Powell took a good look at what Republicans have become and he really doesn't like what he sees.

[ProSense]

October 19, 2008

POWELL, REDUX....

After his "Meet the Press" appearance, during which he endorsed Barack Obama, Colin Powell stopped to answer reporters' questions outside the studio. As it happens, his remarks were nearly as interesting after the program as they were during.

Powell was asked about relentless negativity of the McCain campaign, and Powell made no effort to hide his disappointment. Perhaps most importantly, Powell noted that the constant right-wing efforts to a) falsely label Obama as a Muslim; and b) make "Muslim" some kind of slur, not only undermines national unity, but also damages America's standing in the world. "Those types of images going out on Al Jazeera are killing us around the world," Powell said.

He went on to express his disgust for Rep. Michele Bachmann's (R-Minn.) neo-McCarthyism. "We have got to stop this kind of nonsense," Powell said, "pull ourselves together, and remember that our great strength is in our unity and in our diversity."

Tying it all together, Powell concluded, "We can't judge our people and hold our elections on that kind of basis. Yes, that kind of negativity troubled me. And the constant shifting of the argument, I was troubled a couple of weeks ago when in the middle of the crisis the campaign said, 'We're going to go negative,' and they announced it. 'We're going to go negative and attack his character through Bill Ayers.' And now I guess the message this week is we're going to call him a socialist. Mr. Obama is now a socialist, because he dares to suggest that maybe we ought to look at the tax structure that we have. Taxes are always a redistribution of money. Most of the taxes that are redistributed go back to those who pay them, in roads and airports and hospitals and schools. And taxes are necessary for the common good. And there's nothing wrong with examining what our tax structure is or who should be paying more or who should be paying less, and for us to say that makes you a socialist is an unfortunate characterization that isn't accurate."

Powell has gotten a good look at what's become of his Republican Party, and he really doesn't like what he sees.

[bluedawg12]

1. The repugs have become the angry- rw -fringe party. n/t

[TeamJordan23]

2. I've long thought this. The GOP party is reaching a cross-roads.

Do they want to continue catering to their racist base and alienate moderate (and socially liberal) republicans or do they want to take their party in a new direction in a moderate direction.

[mwb970]

7. The extremists should start their own party.

The True American Patriot Straight White Rich Man Christian Family Flag Party, perhaps.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. I am hoping that CSPAN repeats his press conference

because there were some amazing comments made. I saw some of it live on MSNBC earlier this morning and my mouth was hanging open. Need a transcript!

[tpi10d]

4. Could be more to come

After a losing effort in November. The republicans may be in for an extended period of self-analysis after this election and re-alignment. The Democrats, at this point, are clearly the adult party.

[ibegurpard]

5. thanks for the endorsement

But true courage would have been to speak out years ago.

[ProSense]

6. Here's what the Republicans have

become.

[iamtechus]

8. When did the republicans change?

Republicans like Powell who now find themselves despised by a majority try to pretend that their party was once different. I'm nearly as old as Powell and I can't remember a time when republican leaders (and most followers) were not heartless, selfish, ruthless sociopaths.

They were the party of Joe McCarthy and Richard Nixon and of Strom Thurmond and the Southern Strategy. The Republican Party was the preferred political home of war criminals like Ronald Reagan and both Bushes. They so feared socialism that they sponsored south american dictators and turned a blind eye to their mass murder of political opponents.

[ProSense]

9. When it changed

enough to turn off Republicans. Seriously, this isn't about Democrats' opinions of the Republican Party.