Today on “Meet the Press” General Powell said what I wish McCain would say and what I wish Obama had said more strongly:
Well, the correct answer is, he [Obama] is not a Muslim, he’s a Christian. He’s always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer’s no, that’s not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, “He’s a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists.” This is not the way we should be doing it in America. [NewYorker]
Powell also implicitly criticized the Palin wing of the party for being unfriendly to minorities:
Mr. Obama, at the same time, has given us a more inclusive, broader reach into the needs and aspirations of our people. He’s crossing lines–ethnic lines, racial lines, generational lines. He’s thinking about all villages have values, all towns have values, not just small towns have values. [MSN]
Powell’s point is worth explication. If America is going to be open to Americans who did not come over on the Mayflower, it has to also embrace the big cities in and around which most immigrants have historically lived.
Claims that small-town America is the only authentic America are implicitly claims that white America is the only real America. Immigrants were discouraged from moving to many small towns, and sometimes ethnically cleansed from them when they did. And while there are African-American small towns in the South and Latino small downs in the Southwest, that’s not the image that comes to mind for most voters when small town America is invoked. They see Mayberry in their minds eye, not Yuba city.
As the non-white son of immigrants, Powell “gets it.” I wish more members of his party did.
It’s good to see people making decisions with their brains rather than just voting on party affiliations. I have more respect for Colin Powell now than I’ve ever had in the past.
I think they get it, loud and clear. They don’t say what they say out of ignorance. Their leaders know exactly what they’re doing when they play the game of fearmongering and divisiveness. McCain, despite being on the receiving end of this in 2000, still enlists the same team that slandered him and his 6 year old daughter, to make robocalls now. He has constantly harped on the theme that Obama would rather that America lose a war than he lose an election, and that only McCain puts country first. Sarah Palin amplifies that theme by claiming that people who don’t vote Republican are not patriotic. Republican “intellectuals” want to lay the blame for the entire financial crisis on irresponsible, free-riding minorities. Bush, Rove and their cronies subverted the justice department to prosecute non-existent voter fraud cases, and fired attorneys who dared to stand up to this witchhunt. McCain gives these charges new life by hyperbolic statements on national television that ACORN destroys the very fabric of democracy by perpetrating one of the greatest frauds in the history of our nation – all because their focus is on registering minorities and low-income voters, and because ACORN does what is required of them by law – filing all the voter registration forms they get, after flagging those that are suspicious. The painting of minorities as inimical to America’s interests, either explicitly or implicitly, is a theme that runs through a wide swath of Republican positions. Already, there is a right-wing narrative being painted, with seeds sown by McCain’s acorn hunting, Palin’s shrill rhetoric, and senior party leaders, about an Obama victory basically being stolen by shiftless minorities encouraged and abetted by the democratic party machine. An Obama victory will certainly harden the positions of this faction of the Republican party, and will certainly make them stoke racist fears even more.
P.S: It is a pity Powell’s respect for lines of command made him damage his credibility so severely in 2002 by carrying water for the Bush administration in the UN, and making a case for war that he knew at that time was tenuous at best, and, in retrospect, has proven to be fabricated. But better late than never for him to stand up to his party. Of course, Fox News preemptively dismissed his endorsement by pointing out, ever so subtly, that Colin Powell is, er, an African American.
That line about the seven year old kid got me all teary… mainly because I think it’s sweet that Mr. Powell doesn’t realize that seven year old Muslim kids are way to jaded to even think about becoming president one day.
Not just Fox News and Rush Limbaugh, it now looks like the official conservative “intellectual” line is that Colin Powell = Jesse Jackson = Al Sharpton. Quickly now! Come up with one similarity between them. Done? Now come up with two. Take your time.
That was the best endorsement of a presidential candidate in this campaign. Its also the only time where I saw a major political figure speak to the issue of religious bias in this country. Not even Obama made the distinctions Powell made quite so eloquently and candidly.
I have beeen thinking about this all day today. Lets take for example Bobby Jindal. Many have said here before that there is nothing in common between us (in terms of values) and many have said they will never ever vote for him.
However, lets imagine that Bobby Jindal has had the most transformative governorship in Louisiana’s history. Lets say he fixed the roads, the levees and handled multiple hurricane event with comple competence. Lets imagine that hes standing for president when the other party has messed up big time and the country is in bad shape.
