Colin Powell Endorses Obama. Again.

[Cutlass]

By Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON | Thu Oct 25, 2012 2:47pm EDT

(Reuters) - Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday endorsed Barack Obama's bid for re-election, citing the Democratic president's efforts to wind down the war in Afghanistan and tackle terrorism as well as an improving U.S. economy.

"I think we ought to keep on the track that we are on," the Republican, who also backed Obama in 2008, told "CBS This Morning." He added, "I voted for him in 2008 and I plan to stick with him in 2012."

The move comes just days after Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney clashed over foreign policy in the third and last presidential debate ahead of the November 6 election.

Polls show Obama and Romney neck and neck. A Reuters/Ipsos online tracking poll gave Romney a 1-point edge on Wednesday, 47 percent to Obama's 46 percent.

Obama welcomed the endorsement at a rally in Richmond, Virginia.

"I was proud and humbled to learn that we have Colin Powell's support in this campaign. I'm grateful to him for his lifetime of service to his country both as a soldier and as a diplomat," he told the crowd.

The president earlier called Powell to thank him, White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One before landing in Virginia, a battleground state where the military vote is important.

In his endorsement, Powell said domestic issues such as the economy, healthcare and education loomed large in his support for a second term for Obama.

"When he took over, the country was in very, very difficult straits, we were in one of the worst recessions we had seen in recent times, close to a depression ... we were in real trouble," Powell said, adding that housing market has started to pick up, the auto industry has recovered and consumer confidence is rising.

"I think generally we've come out of the dive and starting to gain altitude," he said. "I see that we are starting to rise up," he said, but added problems such as unemployment and the housing market still need work.

Powell also criticized Romney's foreign policy as inconsistent and questioned the former Massachusetts governor's ability to address the deficit and looming defense cuts.

"I'm not quite sure which Governor Romney we'd be getting with respect to foreign policy," he told CBS, calling Romney's foreign policy "a moving target."

As for the U.S. budget, he added: "It's essentially, let's cut taxes and compensate for that with other things, but that compensation does not cover all the cuts intended or the expenses associated with defense."

Rest of story HERE


So here we have a man, a Republican, a former top general and Secretary of State, and he believes that Obama is better at Romney at both economics and foreign affairs-military matters.

Nice to see some Republicans still put the country and sanity first.

 

[Takhisis]

Raves thread is that way -->

 

[emzie]

It's obvious he endorsed Obama because Obama is black.

 

[JohnRM]

Everyone else is gonna think the same thing as last time.

EDIT: One post late.

 

[Phrossack]

I wish Powell had been President. He would've been a good one.

 

[GhostWriter16]

Anyone who actually gives an "Endorsement" to either of the two slimeballs from the "Duopoly" should absolutely not be said to be "Putting America first."

 

[Takhisis]

He's a soldier, he kills people, you should be at his feet, Dommy.

 

[Formaldehyde]

I can't wait to hear how a staunch Republican endorsing a socialist Kenyan is partisan politics. That it is because he is "biased" and a "racist".

 

[GhostWriter16]

I'd have had the same comment if "Democrat endorses Romney" was parroted as "Putting America first."

Putting America first is not to vote for the establishment choices. Or at least, if you are going to do so as the lesser of two evils, make sure everyone knows you are aware that you are still voting for someone evil.

 

[Takhisis]

I can't wait to hear how a staunch Republican endorsing a socialist Kenyan is partisan politics. That it is because he is "biased" and a "racist".

You misspelled that. It's 'rasist'.

I'd have had the same comment if "Democrat endorses Romney" was parroted as "Putting America first."

Putting America first is not to vote for the establishment choices. Or at least, if you are going to do so as the lesser of two evils, make sure everyone knows you are aware that you are still voting for someone evil.

'Evil' is subjective. You say Obama's evil, Powell says he's not.

 

[Joecoolyo]

This is good.

I actually like Colin Powell for one. He's a respectable man from the interviews I've seen.

 

[Cutlass]

Anyone who actually gives an "Endorsement" to either of the two slimeballs from the "Duopoly" should absolutely not be said to be "Putting America first."

Because he's picking the best available future for the country.

 

[BvBPL]

It's obvious he endorsed Obama because Obama is black.

Pat Buchanan is Irish so obviously he'll be voting for Obama as well.

 

[GhostWriter16]

Because he's picking the best available future for the country.

Compared to Romney or compared to all other candidates on the ballot?

If the latter you are out of your mind.

If the former... maybe... I guess we'll find out if Romney wins.

 

[Takhisis]

Compared to all the other electable candidates, yes he is the best. Didn't you deride a few of the others as loons anyway?

 

[GhostWriter16]

Compared to all the other electable candidates, yes he is the best. Didn't you deride a few of the others as loons anyway?

I like pretty much all of them better than the main two TBH. Although I don't expect Cutlass to care for the right-leaning ones.

 

[Synobun]

The drawback of a two-party system is that you're better off voting for the lesser evil rather than trying to parade behind a better third party alternative that will never in realistic expectations become a serious contender for the White House.

Obama is better than Romney. That isn't saying Obama is a good President, but he will cause less damage than the man across the room trying to take his place.

 

[emzie]

The drawback of a two-party system is that you're better off voting for the lesser evil rather than trying to parade behind a better third party alternative that will never in realistic expectations become a serious contender for the White House.

Obama is better than Romney. That isn't saying Obama is a good President, but he will cause less damage than the man across the room trying to take his place.

This cynicism is so misplaced. You can argue the same thing in any system of representative democracy.

 

[Synobun]

This cynicism is so misplaced. You can argue the same thing in any system of representative democracy.

Perhaps. I encourage people to make a third party viable well before election season, but if it's two weeks before putting in your ballot and the polls clearly indicate that your third party is going to get nowhere, maybe it would be best to allocate your vote to getting a lesser evil in office rather than essentially wasting your vote and potentially causing a worse candidate to be elected.

I may very well be wrong in having that opinion but I have little hope for both American and Canadian politics when it comes to elections.

 

[Cutlass]

Compared to Romney or compared to all other candidates on the ballot?

If the latter you are out of your mind.

If the former... maybe... I guess we'll find out if Romney wins.

Only 2 have any possible chance of being elected.