Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama

In a move I couldn’t be happier about, Colin Powell gave an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press”.  Even my old-school, deeply southern grandparents would have voted for Colin Powell if he had ever run for president. The following is from CNN, and the transcript of the interview follows.  I have to say, his poise and intelligence makes me wish he had run.  He’s a great man.

COLIN POWELL ENDORSES BARACK OBAMA

(CNN) — Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will be voting for Sen. Barack Obama, citing the Democrat’s “ability to inspire” and the “inclusive nature of his campaign.”

“I think he is a transformational figure, he is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I’ll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama,” Powell said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Powell said he was concerned about what he characterized as a recent negative turn of Republican candidate Sen. John McCain’s campaign, such as the campaign’s attempts to tie Obama to former 1960s radical Bill Ayers.

“I think that’s inappropriate. I understand what politics is about — I know how you can go after one another, and that’s good. But I think this goes too far, and I think it has made the McCain campaign look a little narrow. It’s not what the American people are looking for,” he said.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama.  Read the transcript here.

And finally, a quote from Lisa over at Intrepid Media: “Anyone who votes purely on the basis of their abhorrence for a candidate’s phenotypical expression of their DNA (skin colour) votes for the wrong reasons. This is no time in our country’s history to be casting a vote based on prejudice. “

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People, please take note.

While I’m all up in this hot-button issue of abortion, please please PLEASE remember to give all the issues at hand a view.  Understand what each candidate stands for and try not to get caught up in the rhetoric. More on those things later.

Right now:  Abortion is still on my mind.  As well as the fact that people are yelling “McCain saves babies!” “Obama is Pro-Abortion!”  Both statements are patently untrue.  And people need to realize that it’s not all about one thing.

Single issue voting has done nothing but harm for this country. It’s time we used a more nuanced approach when it comes to politics.

While the Presidential candidate won’t have immediate or direct control over the abortion laws in this country, they can arrange for it to become an individual state problem. This is something that state law makers can influence. And that is why it is just as important to vote in the state elections and well as the federal.

I also think that anyone who is basing their vote on a single issue when our country is in ruins because of the policies of the last 8 years is dangerously ignorant.

Also, I don’t know why the media has missed this point for the last thirty years, but ‘Pro-life’ also means anti-death penalty, and anti-war.

On a random side note:  I am SO TIRED of the very vocal pro-life people (not all, just the really vocal ones) who LUMP people into groups.

“You’re okay with abortion?”
“Well, it depends on the situa–”
“BABY KILLER!! MURDERER!!”

SO. TIRED. OF. READING. THAT.

When has abortion EVER been a whim? Someone get McCain’s researchers on the line. I want an example.

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in the long list, this is one more reason I refuse to vote for McCain

To quickly clarify, Obama voted ‘present’ on the bill regarding partial-birth, live-birth or late-term abortions because they ONLY had clauses to provide health care for the infant should it live.  there was a) already a bill on the books in Illinois to provide that care, and b) the doctor present at the surgery is REQUIRED by his or her Hippocratic Oath to provide care for that infant.  Obama withheld his vote (by merely voting present) until such bill includes the HEALTH and WELFARE of the MOTHER.

(side note:  I am ALL OVER his last point.  “We should try to PREVENT UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES.”  Communication.  Providing Options.  Helping Single Mothers.  Reduce The Circumstances.  Are these WILDLY LIBERAL ideas?  No.  They’re common sense.  Practical.  Smart.)

I’m not posting this to rant about abortion. This post isn’t about pro-life or pro-choice. It isn’t about anti-abortion or anti-choice. It’s about McCain’s remarks and thoughts about the well-being of a woman.

Using “air quotes” when he rebutts Obama’s statement “Health of a Woman”. As if to say that the health of a woman is something to be rationalized. That the well-being of a woman is something that should fall within certain boundaries. That the life of a woman is something that needs to have rigid definition and should NOT be stretched to consider all situations.

Are you a woman? Do you KNOW any women? Do you know even just one woman, whom you might remotely care about and might be willing to save her life? If so, THAT is why you should not vote for McCain.  There are many issues why I don’t think he’s fit to be President but, first and foremost, because as a leader of this ENTIRE COUNTRY, he thinks that the HEALTH OF A WOMAN is something secondary.

Also, Palin wanted to ban books.  Is she fucking retarded or just brain dead from breathing the swamp fumes from caribou turds?

I am not saying Obama has all the answers or that Obama is a messiah, as my dad vaguely accused me of (reallly, he just lumped me in with ALL liberals, I had to correct him on that one).  But I think Obama can do far, FAR less damage to my personal health and well-being than McCain can.

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