Would we still have heartburn when we vote for him?
The majority of the people who will vote for McCain Palin are a dying breed – white conservative republicans over the age of 55. In the not too distant future whites will no longer be the majority here and the white people over 70 who grew up during segregation (a large chunk of republican voters and democrats who will vote republican this year), will be long dead and gone. I wonder what demographic the republican party will cater to say, 20 years from now?
6 · yabadaba said
That depends. What is he promising to do with the Presidency? If all he is saying is that he is one badass executive, who will keep all his ideologies on a shelf for four years, I will vote for him. On the other hand, if he runs wanting to turn the election into a referendum on Darwin, I will knock on doors for his opponent.
Then, there is the problem of judicial nominations – where no matter what McCain says, ideologies always are at the forefront.
So, no. I will not vote for Jindal.
it may not be just non-white america. i recently read an article about how wasilla was very resistant to people coming in from the continental states – i think there’s just this idea that the ‘rest’ (read:most) of america has moved away from small-town ‘values,’ be it by non-whites or whites from big cities. to me, it seems kind of incongruent, because more than once, in her bid to appear as the champion of small-town values, she has, essentially, thrown mccain under the bus.
really? maybe an 11- or 13-year old kid might be, but 7 is that age where a muslim kid growing up in america is prob. not thinking about how their minority status will affect their dream…
This narrative that all or a majority of Republicans are racist is not supported by facts. I agree that Lee Atwater and to a certain extent Karl Rove did use race in certain states but overall the racists chose Republican party rather than the other way around.
The current occupant of the wite house in fact tried to attract minorities and was successful with Hispanics. I completely disagree with the way McCain is running his campaign but I think he was a guy who was honorable and in fact supported immigration when the enite party was against it.
P.S. Look how the Clintons played up the racial angle in the primaries.
When Colin powell was seven years old … in 1944 – how close to reality would it have seemed to say that the USA would have an Afam president – so dont lose the faith, faiqa. I listened to Gen Powell’s speech linked at UB. What can i say. When the General stood up and spoke everyone else looked just really small in comparison.
my only fear now is what was first stated by Alma Powell – when she gave her reason for not having the Gen run for presidency – she grew up through segregation. she feared for his life, that there are some rabid elements out there who would take extreme measures to keep an African American from becoming the nation’s head of state. Godspeed and tailwinds.
Claims that small-town America is the only authentic America are implicitly claims that white America is the only real America.
1) this is probably true
2) but mainstream liberal pundits better be careful about playing the semiotics/subtext game (josh marshall does this WAY too much). people tire of it. no one is a mind reader, and even if you have circumstantial evidence for a hypothesis that doesn’t mean that it should be introduced as a certain fact
The reason why the Klan (or whatever newer youth group branched out from them) will not try to organize an assasination of President Obama is because they hate America and it’s government and want to see it all go to ruin and the fastest way for that too happen, in their opinion, is to have the country run by non-white minorities. Therefore this all works in their favor and towards their dream of having a separate, all white, homeland/nation-state somewhere, someday.
To conclusively establish this point I’d have to either poll the American public or do psych experiments designed to bring to light what images they associate with small town America. That feels like overkill though, much like demonstrating to somebody that the “states rights” rhetoric of the 1950s and 1960s wasn’t really about states rights as much as it was about race. That said, will you accept this as circumstantial evidence?
This endorsement was really moving, perhaps because it named the troubling racism and xenophobia that has been in hyper-overdrive the past few weeks. It really makes me wish Powell had run for Republican primary in 1994.
Nara, I don’t think you can brush aside Rovean tactics as “race”-related; they were racist in 2000 when McCain was up against Bush in the primary, and they’re still racist. Not saying the Dems don’t air racist ads as well — no one has the market cornered on assholery.
10 · Nara said
But why did those racists choose the Republican party? I would say it’s not merely coincidence, it is because, through various campaigns and messages both overt and coded, the Republican part has consistently sent out the message that they are a party where racists are welcome and can feel at home. It is not just Atwater and Rove, it is the entire Southern Strategy, Reagan’s campaign around “States’ Rights” and “welfare queens” and “strapping young bucks”, http://hnn.us/articles/44535.html etc.
