I am guessing that my declaration that no more speculation about Powell’s endorsement would be allowed, led to him be forced into a decision!
Via CNN: Colin Powell endorses Obama. He made the endorsement on MTP this morning.
As I noted yesterday (link above), I figured that Powell would endorse Obama, so I am not surprised. If Powell were not directly associated with the building of the public case for war in Iraq that this endorsement would have had more impact on independents than perhaps it will. Still, I think the endorsement will both lend a bit more credibility to Obama’s run (in terms of the growing notion that he is ready for the office and the very likely winner) and it will diminish McCain a bit, as Powell’s endorsement is one linked to foreign and military policy, and that is still McCain’s main strength in terms of his own self-image and is the one area that he still out-polls Obama.
Regardless of Powell’s association with Iraq and the Bush foreign policy, I think he does maintain a fairly high level of public respect, and so this is clearly a net positive for Obama, even if, like most (if not all) enodorsements, it’s impact will be small.
However, I will say that as it becomes more and more likely that Obama will win, and as he starts to score acceptance from people like Powell and endorsements from significant newspapers which have never endorsed a Democratic candidate before, I expect that things are going to get even nastier, especially from McCain surrogates, as they will start to feel as if their backs are against the wall.
I am curious about how McCain himself will respond. If he really does think that he might lose (and politicians are often the last to know these things), will he seek to lose with grace so as to preserve a certain legacy for himself? Or, will he go down fighting, even if it gets ugly?
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I was an un-decided Voter until today. Colin (cancer)Powells remarks about what is wrong with Jobama if he is a Muslim. Powells idiotic comment pushed my decision to McCain and his classy running mate Palin.
Powell, stay in retirement. You made no sense when you were working.
Yours truly,
An unemployed, struggling Baby Boomer, Don the Salesman. (wish now I would have been a plummer)
Reply to Don Sutton
Comment by Don Sutton — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 10:38 am
I completely understand that we need change, but point blank Senator Obama does not have enough experience he was in senate for 143 days prior to him running for president. I have worked for companies for longer periods with way fewer responsibilities and was not promoted. The keys reason is because there were a lot of people there with more time and more experience. I wonder if this is a concern for others
Reply to Kandi
Comment by Kandi — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 10:47 am
Powell presented faulty intelligence to the world community and persuaded people that we must go to war with Iraq. Is Obama saving a cabinet position for him? Is Powell going to be his political adviser? This endorsement obviously means that Obama = another 8 years of Bush foreign policies.
Obama has promised to increase the size of the army (in his article in Time magazine on 9/11 this year). During the debates, he promised to put more troops in Afghanistan and also threatened heavy incursions into Pakistan. But he will pull us out of Iraq. So, he will start new wars while failing to complete the current one.
Note that things have been going much better in Iraq ever since Powell left the administration.
Reply to Andrew
Comment by Andrew — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 10:50 am
Mr. Powell why did you left White House when you realized you made a terrible mistake about Iraq? So, now you think your opinion count? To some idiots maybe, but to me your endorsement doesn’t mean anything. You are part of failed policy about going to war. I lost all my respect for you.
Just stay home and enjoy your retirement.
Reply to Rosana
Comment by Rosana — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 11:18 am
I will tell you how the GOP will respond, by claiming that Powell’s endorsement is tainted because they are both black.
Check out townhall.com or any other conservative blogs to check it out. It is truly amazing to watch a party get consumed by their slimy underbelly.
Who would want to be associated with the party of demogogs, robocalls and all this “palling around” mess?
It looks like the new approach is going to be calling Obama a communist/marxists/leftist what ever.
Keep telling yourself that you are going to be in the top 1%, you are not. There has been wealth distribution, up to the very wealthy.
The $250,000 number is Net Income, not Gross Income, if you do not know the difference you might want Google it. It is a big difference. If you have $250K of taxable income after deductions, I do not have much sympathy for you. You will have to pay 3% tax more on the incremental income over $250,000. Boo Hoo, someone has to pay for this war.
Reply to Andrew
Comment by Andrew — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 11:29 am
t is unfortunate that McCian did not pick Powell as VP.
