Oct 20 2008
Colin Powell in Obama Administration?
It is absolutely impossible to ignore Colin Powell’s striking, literate, thoughtful and totally PREDICTABLE endorsement of Barack Obama!
The Four-Star General parted ways with the GOP by endorsing Senator Obama. I can only imagine the disappointment that John McCain must be feeling; but I think he was expecting this. Weren’t we all? At this late stage in the campaign, if Colin Powell intended to continue his support for John McCain, he would have been out in front…saying so. Powell has campaigned for McCain in previous years–they are comrades-in-arms and friends as well. But…
How could Colin Powell NOT endorse Obama? Powell once aspired to the White House himself. The concept of the Black Man rising above his roots and transcending race to become President of the United States is SO HUGE in Black America, he could not possibly turn his back on the Senator who is likely to become our first Black President.
I was pondering the “timing” of his endorsement as I was preparing to write this. Very nice. A weekend announcement during an otherwise quiet lull in the campaign. The final debate is over, the pollsters are confident of their predictions, the country is somewhat successfully coping with the financial crisis of the past month, gas prices are under $3 a gallon, the baseball League championships are wrapping up, the Series starts in a couple of days, the NFL season is in mid-stride, with nothing taking up front page space. Powell achieved maximum effect and maximum exposure.
So now I wonder if the General has really turned his back on the GOP and would consider serving in an Obama Administration? Colin Powell has done just about everything in his lifetime except run for the White House. He’s served as National Security Advisor to President Reagan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and as Secretary of State under the Current President. I know he is getting up there in years, but he is still a year younger than John McCain. I think he could at least be an “unofficial” advisor, perhaps an “ambassador-at-large.”
