Colin Powell Slams ‘Idiot Presentations’ by Some Republicans, Urges GOP Leaders to ‘S

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics...o-speak-out-2/

In an interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos during ABC’s special inauguration day coverage this morning, former Secretary of State Colin Powell lashed out at people in the Republican Party who spent the last four years spreading “birther nonsense” and other “things that demonize the president,” calling on GOP leaders to denounce such talk — publicly.

“Republicans have to stop buying into things that demonize the president. I mean, why aren’t Republican leaders shouting out about all this birther nonsense and all these other things? They should speak out. This is the kind of intolerance that I’ve been talking about where these idiot presentations continue to be made and you don’t see the senior leadership of the party say, ‘No, that’s wrong.’ In fact, sometimes by not speaking out, they’re encouraging it. And the base keeps buying the stuff.

“And it’s killing the base of the party. I mean, 26 percent favorability rating for the party right now. It ought to be telling them something. So, instead of attacking me or whoever speaks like I do, look in the mirror and realize, ‘How are we going to win the next election?”

But Powell, who served as National Security Adviser under President Ronald Reagan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush and as the nation’s top diplomat under President George W. Bush, didn’t stop there.

“The Republican Party ought to be out there not restricting voting by voter ID, but saying we want everybody to vote,” he told Sawyer and Stephanopoulos. “It’s a party that has to stop saying, ‘We are going to appeal to you with new messages.’ You need policies — the country is becoming more minority.”
Powell, who endorsed President Obama’s reelection bid in October, said that his critiques of the GOP have left some wondering, “Why are you still a Republican?”

Because, Powell said, “I grew up under Ronald Reagan and Cap Weinberger and George Schultz and George Herbert Walker Bush — that’s the Republican party I know — the Howard Bakers of the world, and I think we’ve drifted from that. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying to drift a little bit back. Not because it’s just good to be moderate, but because that’s where the American people are. They lost an election — two.”

But Powell also said President Obama needed to do a better job, during his second, term of reaching out to members of Congress. And as for the president’s second inaugural address, Powell said, “I hope he can, through his own example, restore a sense of civility in the country.”
He said that today was a day for members of both parties, “not to scream and argue with each other, but to come together.”

Mr. Powell. It's not gonna change. The republican party you used to know isn't coming back. BTW they want your a$$ out of the party too.

You know the saying..."If you're hated, you're doing something right".

In order for the GOP to survive they need to evolve; a practice that's not well embraced or understood among some in their party.

Originally Posted by casino is no lie

In order for the GOP to survive they need to evolve; a practice that's not well embraced or understood among some in their party.

I've been saying this all along.

Too many stubborn GOPer's. They have the potential to gain popularity but they need some serious reality checks and attention to logic.

Originally Posted by bimmerfan08

They have the potential to gain popularity ....

How?

Originally Posted by 'busa

How?

There are several ways. They can become the party of responsible spending and disciplined financial planning. In seems in recent years they spent more time trying to remind and convince people they're fiscally conservative versus actually embracing the notion.

They can make huge gains among women by keeping their mouths shut on topics like abortion and rape. No one wants to hear an old white man tell us "how it is." It would also be a smart decision to back off planned parent hood. And instead of pushing a Pro-Life agenda they can redirect efforts towards increasing sex education, adoption awareness programs and allowing safe heavens where mother's can drop-off their kids no questions asked to places like a fire department or hospital.

Finally, there is a lot of ground to be gained among minorities and immigrants. It has to be more than a superficial interest. And it only takes a few key Republicans to make a huge difference for the party's image. It will take years to gain the trust of minorities and immigrants, but it can be done if done with sincerity.

Wise words from a leader I respect immensely. I think if he ever ran for POTUS, he could practically walk right in he has such integrity and respect from so many Americans. A shame the GOP has moved soooo far to the right of the moderate, pragmatic Republicanism he represents and I think his critique is spot on that the GOP needs to do far more than simply polish up its facade and presentation to become again a viable major party into the future.