Way to hold a grude, play the fence until the the last minute, and then read the polls, Mr Powell.
Yeah, the GOP party has moved to right over the years by picking McCain. McCain is such a righty (not).
Slick Barry has been crossing lines in the last seven weeks. What a surprise.
We talk about Ayers, because barry lied about the extent of his connection. It is question of character. Slick barry has not met any standard for president. He was fast tracked form the far left to the center because he knows how to give a good speech. His plan is to raise taxes on the 5% of american that mostly runs the conutry and turn around and give that tax income away as tax credits…incentivizing the poor and middle only to stay exactly where there are.
Reply to jim
Comment by jim — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 11:38 am
I wonder what Mr. Powell received or will receive for his endorsement of Mr. Obama? I also wonder what Mrs. Clinton is being paid by the Obama Campaign for her endorsement (since she brought up some of the same issues when she ran against Mr. Obama that Mr. McCain has questioned).
I have lost respect for Mr. Powell and Mrs. Clinton. They should not be surprised when Americans vote for John McCain.
Respectfully,
Mary
Reply to Mary
Comment by Mary — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 11:43 am
I do not believe that anyone in there right mind would say that, they may think it but they will not say it. We need to get past peoples colors and look at the facts. Lets face it the candiates will say and do anything to get your votes it is what they do in office that counts.
Reply to Kandi
Comment by Kandi — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 11:45 am
I’m wondering how the folks who back Obama on strong anti-Iraq invasion sentiment are going to feel about this. Powell went before the UN and presented the intel case with great gusto. A lot of Obama people now believe that all of what he said was just plain fabrication, and that he, Dick Cheney, and Bush sat down and made it all up because they were itching for war with Iraq.
I’m not sure that a Powell endorsement will hurt Obama, but I can’t see how it will help him. The irrational minds that believe the case for war was purely fabricated don’t like Powell, and they are a huge voting bloc for Obama.
Reply to Captain D
Comment by Captain D — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 11:55 am
I like how Republicans are willing to throw one of their own ‘under the bus’ (as they like to accuse Obama of doing). Republicans appear more and more like a gang of thugs every day - don’t try to get out of the organization, or you will be brutally attacked for your traitorous act! “When you’re a Jet you’re a Jet all the way, from your first cigarette to your last dying day!”
The reactions here by Republicans were shockingly predictable (to steal from Time).
Reply to Dean
Comment by Dean — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 12:05 pm
American is still a racist contury. It is interesting to see all the black people support/endorse black candidate no matter poor or rich, male or femal, democrats or republicans. Have you seem any black politicians, commentators to praise McCain and/or criticize Obama on CNN, NBC, and CBS? I didn’t see. Black vote on color, White vote on issues. To me, as a foreigner living in US, both candidates will be great president in history, and black is more racist than white on this election. God bless America.
Reply to Gao
Comment by Gao — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 12:24 pm
I have to agree with Gao, I to have not seen any black newcast anchors or anyone in power of color say anything about his lack of experience. Does Senator Obama seem to good to be true, then he probably is. The race issues is not just of caucasian decent.
Reply to Sue
Comment by Sue — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 12:33 pm
I love the racism charge when African-Americans vote for ‘their own’. So, let’s investigate this a bit…
No AA in the history of America has ever voted for an AA for President. Or, to turn it around - virtually every AA that has voted in the entire history of this country has voted for a white man.
On the other hand, no white person has ever voted for an AA for President. Ever. So, which race is more racist?
Now, before people go off waving their arms around, this was tongue-in-cheek. It was an illustration of how stupid this so-called ‘reasoning’ is. For whatever it is worth, I know several AA who will be voting for McCain.
Hey - did you know that most Republicans vote for a Republican? *gasp* That’s political discrimination!!! (yes, the same can be said of Democrats).
Reply to Dean
Comment by Dean — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 12:33 pm
Well I am going to go out on a limb and say they have never voted for an AA because there has never been an AA who has ran for President.
