Why Is Colin Powell Still in the GOP?
A few weeks ago I put Colin Powell on my list of top ten least favorite people on the Right. Now I'm starting to think, is he really on the Right?
From CNN:
The Republican party must stop "shouting at the world" and start listening to minority groups if it is to win elections in the 21st century, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday. In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria for Sunday's "GPS" program, President Bush's former secretary of state said his party's attempt "to use polarization for political advantage" backfired last month...
Powell, who crossed party lines and endorsed President-elect Barack Obama just weeks before the election, said the GOP must see what is in the "hearts and minds" of African-American, Hispanic and Asian voters "and not just try to influence them by... the principles and dogma"...
"Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh?" Powell asked. "Is this really the kind of party that we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal to our lesser instincts rather than our better instincts?"
Yes, how horrible it would be if the Republican party tried to influence people with its "principles." It would be doing precisely what it was created to do!
The irony is, most conservatives believe that the GOP has done badly precisely because it has failed to turn to its principles.
Rob Port adds:
It seems as though Powell, his assertions to the contrary, would have conservatives stop being actual conservatives for the sake of pandering to certain racial demographics.
Which seems ridiculous to me. The sort of nonsense that engenders the seeking of power for the sake of power rather than to lead based on a certain set of ideals.
Indeed. It's interesting how Colin Powell asks Republicans to look into the "hearts and minds" of minorities and proceed on that basis. My answer is: I don't care what's in the hearts and minds of anyone - minority or majority - when I determine where I want to take the party. What I care about is pursuing and promoting individual responsibility, freedom from government nannyism, smaller government, breathing babies, and victory against domestic and international threats to freedom. If that's in people's hearts and minds, fantastic. If not, I'll help them change, but I won't change for them.
And if these principles don't occupy Powell's heart and mind, then maybe he should switch parties, instead of insisting that the party change its principles for him.
Paul Ibrahim
in Race, Republicans, paulibrahim.com
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Yes, Paul, completely miss the major point of what Mr. Powell is saying. You're only latching on to the criticism of the party from Powell, not the main point. Which is Republicans--not necessarily conservatives--must stop polarizing the country (Palin's very pro-American comment comes to mind) and reach out. How the Republican party can completely dismiss the African-American voter is appalling. There is not a more conservative group in America than African-Americans. The racism tag will always be attached to conservatism and the Republican party (McCain's campaign didn't help matters one bit on that front).
America has changed (President Obama's win illustrates this) It's time to start counting everybody in. That's just the reality of the situation in the 21st century. Thank you, Mr. Powell for finally saying it. As a man who has served this country most of your life, your words are powerful. A true hero.