Piling On: Do I Really Have to Defend Colin Powell From the Charge of Racism?

I might not even post on this issue if it were only Rush Limbaugh saying this, but we've got normally even handed logical people like George Will and Pat Buchannan picking this up and running with it.

Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama and now Obama's lead has gone back to double digits. So what else but bring up the charge that Colin Powell endorsed Obama because Obama happens to be of the same race as Colin Powell. It reminds me of a scene from Liar Liar

Fletcher: Objection your honor!

Judge: On what grounds?

Fletcher: It's devistating to my case!

In short Powell, a univerally hailed centrist, has just taken away part of McCain's argument that Obama is a dangerous outsider who can't be trusted. So the only attack left is the most odious.

**sigh**

Okay, Colin Powell was free to endorse any presidential candidate and in 2000 he supported George W. Bush. Not Alan Keyes, not Al Sharpton, not Carol Mosley Braun. If Powell made his decisions based on race, he would have joined Jesse Jackson's campaign and not served in the cabinet of George H. W. Bush. Powell has had no record of supporting, promoting, or following someone based on their race.

"But none of those guys had a chance," I hear you say, "Barack Obama does and Powell just wants to be a part of it."

Point to one moment in Colin Powell's life in which he didn't have the country's best interests at heart. I can only think of one that comes close: His case of Saddam's WMD's to the UN. He said then that he truly believed the intelligence and was speaking candidly. I believe him because in his decades of service to his country he has never been known to lie. Those who speak against him now and say his endorsement is racially motivated should choose to believe him for the same reason.