Video of Colin Powell endorsing Barack Obama on today’s Meet The Press:
What do you think about this? How big is it? Will it make a difference? Were you surprised?
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Video of Colin Powell endorsing Barack Obama on today’s Meet The Press:
What do you think about this? How big is it? Will it make a difference? Were you surprised?
Lamar Tyler is co-creator BlackandMarriedWithKids.com. He also is the co-producer of the films Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage, You Saved Me, Men Ain't Boys and Still Standing.
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Peter says
Outstanding! I wish more Republicans would show the kind of leadership, compassion and honesty that Powell demonstrates here. It’s a pity that he got swept up in the rush to war with Iraq.
TheDad says
@Peter – I totally agree on all points.
Anna says
I praise Mr. Powell for his public endorsement. Mr. Powell is about the only black republician I know that is not a Uncle Tom/Aunt Theresa. I know alot of over 50 White male republicians who are going to Barak the vote.
blacknessdefined says
Colin had no choice in my opinion. I pinned a blog stating why. Most black republicans want a black president. Anna you can be a guest blogger on my website if you like. With the first real possibility being Barack Obama, Colin decided now was the opportune time to throw his support toward that cause. I wonder if Colin had run years ago when he had a chance would black democrats have supported him like black republicans are supporting Barack. I believe the issues Colin raised are skeletons, he wants a black president just like most blacks but needed political cover and could not say it directly. This is about race and history.
blacknessdefineds last blog post..Colin Powell: Endorses Barack Obama? did he have a choice
alydia says
I was so frustrated trying to get a video of Colin Powell announcing his endorsement of Obama, and found your site at Google. Yea! I’m bookmarking your site and will enjoy visiting for your perspective on our changing world. Go Obama!
alydias last blog post..Levi Stubbs
lydia says
oops, my name is Lydia – not Alydia. Sorry for not proofing my own comment…..
lydias last blog post..Levi Stubbs
TheDad says
@Lydia – we’re glad you found us and please keep checking back
Jamel says
@blacknessdefined – you’re absolutely right. i think it’s kinda funny that this is somewhat eventful. i mean should i be more surprised that powell is endorsing obama more than aunt or my grandmother? lol. this is pretty much basic.
Jamels last blog post..The Appreciative Legacy
T. Rogers says
I disagree that Mr. Powell is endorsing Mr. Obama because he is black. I think he was completely sincere in his reasoning. The last few weeks McCain’s camp has made it very easy for any black conservative to jump ship to Obama. The divisive undertones of his campaign are very strong. The racial and cultural innuendo seems to define McCain’s campaign now.
Also, as a former Sec. of State, Mr. Powell understands how important it is to repair our image abroad. Mr. Obama’s global reception is not lost on Mr. Powell. And as a military man he understands good diplomacy is a hundred times better than military force. And we have some serious forigen policy issues in front of us.
It doesn’t hurt that Mr. Obama is black. But I don’t think that is the main point for Mr. Powell. Did he endorse Jesse in 1984? I don’t think so.
Anonymous says
I agree with T. Rodgers.
Personally, I think it’s a little ignorant to say that anyone would endorse Obama just because he’s black. I’m sure people are, but that’s bad judgement on their part. You should vote for the person that you think is best qualified based on what you feel would make a good president. Being black does not make you qualified to do anything.
Saying that Colin P. is obligated to vote for him because he’s black is like saying that all white people have to vote for McCain because he’s white.
blacknessdefined says
Jessie had no chance of winning. I admire Colin Powell, but I think he needed political cover and used things such as the racial undertones, and talking about Bill Ayers(SP?) to bring out his desire to support Barack Obama. He also talked about the economy. It is in trouble for a lot of reasons including policies of democrats and republicans including our beloved first Black President. But nevertheless, I think Colin or any man/woman should support the person of his choice. Frankly, I don’t care what the reason is as long as there is a reason. No Colin isn’t obligated but I think there was enormous pressure to do so because Barack is Black and has a very serious chance of winning.
