Former Bush Secretary of State General Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama today, abandoning the Republican Party and decrying their “narrow focus” on personal attacks instead of a concentration on the very serious issues facing the country. From MSNBC:
“I don’t believe [Palin] is ready to be president of the United States,” Powell said flatly. By contrast, Obama’s running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, “is ready to be president on day one.”
Powell also said he was “troubled” by Republican personal attacks on Obama, especially false intimations that Obama was Muslim and Republicans’ recent focus on Obama’s alleged connections to William Ayers, the founder of the radical ’60 Weather Underground.
Stressing that Obama was a lifelong Christian, Powell denounced Republican tactics that he said were insulting not only to to Obama but also to Muslims.
“The really right answer is what if he is?” Powell said, praising the contributions of millions of Muslim citizens to American society.
“I look at these kind of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me,” Powell said. “Over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower.”
The hurdle gets a little bit higher for John McCain.
Bill Manzi.com 
Your Honor,
With this prestegious endorsement, millions in the bank, ads flooding the airwaves, thousands attending his speeches, a completly captive media, why isn’t Barack leading by many laps?
Mccain still dogs him. How can that be???
Jules
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Jules,
The lead is more than you expect – the economy is the main reason. Ask your fellow stranger – they all blame it on the President.
Jim
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Your Honor,
I believe that the Colin Powell endorsement of Barack Obama is extremely powerful and says alot about the character of Secretary Powell. He looked very serious on Meet The Press and at times found it difficult to say the things that had to be said. I’ve always admired Colin Powell but even more today. Thank You.
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Uh oh! A clarification to be made: The above named ‘Jim’ is no relation (physical or otherwise) to this Jim.
However, while it is still too soon to tell, there also does not seem to be much dissimilarity between his viewpoint and mine. Cripes Jules, ANOTHER liberal!!!
Jim (the ‘original’).
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Jim (the Original),
I can take on a host of Jims, Jim.
Are you Jims ready for an Obama administration with a super majority congress.
We have a Deval administration with a super majority legislation in Massachusetts. How’s that working for you Jims.
Jules
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Jules,
Like the majority of this country right now, I have faith that Obama has the intellect to surround himself with a cabinet that will set us on the right track. Simply by virtue of who he has chosen to surround himself with just to get through this campaign, McCain has proven time and again that he does not most prominently with his selection of an unknown, unintelligent VP candidate. For crying out loud, you’d think after eight weeks of campaigning that SOMEBODY would have taught her that the VP is not in charge of the Senate…
Jim (the original) 🙂
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