Jon Soltz/VetVoice: Why A Powell Endorsement Would Matter

http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=684765CAD84F2F690FFE945F4790425C?diaryId=2048

Why A Powell Endorsement Would Matter
by: Jon Soltz
Fri Oct 17, 2008 at 15:06:08 PM EDT



If reports are true that Colin Powell will endorse Senator Obama this weekend on Meet the Press, it may be a huge moment that gives a further shot of credibility into the arm of the Obama campaign.

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In short, while we may criticize Powell for not resigning from the administration if he had strong objections to the war, it's clear that he did fight a lot behind the scenes, and he can imply (if not explicitly say) that he would have rather had Barack Obama as President during those months, so we never would have gone to war with Iraq to begin with.

Further, Powell can add a strong voice to some key points that Obama has been making, moving ahead. First and foremost, Powell was one of five former Secretaries of State who said we should open up lines of communication with our enemies, without preconditions, to step up the diplomatic efforts to settle the ongoing strife in the Middle East.

Second, Powell has made clear that talking to Iran and Syria is an urgent component to ending this war in the right and responsible way. Reported The Times of London, "Powell believes that a reduction in US forces will have to be accompanied by talks with Syria and Iran. "You have to talk to the people you dislike most in this dangerous world."

And, of course, all of this doesn't even account for the fact that this is the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs - a man who loves America and loves America's military. For all the smears being hurled about "palling around with terrorists" and "white flag of retreat," nothing can counter that like a Republican former 4-star coming out and saying "This guy loves America as much as me."

opposite. I can see both sides, and I want Obama elected. If Powell helps him, so be it.

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=9182

A Note About Colin Powell...
by: David Sirota
Fri Oct 17, 2008 at 19:00


Just a little note on Colin Powell, who many believe will appear on Meet the Press to endorse Barack Obama this weekend. If this happens, the elite media will be ablaze with stories talking about how awesome and Serious and Respected Colin Powell is. While this propaganda will be good in its short-term benefit to Obama, it will be horrific in the long-term sense of our country's ability to recognize its worst decisions and move forward from them.

Let's just remember: Colin Powell is one of the major reasons we went to war in Iraq. In his 2003 United Nations speech, he perpetrated one of the biggest frauds in the history of international diplomacy - a fraud that, in terms of its blood-and-guts ramifications, dwarfs major scandals like Watergate.

The idea that being endorsed by someone like that is a good thing - well, that logic may fly in the television studios of New York and D.C., but it shouldn't fly anywhere else. A person whose most important legacy is destroying America's international credibility shouldn't be seen as a Serious or Respectable person, nor an asset to any campaign, no matter how many apologists - liberal or conservative - claim that "behind the scenes" Powell was really a good guy. He wasn't a good guy - he was one of the handful of people who quite literally lied us into a war. That the elite media imparts even an ounce of credibility to this dishonest yes-man is not a commentary on Powell's alleged positive attributes. It is a reflection of the elite media's deep disdain for the facts and truth it purports to respect.

who cheered Harry Belafonte when he refered to him as the "whatever" but if his endorsement knocks the fucking wheels off mccainiacs' bullshit expresss then I'm all for it.

It might be an equalizer..and you know if Powell does do it ..he's prepared to be evisreated by john mccain and his fucked up herd.

At the very least, Powell's endorsement is a rejection of McCain, and will be perceived as devastating.