blacknessdefineds last blog post..Colin Powell: Endorses Barack Obama? did he have a choice
Jamel says
lol, i think people looked a little too simplistic at my argument. i wasn’t around when jesse was running, and by the looks of things, i don’t think he was ever taken seriously. however i thought it was implicit that the candidate would be qualified. i was saying because this candidate is fit for the job, it gives a black republican a little more solace in supporting those outside of their party. also, i don’t think many black people can honestly look past supporting race as a criteria when the person they choose to support provide an exceptional representation of blackness to the world (e.g. muhammad ali, jesse owens, even colin powell perhaps)…
Jamels last blog post..The Appreciative Legacy
blacknessdefined says
I guess a more direct way of saying it is that the historical significance has a bearing on how people are voting. Would the same people who are voting for Obama have supported Colin Powell if he were the Republican nominee and say Biden were the Democratic nominee?
blacknessdefineds last blog post..Biden. Sabotager or Supporter
Anna says
@ blacknessdefined said:
I guess a more direct way of saying it is that the historical significance has a bearing on how people are voting. Would the same people who are voting for Obama have supported Colin Powell if he were the Republican nominee and say Biden were the Democratic nominee?
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This is a good question. I think because he is Colin Powell and very respected that had he thew his hat in the ring many Democrats would have voted Rebublician. Not because he is black but because I never saw him as a full, selfish, it’s about me type of Republician, but a man who would have also done right for the people.
blacknessdefined says
So do you believe all black republicans are uncle toms. Or are they simply misguided and have some reasoning problems
blacknessdefineds last blog post..Biden. Sabotager or Supporter
Nicole says
There’s nothing wrong with being a Republican if your black. Remember Republicans were the first to register black voters when they were given the right to vote. Especially in the southern states.
I agree with a lot of the Republican values especially when it comes to government. A lot of these special programs i.e. welfare do not work. People should not rely on government handouts. I differ on abortion, but I would vote for a Republican in the future elections if I thought the canidate was the best.
Being black does not mean that we all have to vote or think alike on everything. Being black and a Republican does not mean that your misguided or have reasoning problems. I don’t know where that came from?
T. Rogers says
“Being black does not mean that we all have to vote or think alike on everything. Being black and a Republican does not mean that your misguided or have reasoning problems. I dont know where that came from?”
Amen Nicole. We have to get past the idea that there is one single black political or social thought process. That dilutes our power in the electoral process. I live in California and neither of the candidates is courting votes here right now. Why? Because the California vote is already decided.
That is what happens when you pledge your vote to one party automatically. A greater diversity of political thought amongst African Americans would force politicians to engage us more and not take us for granted. It would force them to actually work for our vote, and be more accountable to us.
Marcus says
This site is humbly wonderful. I would like to say, I love all of the opinions I am reading. None of them sounds ignorant, and are all entitled to their own respect. I am 24 year old black male living in Alanta, GA. I am married with a 2 year old girl. I have been feeling the impact of a bad economy for the past couple of years. I was recently hired by a company after being contracted by a temp. agency. Before I was hired on permanently, that same company terminated my contract and I was out of work for two months. I got terribly sick, had no health insurance, and was stuck with a high emergency room bill. My wife and I had had just bought a car (very used) and now were paying crazy gas prices. We were late on every bill from day care to light bill. I said to myself, “something has to give.” Now I see that Obama could make a change in this country. I think people’s problem is that we examine people so closely, we find ourselves no longer looking at who we are. No one is perfect. Give me a choice between McCain and Obama, and I will pick Obama, because he is smart, because he ispires, because he gives me detailed plans on how he wants to turn this country around, because he is articulate, because he contributed to positive thing in “southside” Chicago, because he is a family man like myself, and YES because he is black. But without those other qualities, him being black wouldn’t matter. I commend Colin Powell for supporting Obama. People, we have been slaves for more than 400 odd years, we’ve only been free for a little over a hundred. It is okay to be happy about a black president for the simple fact that he is black, but….but we are smarter now, so we look for more out of him than his skin color. A black comedian can get on stage and have my undevided attention, but if he does not exemplify the qualities of a good comedian (please don’t ask me to list), then I’m clapping for the white comedian who does have all those qualities. I’m not a politician. Hell, if you ask me, I think that Republican and Democrat nonsence is just another way to divide people. Views should not be clashed together, but heard and reasoned with. So from a normal American black man’s perspective, one who sees people in my neighborhood poor and hopeless. There are drug dealers on my corners, younger than myself. There are crackheads in the elementary school’s park. The homeless have no therapy or shelter. The church’s no longer cousel the troubled, yet potentially great black youths. my gas price was $4.05, just two weeks ago. My milk is now a dollar more, my bread .40 cents more. When I sit at home and think about all of this, while watching the debates, my clear choice is a man that looks me in my face and touches things closes to my life….Obama, and isn’t Colin Powell an American black man like myself? So why would he support any different than myself.