I say all this, not as some raving left wing liberal, but rather, as a more pragmatic moderate who actually once worked for a Republican Senator many, many moons ago. It is an interesting question though, given the GOPs rightwards devolution of the past 20-30 years, as to why he's still a Republican for it seems the party he remembers has essentially already left him where he's been standing all along.

Originally Posted by casino is no lie

In order for the GOP to survive they need to evolve; a practice that's not well embraced or understood among some in their party.

Originally Posted by bimmerfan08

I've been saying this all along.

Too many stubborn GOPer's. They have the potential to gain popularity but they need some serious reality checks and attention to logic.

I wish this were a real book, because a good majority of the GOP could probably benefit from it

It is one thing to assault a particular person but not the whole GOP.

Colin Powell received a White House Fellowship for President Nixon when he was young, was chosen to be an investigating officer for the Mai Lai massacre, was an adviser to the Sec of Defense and NSA adviser under Reagan, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State under Bush 2.

I understand he might be disgruntled with the Republican Party's performance lately, but it seems ungrateful for him to make these statements when it was Republican administrations that put him in positions of power and influence so he could make these remarks.


If it was not for Republicans he would just be another retired General, receiving his pension and no one would care who he was or what he thinks.

Originally Posted by Raymond42262

It is one thing to assault a particular person but not the whole GOP.

Colin Powell received a White House Fellowship for President Nixon when he was young, was chosen to be an investigating officer for the Mai Lai massacre, was an adviser to the Sec of Defense and NSA adviser under Reagan, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State under Bush 2.

I understand he might be disgruntled with the Republican Party's performance lately, but it seems ungrateful for him to make these remarks when it was Republican administrations that put him in positions of power and influence so he could make these remarks.


If it was not for Republicans he would just be another retired General, receiving his pension and no one would care who he was or what he thinks.

I think there is a STRONG case to be argued that the GOP of yesterday is but a shadow of the GOP of today. It's funny (to some) to realize that Reagan would probably be labeled a RINO these days by some of the current ranking members of the GOP.

Originally Posted by Raymond42262

It is one thing to assault a particular person but not the whole GOP.

Colin Powell received a White House Fellowship for President Nixon when he was young, was chosen to be an investigating officer for the Mai Lai massacre, was an adviser to the Sec of Defense and NSA adviser under Reagan, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State under Bush 2.

I understand he might be disgruntled with the Republican Party's performance lately, but it seems ungrateful for him to make these statements when it was Republican administrations that put him in positions of power and influence so he could make these remarks.


If it was not for Republicans he would just be another retired General, receiving his pension and no one would care who he was or what he thinks.

So you're saying he's uppity?

Originally Posted by evolved

I think there is a STRONG case to be argued that the GOP of yesterday is but a shadow of the GOP of today. It's funny (to some) to realize that Reagan would probably be labeled a RINO these days by some of the current ranking members of the GOP.

Then he should be working behind the scenes in the GOP to pull it to the right instead of alienating everyone by speaking out in public, denigrating the same organization that made him successful.

Originally Posted by that_one_guy

So you're saying he's uppity?

No, but he has forgotten his roots.

Originally Posted by Raymond42262

Then he should be working behind the scenes in the GOP to pull it to the right instead of alienating everyone by speaking out in public, denigrating the same organization that made him successful.

My point is that it may be the same organization by name, but not in action or spirit. That is what I view to be his point, and I agree with him.

Originally Posted by Raymond42262

I understand he might be disgruntled with the Republican Party's performance lately, but it seems ungrateful for him to make these remarks when it was Republican administrations that put him in positions of power and influence so he could make these remarks.

If it was not for Republicans he would just be another retired General, receiving his pension and no one would care who he was or what he thinks.

