Colin Powell: Secretary Of Education?

Update - 11/6: MSNBC reported: "One person who will not be serving in an Obama administration: Colin Powell, who said he has not been approached by the transition team. He says he wants a new generation of leaders to step up and serve."

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Colin Powell has been mentioned as a potential member of Barack Obama's cabinet, both for Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Education.

In his endorsement of Obama, Powell called for a greater focus on education.

"I think the American people and the gentlemen running for president will have to, early on, focus on education more than we have seen in the campaign so far. America has a terrible educational problem in the sense that we have too many youngsters not finishing school. A third of our kids don't finish high school, 50 percent of minorities don't finish high school. We've got to work on this, and my, my wife and I are leading a campaign with this purpose."

Powell is a founder of America's Promise Alliance, a coalition of businesses, educators, and others working to improve the health and well-being of children.

Read more about Obama's cabinet on the HuffPost Big News page.

Comments

[driababe]

I think that Brown's president Ruth Simmons should be at the top of the list. She's also historic, done amazing things for the University (uncovered its ties to slavery and redefined the way the university should engage with its students and the community at large, launched the University's largest and most successful fund raising campaign, brought the University back from mishandled previous administrations, etc.), she had similar successes at Smith and was courted by Harvard for her successes. She's been named woman of the year, best college president by Time, and she's encouraged several visits by Obama to Brown in the past. What has Powell done in the area of education other than make some obvious statements about what needs to be changed?

[dncprimo]

I think this is a great idea. It’s time that we have a secretary of education who knows first and foremost about education.

[driababe]

What's further, she understands how important it is to work with a diverse range of people. She started a "Kaleidoscope Fund" out of her discretionary budget to being more intellectually diverse (aka conservative) speakers to campus...w­hich has attracted people like Bobby Jindal, Dinesh D'Souza, and John Shelby Spong (an episcopal bishop who came to talk about abortion), among others, she started a "professor exchange" with historically black colleges. Further, one of the first major accomplishments she realized was bringing back need blind admission and waiving work-study requirements for freshman--she understands the need for diversity and accessibility to a high-quality education. Her Katrina response was also better put together than FEMA's :o)

[ENOS]

I'd like to see a complete overhaul on the school food program. Obesity is a huge problem here in the USA, and it starts by convincing kids it's OK to eat greasy pizza, sodas and doritos with chilli chesse every day.

[ENOS]

YES!!!! BRING BACK DISCIPLINE TO OUR SCHOOLS!!!!!!!!!!!! CAN"T STRESS ENOUGH HOW AMAZING OF A CHOICE THIS WOULD BE!

[joebiz]

The Education Secretary must be someone with a lot more radical ideas to reform the direction of our children.

A funny thought came to mind. If we were to pick and Education Secretary, what would they be like? A radical pedagogue like Bill Ayers but without the domestic terrorist baggage; leadership like Colin Powell at the Washington/federal level; an innovator with a global view like a Richard Branson; compassion a la Oprah Winfrey; . . . fill in the blanks.

[gloryoski]

In spite of myself (and going back to 1993, not just 2002 or 2003) I have some degree of admiration for Colin Powell.

I don't understand why he or Obama he would think that someone without extensive experience in some part of the education field would make a good education secretary right now, given the mess everything is in. I would hope he would keep up pattern of good judgment he started with his endorsement and accompanying commentary and turn the post down if it is offered.

[ENOS]

It's good sometimes to bring in a fresh perspective, and Powell has the potential to re-develop the discipline and focus on hard work back to our educational system. Kids are too lazy and spoiled these days.

I'd also like to see a complete overhaul on the school food program. Obesity is a huge program here in the USA, and it starts by convincing kids it's OK to eat greasy pizza, sodas and doritos with chilli chesse every day.

[ezeflyer]

Powell didn't seem to have any influence over his son when as FCC Chief, he gave away the airwaves to monopolies.

If he can't or won't influence his own son to do the right things, how is he going to influence ours as Secretary of Education?

[Ninox]

We would be fortunate to a have Powell serve in whatever role is placed before him. His body of wisdom and experience to great an intellectual reserve to ignore. The Iraq war criticism is fair. However, that episode should not deprive the country of the benefit of any future service.

[StayFocusedOnTheChange]

Does anyone remember Colin Powell stood in front of the UN and lied to the American people and the world?

He doesn't deserve a cabinet post or any other position where he gets paid with our tax dollars.

[ENOS]

Yeh, I have a feeling he is like most soldeirs, they do as they're told.

[StayFocusedOnTheChange]

Does anyone remember that Powell stood before the UN and lied to the American public and the world??

He doesn't deserve a cabinet post or any position where he's paid with our tax dollars.

[Boadicea]

What about Mrs Powell?

She's also very involved in the America's Promise Alliance. She's also skilled and talented.

[labman57]

I would prefer to see Powell as Obama's foreign policy advisor, and Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense.

[Weasie16]

Secretary of Defense, YES....Edu­cation?? I don't get that. Joel Klein.....­eh? He's a hatchet man for Education here in NY. It would be so much better to have someone that has a lot of teaching experience or at least a true understanding of what they are cutting. I think Caroline Kennedy would be more compassionate to the needs of children.

[koufax]

there's a lot of buzz in washington circles about Judge Nelson A. Diaz, who was President Clinton's General Counsel for HUD taking the reins of that agency. Apparently the Brookings Institute is publishing a book on Housing and it cites the Diaz Opinion as the cause for the success of the HOPE IV (hope 6) program to Judge Diaz opinion that allowed leveraging of public and private financing and partnerships with private sector by the Public Housing Authorities never done before. He's also responsible for the opinions and court settlements for the elimination of high risers throughout the country .

[harriettubman]

Colin Powell as Secretary of Defense?!!! That's a dream job. I'd love to see him fill that. Mr. Powell, there are younger people serving but they still need that wisdom of experienced people like you. Please reconsider. Please.

[Harmony1812]

I understand that he cannot serve this post because of his too recent service.

[23000Days]

Some of my dream team:

State: Bill Richardson

Defense: Jim Webb

Joint Chiefs: Wes Clark

Treasury: Paul Krugman

Health: Dennis Kucinich

Homeland (rename Interior) Security: RFK Jr.

Education: Kathleen Sebelius

[feminancy]

For Education, I'd like to see an expert and leader in educational policy and design. Someone with alternative ideas to No Child Left Behind, vouchers and privatization. Someone who is passionate about progressive public education and is willing to recommend bold steps to overhaul our educational system. I don't know who these people are, but I know they're out there.

I thought that RFK Jr is being considered for EPA. I think he'd be good there. He's been a good foot soldier and spokesperson for environmental issues for many years. Much as I love Kucinich, I don't think he is the right person for DHHS. We need more of a pragmatist in that position.

I'd love to see Gore take on Energy.

[ENOS]

I think Kucinich would make a great head of Health. Health is one thing we need extreme thinkers on. Our government has sold out it's citizens in order for food corporations to reap higher returns.

Obesity and STDs effect people as teens and haunt them and our medical system for the rest of their lives.

[harriettubman]

Wes Clark was not liked by many of his military friends, especially other generals. When you have that kind of backlash, there's fire where's there's smoke so I'm not too sure about him. He seems fickle.

RFK would make a great EPA secretary. They need to overhaul the FDA too. Perhaps we can have some safe food and medicine in 2009.