Until these mythical non-racist Republicans stop appealing to and relying on the racists, and start clearly and unequivocally denouncing the racism, they will have to wear the tag. And I do mean unequivocally, not the usual wink-and-a-nod, we-both-know-we-can’t-say-that-in-public-but-we’re-both-on-the-same-page-here stuff they usually do.
For people touting the claim Powell’s endorsement of Obama is of value some food for thought:
As JCoS opposed Bush 41’s plan for throwing out Saddam from Kuwait militarily.
Supported the intervention of Somalia which turned out very very well (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Mogadishu_(1993))
Lied in the Security Council to get UN approval for the Iraq invasion
Has endorsed Obama when it has all but become inevitable that Obama is going to win.
7 · Rashmi Mehngi said
While the implications of that statement aren’t obvious, the racism of the author is overwhelming that I couldn’t have written a more biooted post myself even with a dictionary handy.
17 · EvaBraun said
Also misrepresented Pottery Barn.
6 · yabadaba said
This left wing nut says, “Absolutely and resoundingly yes. As long as he doesn’t tell women they can’t have abortions, say that New Orleans is being hit by hurricanes because of all the gay people and say that poor cancer patients deserve to die due to a lack of healthcare because this is a free market economy.”
Agree with Eva Braun at #17. Also, if Powell is such an independent thinker, why didn’t he endorse John Kerry against GWB? Oh, that’s right, Powell is a Bush lackey (both Bushes appointed him in various capacities). He can’t go against the hand that fed him and helped make his career.
Perhaps, Obama is better qualified per Powell’s standards, but this announcement strikes of shear opportunism.
I think it was an amazing endorsement, not opportunism. I don’t think he waited to see who was going to win. You could tell just by watching him it was a genuine endorsement and that he had struggled to come to his decision. I don’t think he supported John Kerry because I don’t think he saw JK as a transformational figure. I think it was very moving and hopeful and finally someone said what no one else has said during the campaign – that there is nothing wrong with being muslim in america.
It’s about time. Of course, it’s important to remember this isn’t the only time during this campaign somebody made a deliberate move to reach out to Muslim Americans, it’s the just the most well-publicized. There is at least one candidate who has visited a mosque and challenged Obama and McCain to do the same.
18 · RahulD said
Oh come on, RahulD, believe in yourself like I believe in you. Never underestimate teh power of your biootry!
6 · yabadaba said
So you’re asking “If we approved of the things that Bobby Jindal stands for and his actions and the results of his actions, would be have trouble voting for him?” Isn’t this an obvious answer? Of course not.
I would use very different standards than you though – Bobby Jindal might do all the things that you’re suggesting, but until he repudiates homophobia, christian fundamnetalism, his own role in promoting social divisiveness, and his market fundamentalism, I’m not going anywhere near him except to articulately and clearly tell him what an a$$hole he is for siding pretty much entirely with the people who are in power rather than the people who are getting screwed.
I wish Powell had gently chastised Obama for not responding to the “he is Muslim” rumor with, “so what, even Muslims can run for President”. [somebody once said that all four star generals are politicians.]
6 · yabadaba said
For that you would have to turn to a Democratic blog – the champagne of them – Dailykos.com. In a report of the recent hurricane its correspondents had nothing but praise for Piyush Jindal’s management. But again it will depend upon which wing of the party Jindal aligns with. If he joins a Palin ticket, it would be a non-no, because that would be a clear lack or scuples, principles, and judgement. If Jindal joined a Romney ticket, that would be something else. If he joined, say, a Giuliani ticket, I would thik he isn’t serious. He is Republican, and I am willing to reach across only so much and not further.
As for Powell, it indicates he has seen the light, and understands or accepts that the McSame side has almost zero credentials on foreign policy and defense, and that is starting from the top, McSame himself, whose knowledge isn’t worth a little more than what you can read on Time or Newsweek.
24 · Harbeer said
I could be polite…so I’m…isn’t there a protest you should be at?
17 · EvaBraun said
Can’t forget the scene where Powell was waving a phony vial of anthrax in front of the world to justify the Iraq invasion. His complicity has led to thousands of deaths, and billions of dollars being wasted/stolen. While his words now are quite thoughtful and well stated, I cannot help but think Powell just views Obama as his best chance at redemption!
What’s wrong with seeking to redeem yourself?