sara Palin, who is not only far less qualified, but .....nobody knew her or knows her and now there are unfair rumors about her- but because she refuses to sit down and answer questions about the Alaska Ind. party and all that suff.
McCain is unpredictable, and that is definitely not what we need now. He is a bit beyond that, but lets just leave it at that....