Reply to Sue
Comment by Sue — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 12:36 pm
I am a Democrate does that make me vote for a democrate during each Presidetial election not hardly. I try to vote for the best canidate. I have many times voted for republicans because of the facts. (except for Bush1 and Bush 2)
Reply to Kandi
Comment by Kandi — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 12:40 pm
I know that reason is very hard for most people. Let me try this again…
There is a logical fallacy known as ‘false dilemma’, which means you come to a conclusion by restricting the possible reasons. “African-Americans vote for Obama because he is black, which is racist”. This precludes the fact that there could be many reasons why an AA would vote for Obama. Certainly *some* AA are racist, but some are not. Can we conversely say that any AA who does *not* vote for Obama is a racist? That would be ludicrous, of course.
People vote for the person they believe will represent their values best. Often, they base their belief on superficial attributes - their ‘feelings’. If a Latino were running for President, I suspect a large percentage of Latinos would vote for him/her. A lot of women voted for Hillary.
Now, people will say ‘but not a lot of women support Palin’, which is true. But, there are *some* women who support her *only* because she is a woman. What if she also had more universal appeal because of her demeanor and her policies? If she were getting 95% of female support, would these women suddenly be sexist?
Barack Obama appeals to at least 50% of the population in general, either because he is a Democrat, because he is articulate and intelligent, or whatever. He appeals to most Democrats, and if I remember correctly, the AA population is skewed fairly heavily towards the ‘left’. Therefore, it stands to reason he will have significan support amongst the AA community. If you throw in another 10% to 20% for ‘racism’ (meaning, just because he is AA), one could very easily see how he could get to 95% support amongst African-Americans.
It would not surprise me if a study showed that 10% to 20% of the white population were voting against Obama because he is black. The point being - I agree that racism is not restricted to only one race, but it also isn’t the reason why Obama is where he is… I believe that the racists essentially cancel each other out.
Reply to Dean
Comment by Dean — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 1:00 pm
I believe the sincerity of the endorsement of Powell. He is endorsing Obama not because he is black but because he has the character, the wisdom and the knowledge of how to lead US during this time of crisis. I agreed when Powell said Obama is a steady candidate. Obama does not panic or easily get angry when he is placed in uncomfortable situations. Obama does not change faces or results to rudeness especially in front of millions of people watching. Obama acted and communicated what he believes with conviction .
On the other hand , Mc Cain showed a lot of rudenss, weakness and stubborness all along the campaign period. His own campaign team doesn’t seem to have unity among themselves. Mc Cain will say something on his speeches, the other members of his team will say another thing contradictory to that of Mc Cain. A mere example is the campaign advertisements. Mc Cain during the 3rd debate acted as if he is clean of dirty campaign and he gets hurt when he hears of below the belt campaign ads. Doesn’t he hear his own VP saying improper things about Obama and Biden. What about the telephone campaign in his honor? It is either he cannot control his people on how to run his campaign or he is being dishonest on this issue. Are there other issues he is lying about? He also seems to forget what he said in his speeches. Sometimes, when he talks of the same issue, he contradicts himself. Either he doesn’t know or he forgets.
Anyway, voting is the right of each one of us to vote the right candidate…… and I say the RIGHT candidate. So if you believe that whom you are voting is the Wrong one, the one that will not provide a future for your childre and your childre’s children. you’re not yet late. You still have 15 days to CHANGE. And on the 16th day, do waht is right.
Reply to sylvia
Comment by sylvia — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 1:16 pm
Well, Dr. Taylor this endorsement blew the wheels out from under my logic driven belief that Powell would choose McCain. And you proved the dangers of running on ’speculation’.
While I admittedly lost some respect for Powell under Bush after he willingly caved in to an ideology driven few - for which I regularly attack leaders of my own party - this has renewed my appreciation of him. Primarily because of the courage it must have taken, as a military leader, to stand up against his Commander in Chief.
A true military hero is one who does disclaim an order, when he thinks it’s morally necessary to do so for the sake of his men.
It’s just that lack of courage in our own government, the courage to do the right thing, that’s been missing from both parties. And is exactly the one trait needed the most and that I value the most.
That man, that lone black man that bucked the ideology driven advice of both parties and walked into Idaho to talk face to face about what troubles them their country had more courage than all of our current leader put together - with the exception of Chuck Hagel.
Obama won my support on that day.