That's an unfair assessment. Colin Powell clearly states:

“I grew up under Ronald Reagan and Cap Weinberger and George Schultz and George Herbert Walker Bush — that’s the Republican party I know — the Howard Bakers of the world, and I think we’ve drifted from that. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with trying to drift a little bit back. Not because it’s just good to be moderate, but because that’s where the American people are. They lost an election — two.”

He pays homage to those who opened the door for him. It's disrespectful to give credit to Republicans as a whole for his accomplishments. Most politicians can only dream of career as prestigious as Colin Powell's. Yet you want him to be a good little soldier and keep his mouth shut regarding members of the GOP who do not reflect the principals of the party during his tenure with Washington? You're the type of individual Colin Powell is speaking out against... the enablers. At least he has the balls to say what's on his mind.

Originally Posted by evolved

My point is that it may be the same organization by name, but not in action or spirit. That is what I view to be his point, and I agree with him.

I agree with you and him as well.
The Republican party has lost its way and it started going too far to the left with Bush Jr and the party currently lacks charisma and leadership.

But you don't go airing your laundry in public.
When was the last time you heard a Democrat criticizing Obama in public like this ?

Everyone knows he is spending too much money, everyone knows he should get troops out of Afghanistan, etc............but no one says anything.

I agree with most of what Powell said in the article. I don't agree with him saying it in public.

Originally Posted by Raymond42262

I agree with you and him as well.
The Republican party has lost its way and it started going too far to the left with Bush Jr and the party currently lacks charisma and leadership.

Too far LEFT?! How so?

Originally Posted by Raymond42262

I agree with you and him as well.
The Republican party has lost its way and it started going too far to the left with Bush Jr and the party currently lacks charisma and leadership.

But you don't go airing your laundry in public.
When was the last time you heard a Democrat criticizing Obama in public like this ?

Everyone knows he is spending too much money, everyone knows he should get troops out of Afghanistan, etc............but no one says anything.

I agree with most of what Powell said in the article. I don't agree with him saying it in public.

If you're implying that the current GOP is too far to the left, we are never going to agree on much of anything, lol.

Originally Posted by Raymond42262

No, but he has forgotten his roots.

Rather, he remembers them all to clearly

He clearly recounts his experience and gratitude to Republicans of a Republican party that no longer exists and that has left him and many like him in the dust as it has marched relentlessly to the right for the past 20-30 years to where it is today, a party where right wing extremists have a inordinate sway over the more sober and pragmatic elements of the party.

I suspect he, as have many other less radical and ideaologic Republicans, has tried to console greater moderation, pragmatism, cooperation and reasonableness over the years, obviously to no avail. I imagine it is only out of anguish and frustration that he, and an increasing number of other more moderate Republicans, feel compelled to speak out, not to undermine the party (its the far right wing elements doing that) but rather, to bring it back more into the American mainstream and make it again and into the future a viable, relevant part of American politics, to save it from a fate as a fringe party of old and bitter white southerners.

It's not one person Powell has a gripe with but rather, what the whole party has become of late, so it is very appropriate of him to speak of and to the party as a whole. Working behined the scenes is appropriate, up to a point, but that point has long since past and to withhold his views from a broader audience at this point would only be to silently condone and enable what he sees as so wrong with his party today.

Dissenting voices within the GOP are not only stifled for not being team players, or even as apostates to the rigid idealogy of today's GOP, but are actively and openly disparaged and dismissed as RINOs. Is it any wonder he has no avenue left but to speak outside closed doors?

The Republican party has lost its way and it started going too far to the left with Bush Jr and the party currently lacks charisma and leadership.

"Too far left!" Left of what? If the GOP were to trudge any further to the right than they already have, they'd fall off the edge of a flat earth.

I would agree that the party lacks leadership, but then it has become so reactionary and directionless in ideology and policy that it there really is no clear direction for anyone to steer to, expect perhaps back to the light and within the mainstream of reasonable political thought and discourse. As for charisma, the party has plenty of that, unfortunately all of the wrong and a rather odious kind.