blacknessdefined says
Marcus, tell me exactly what the government is going to do for you that you can’t do for yourself? The government has a role but exactly how transformed is your life going to be after Barack takes office? Barack is inspiring but aren’t we expecting too much from him and the government. Do we really want the government to be involved in every aspect of our lives. If the govenment is complicit in bankrupting social security, the current state of our economy, and other things, how will giving them more power and authority actually change things for the better? By the way, I am happy to be black. I love critical thinking.
blacknessdefineds last blog post..How many percentage points will Barack win by?
Marcus says
I’ll tell you what the goverment can do. The goverment can push the big oil companies to lower gas prices. The goverment can lower taxes so my bread, milk, and other grocery bills aren’t impacting my rent, or light bill. The government, with Obama in office, can totally change health care for the positive side so I’m not afraid to go into the emergency room, because I’m looking at my wallet before my own health. The government can put more money back into inner city programs, to educate, involve, and transform the youth. Now of course there are things that the government cannot do. The government can’t stop churches from locking their doors on Sundays, and turning their cheeks to struggling neighborhoods that they are based out of. In Dr. King’s days, did the church not play a much bigger role in the black communities? Did the chrcuh not influence those youths who needed a role model, influence, and advice of a good pastor. The government cannot tell these young black men to start taking care of their kids, or these young black women to be more respectful of their minds and bodies. You see, my friend (blacknessdefined) We are so used to the government not catering to us, and why? Because when our government was first built, we were in the fields picking cotton. We (black people) along with many new races that have emigrated to this country, are straying away from the minority and becoming the majority. So yes, I expect a lot from the government now, but no more than the white people in this country expect from the same government. Now I’m not talking about giving the government control of every aspect of our life, nor am I saying we should give them more control. What I am saying is that they need to change the way they operate. The powers that they do have, they do not use it for the people, but to further make the rich more prosperous, and the poor and middle class feel the draining impact.
blacknessdefined says
Marcus, if I understand you and I think I do. the government can lower oil prices. Did you not know the barack said it was good that the prices were high. he believes like Al Gore that the higher the prices, the more people will turn to other things such as ride shares, etc. Now today when the oil prices have dropped and your gas prices dropped, OPEC is going to cut production which will cause prices to go back up. The government is all-powerful. We are importing our oil and it is a commodity that is traded and therefore subject to market forces. What the government should have done years ago and even now is to drill now, invest in solar wind and other alternative energy sources including nuclear power.
You also said the government could invest more in education. You may be surprised to know that under Bush the education bill written by Ted Kennedy provided more funding for education than ever in our histoy and yes even more for our neighborhoods. What transforms lives is parents and other community people being involved in our kids lives.
As far as health care, Barack would provide better health care. But I hope he doesn’t go to far. I am not for socialized or government controlled health care. Yes you get cheaper care but you do get what you pay for. Take a good look at countries that have gone that far and see what happens to the quality of the health care. Guess where their people come for health care.
I agree the church and other community organizers are significant resources to pull on.
Marcus we agree the government has a role but we are ultimately responsible for our own lives. I don’t need them to get even just don’t hinder me.
A question for you. If the government took all the money from every one and spread it out evenly among every person, where would that money end up in 5 years?
blacknessdefineds last blog post..Is there anything wrong with being a Black Republican?
Marcus says
I guess it would be back in the hands of the government. In short, when America’s government was first designed, it was not expected that we would consist of so many races, so many economic changes, and definately all these social and cultural changes. Unfortunately, for the most part, our country is expanding and changing drastically, but we still have a 1790 government. I’ve noticed this, and this has my finger pointing back to us, the people. We know for a fact that today’s laws are not going to change unless we step up and say something, as a people of course. That’s why we have innocent people locked up that are going to be killed, because there are rules in our constitution that should have been changed a hundred years ago, but still exist because we are still so focused on civil rights. Let’s fight for civil rights, but let’s also fight the actual draft of this government, designed for the 19th century, but falling so short when dealing with the 21st century. When we address this…when we start looking closely, page by page, then we will finally be able to dtermine what NEEDS to stay, and what MUST go. And, I think that this should be something annually, perhaps every ten years, or every twenty. People change, countries change, opinions change, so why not our government.