And I sincerely hope he names Chuck Hagel as his new Secretary of Defense, for precisely the same reasons.
Reply to hazmaq
Comment by hazmaq — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 1:17 pm
Colin Powell has taken his courage to new heights with this endorsement. In spite of the criticism that he will receive from the extremists of the republican party… he dared to use the word INTELLECTUAL!!…Powell went on to publicly endorse a democrat. But not any democrat and not any Black candidate but one who has the qualities that he has been able to assess firsthand in an open-minded process of his own.
It is sad that McCain’s campaign generates fear of thoughtfulness, deliberation and inclusiveness. McCain has shown himself as one not capable of leading his party and following his worst moral instincts.
He was not enough of a maverick to stand up to those telling him Palin should be his running mate instead of following his own counsel. He should have been the one to define the tone and direction of his campaign. Like Bush, he chooses to invoke fear to manipulate the masses. I only pray that this does not work.
Reply to Barbara
Comment by Barbara — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 1:19 pm
“And you proved the dangers of running on ’speculation’.” I forgot to add that you’re pretty wise for a smart guy.
Reply to hazmaq
Comment by hazmaq — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 1:55 pm
It is particularly telling that the only attack the McCain supporters have against Powell’s endorsement is yet more personal character attacks. Powell gave a very intelligent, detailed reasoning why he came to his decision. He does like John McCain and he really blames the party for his inability to support the Republicans. He only cites McCain’s selection of Palin as a running mate as the one flaw he has seen that he would attribute to McCain himself and he probably recognizes that the party probably had a role in that as well.
In the end his selection is an intelligent, well thought out one. There may have been a time when a McCain/Palin ticket would have made sense, but that time is not now. Barack Obama is what America needs now to really cross the threshold into the new century. America needs to leave behind the emotion-driven, nationalistic, racist culture of 20th century America. Should Obama win on Nov. 4th, America as a whole will have a reason to celebrate. If McCain wins, only a small portion will.
Reply to Greg
Comment by Greg — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 2:05 pm
Hazmaq–thanks for the kind words.
Reply to Dr. Steven Taylor
Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 2:10 pm
“Why of course the people don’t want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don’t want war: neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”
- Hermann Goehring
——————————————————————————–
“Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar.”
- Julius Caesar
Reply to jon, Huntsville, AL
Comment by jon, Huntsville, AL — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 2:14 pm
Mr.Powell, I sincerely question your judgement,especially since you were a major contributor to the weakness of our defense intellegence. I challenge you or anyone else reading this comment and especially “PoliBlog” to approve this comment so that the following two simple questions can be answered:
(1) What is the name of the Physician / Nurse, who delivered Mr. Obama in Hawaii and the hospital?
(2) Why was a forged birth certificate document (short form) put on the Obama Website as a real document, when forensic document experts determined it to be false? If you dispute these facts then permit these examiners to view (long form in Hawaii) it in front of independent observers for our central florida voters, only if you believe this document to be real!
Reply to Vic S.
Comment by Vic S. — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 2:38 pm
Sigh. Are we back to the birth certificate nonsense? Go here.
Reply to Gg
Comment by Gg — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 2:50 pm
WHAT IS HAPPENING WAS MY QUESTION??? WHY ARE WE CHRISTIANS
SETTLING AND NOT ISSUING A BATTLE CRY, FALLING TO OUR KNEES AND
TAKING OUR COUNTRY BACK?
WE ALLOWED OURSELVES TO BE STRIPPED OF THE RIGHT TO PRAY AT SCHOOL
FUNCTIONS AND IN SCHOOL. WE HAVE HAD THE 10 COMMANDMENTS REMOVED
FROM ALL GOVERNMENT PLACES. WE ARE TOLD THAT WE CANNOT PRAY TO
OUR GOD, ALL THE WHILE PROVIDING PUBLIC PRAYER PLACES FOR
MUSLIMS.
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? WHY ARE WE BEING APATHETIC?
