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Last update - 20:11 19/10/2008
VIDEO / Former Bush secretary of state Powell endorses Obama
By The Associated Press
Tags: Israel News, Barack Obama 

Colin Powell, a Republican who was President George W. Bush's first secretary of state, endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for president Sunday and criticized the tone of Republican John McCain's campaign.

Powell said both Obama and McCain are qualified to be commander in chief. But he said Obama is better suited to handle the nation's economic problems as well as help improve its standing in the world.


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"It isn't easy for me to disappoint Sen. McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that," Powell, interviewed on NBC television's Meet the Press, said of his longtime friend, the Arizona senator.

"But I firmly believe that at this point in America's history, we need a president that will not just continue, even with a new face and with the changes and with some maverick aspects, who will not just continue basically the policies that we have been following in recent years," Powell said.

"I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change and that's why I'm supporting Barack Obama, not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Sen. John McCain."

Powell's endorsement has been much anticipated because he is a Republican with impressive foreign policy credentials, a subject on which Obama is considered less experienced than McCain. At the same time, he is a black man and Obama would be the nation's first black president.

The former secretary of state himself was once touted as a possible Republican presidential candidate, but declined to make a run.

Powell said he was cognizant of the racial aspect of his endorsement, but said that was not the dominant factor in his decision. If it was, he said, he would have made the endorsement months ago.

Powell also expressed disappointment in the negative tone of McCain's campaign, his choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate, and McCain's and Palin's decision to focus in the closing weeks of the contest on Obama's ties to 1960s-era radical William Ayers.

He said he was "troubled" by personal attacks on Obama. He specifically pointed to false intimations that Obama was Muslim and Republicans' recent focus on the Democratic candidate's alleged ties to the founder of the radical 1960s Weather Underground, William Ayers.

Stressing that the Senator was a lifelong Christian, Powell blasted Republican tactics that he said were insulting not only to Obama but also to Muslims.

"The really right answer is what if he is?" Powell said, praising the contributions of millions of Muslim citizens to American society.

He also said McCain's choice of Palin raised questions about his judgment.

"I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States," Powell said.

Powell, as secretary of state, helped make the case before the United Nations for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, launched in March 2003. A retired general, he also was the nation's top military commander, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during the first Gulf war under President George H.W. Bush.

McCain disagreed with Powell's decision to back his opponent and said he has been endorsed by four other former secretaries of state, all veterans of Republican administrations: Henry Kissinger, James A. Baker III, Lawrence Eagleburger and Alexander Haig.

"Well, I've always admired and respected Gen. Powell. We're longtime friends. This doesn't come as a surprise," McCain said on Fox News Sunday.

Asked whether Powell's endorsement would undercut his campaign's assertion that Obama is not ready to lead, McCain said: "Well, again, we have a very, we have a respectful disagreement, and I think the American people will pay close attention to our message for the future and keeping America secure."

Powell said he does not plan to campaign for Obama.


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      1.   Colin Powells day of reckoning with the (racist) Republican party 19:37  |  Swiss (Dino) 19/10/08
      2.   Delighted that this good man opts for Obama!! 20:01  |  Esther 19/10/08
      3.   Wise decision. USA is ruined; social problems 20:29  |  Semsem 19/10/08
      4.   Powell 20:37  |  Brod 19/10/08
      5.   Barack Obama, Colin Powell-Joy in the future of America 21:31  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 19/10/08
      6.   #2 Brod, You are correct. 21:32  |  John Allen 19/10/08
      7.   #1 Dino , I continue......... 21:38  |  John Allen 19/10/08
      8.   #4 Brod 21:41  |  American 19/10/08
      9.   to brod 21:45  |  eli 19/10/08
      10.   Powell`s Comments 22:46  |  Mark of Lewiston 19/10/08
      11.   # 6 John Allen 22:51  |  Swiss (Dino) 19/10/08
      12.   Embittered former leader 23:23  |  Nathaniel 19/10/08
      13.   Obama is not Black..... 23:26  |  leven5 19/10/08
      14.   Powell`s endorsement was succinct 23:37  |  Mark Lincoln 19/10/08
      15.   colin Powell 23:53  |  mike 19/10/08
      16.   Sure Brod, whatever you say... 00:01  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      17.   # 11, LEVEN5 00:15  |  indrajaya 20/10/08
      18.   And mike whispers "bribe"... 00:38  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      19.   Reality Check 00:51  |  Arie 20/10/08
      20.   Reply to Nathaniel in Minneapolis (Post No. 12) 00:58  |  Johnny Weintraub 20/10/08
      21.   Powell`s remarks 01:08  |  Patrick Warner 20/10/08
      22.   Nathaniel claims to have missed Fox News today... - 2nd try 01:13  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      23.   BBSNews - Fox News 01:57  |  Mark Lincoln 20/10/08
      24.   In July 2007 Coiln powell said the following 02:02  |  Labhras 20/10/08
      25.   Powell`s comments - Mark of Lewiston 02:02  |  Mark Lincoln 20/10/08
      26.   John Allen and blatant racism... - 3rd try 02:40  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      27.   Mark Lincoln on McCain... 02:47  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      28.   Censorship.....Haaretz Liberal Censorship 04:51  |  Pastor Joseph 20/10/08
      29.   It`s not about Republican/Democrat.......It`s about 05:16  |  Pastor Joseph 20/10/08
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      34.   #4 Brod--think so? 14:53  |  mike 20/10/08
      35.   #20 Johnny of Texas 14:58  |  mike 20/10/08
      36.   #21 Patrick 14:59  |  mike 20/10/08
      37.   #30 Flash..Psalm 139:13 "You covered me.. 15:45  |  Pastor Joseph 20/10/08
      38.   BBSNews re Pastor Joseph 18:18  |  Persian Kitty 20/10/08
      39.   BBS News 18:42  |  Connie 20/10/08
      40.   Esther in Tel Aviv 18:46  |  Connie 20/10/08
      41.   Republicans last stand, and surrender. 19:35  |  samuel raini 20/10/08
      42.   Connie exposes her racist tendencies... 20:12  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      43.   Persian Kitty on the wingnut question... 20:30  |  BBSNews 20/10/08
      44.   BBS News and racism 00:58  |  Connie 21/10/08
      45.   i thought he was registered independent. 01:54  |  Rob of mlbourne 21/10/08
      46.   # `Pastor` Joseph pro life and pro war are contradictions! 04:49  |  Maureen Ann 22/10/08
      47.   racism 16:14  |  Yohanan 23/10/08
      48.   To John Allen--Welfare has been dismantled 20:29  |  Nathan 24/10/08
      49.   Paster Joe --keep your religion 20:34  |  Nina 24/10/08
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