WHY AREN’T WE PRAYING? OUR GOD IS A MIGHTY GOD WHO IS WAITING
PATIENTLY FOR US TO RAISE OUR VOICES TO HEAVEN TO STOP THE TIDE OF
THE ANTI-CHRIST ACTIONS IN OUR WORLD TODAY. NOW WE FIND WE HAVE
A CHARISMATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT WHO DOES NOT RESPECT OUR FLAG
AND REFUSES TO WEAR ONE ON HIS LAPEL, EXCEPT WHEN IT BECOMES
POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT. WE HAVE A CANDIDATE WHOSE OWN PASTOR, AND A
WIFE THAT HE LOVES, PROFESS TO HAVE EXTREMELY STRONG ANTI-WHITE
FEELINGS. IN GOD WE TRUST AND GOD BLESS US ALL, FOR WE WILL CERTAINLY NEED IT.
Reply to Kandi
Comment by Kandi — Sunday, October 19, 2025 @ 8:10 pm
Dr Taylor, thank you for the post and for the chance to comment. I think it was a brave decision by Mr Powell. It’s a shame that people have slammed him here for his mistake in Iraq. My view is people can make mistakes but if they learn from it, if they have the courage to rise above it, then that person can’t be all bad. Powell knows he voted for Iraq and that Obama is against it….so knowing that, he still endorsed Obama? Why? Because even with that fundamental difference, he still sees Obama to be a better candidate for presidency than McCain. He sees Obama as a better leader.Is that unfair or unimaginable?? I think not.
I’m shocked to see the anger expressed here by some Obama haters (it’s not clear if they are actually McCain supporters cos they just concentrate on attacking Obama). Let me point out one thing: All the accusations hurled at Obama are basically based on his ASSOCIATIONS. is there ever anything negative attributed to just Obama himself or his family? Can anyone prove he has done any ‘bad deed’? Whereas with McCain (and his wife) and Palin, the problems lie in THEIR OWN ACTIONS. i.e. McCain’s Keating 5 contribution and Palin’s troopergate investigation. How can double standards apply???
Republican supports, please don’t implode!
Reply to Chamika
Comment by Chamika — Monday, October 20, 2025 @ 12:36 am
Kandi, please don’t use all caps. it’s distracting. i am sure we all here can read regular print. surely u can make your point without all caps? thanks!
Reply to Chamika
Comment by Chamika — Monday, October 20, 2025 @ 12:42 am
Chamika,
I apologize for using all caps. You say that people learn from their mistakes, yet you bring up Mr. McCains as well as Sarah Palins. I suspect you do not feel that they learned from their mistakes. Senator Obama has made mistakes either on his own or through his associations. If you are going to bring up mistakes, voting for the Iraq war that is a huge mistake and once made u cannot be taken it back. The lives lost and the money spent, The soldiers and civilians that lost their lives cannot be brought back. Mr. Powell should have viewed his doubts in the beginning not after it started. He knew what was going on. you need to view both sides not one.
Reply to Kandi
Comment by Kandi — Monday, October 20, 2025 @ 5:44 am
I agree with Hazmag and Dean. Their comments were well thought our and presented. Just like Mr Powell, who Took time and thought about his decision, and gave good concrete reasons for his decision. This is what we all need to do and leave race out of it. Vote on November 4th for the canidate who you feel will best represent you and your need.
Reply to Ray
Comment by Ray — Monday, October 20, 2025 @ 6:29 am
[...] endorsement of Obama by Powell led me to make the following prediction yesterday: I will say that as it becomes more and more likely that Obama will win, and as he starts to score [...]
Reply to PoliBlog (TM): A Rough Draft of my Thoughts » Race and the Powell Endorsement (and Some other Thoughts)
Pingback by PoliBlog (TM): A Rough Draft of my Thoughts » Race and the Powell Endorsement (and Some other Thoughts) — Monday, October 20, 2025 @ 7:03 am
[...] endorsement of Obama by Powell led me to make the following prediction yesterday: I will say that as it becomes more and more likely that Obama will win, and as he starts to score [...]
Reply to PoliBlog (TM): A Rough Draft of my Thoughts » Race and the Powell Endorsement (and Some other Thoughts)
Pingback by PoliBlog (TM): A Rough Draft of my Thoughts » Race and the Powell Endorsement (and Some other Thoughts) — Monday, October 20, 2025 @ 7:03 am