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."

* * *

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

[Grunty1]

Ok, I can understand Powell for Defense, but why Education? Even if he said to focus on education, Powell has little knowledge about such matters. The rumor mill seems to put in one great and reasonable choice and 3 others than make no sense whatsoever.

[BarackDaVote]

I respect Colin Powell and think he is great. I agree with him about having a new generation of leaders to step up and serve. But I still think he will be an asset to the Obama administration if given the chance and he accepts it.

[edwarvir]

I hope Sec Colin Powell will revisit any decision he has made
that would not let him help President Obama.

[Dystopic]

he won't serve officially, but you can bet he will advise Obama if asked.

[mercuryguy]

Powell brings mixed feelings in me about the Iraq war and his enabling. But for Sec of Ed is a good choice I think.

[myside]

bill gates (microsoft)- education; lots of investment in education
t boone picken- energy; he has put his money where his mouth is
patrick fitzgerald (US attorney for northern illinois)- attorney general; takes his job seriously
hilary clinton-state; she is respected

[GayGrandpa]

t boone has put his money where he can make more - no thanks

[MNmommy]

Exactly.

[Dystopic]

SO? when did profit become taboo??

converting our cars to natural gas is a GREAT idea, so what if this guy is on the forefront and making huge investments to make it real?

Get over it, and get a clue already.

Now, as an official post in the Obama admin, no pickens is not right, but his plan is.

[Progress08]

conflict of interest - T. Boone is in it for himself and don't forget for one second... He's the one who paid for the Swift Boat ads.

[munki]

A great American... Inspirational American...
General Colin Powell perhaps is one of the very first pioneers for "Change"...
Timing... Obama took it to Presidency...
General decided not to run... he could have very well be the FIRST...
Things may have happened for a reason...

[heal57]

Powell would be a great Secretary of Education. He and his wife have done much to help. That pick would be fine by me.

[lovethesinner]

I wanted Colin for Defense, but the more I think about it, education is such a HUGE problem (if a vice-presidential candidate doesn't know Africa is a continent, not a country, education in America is a HUGE problem) and Colin Powell is such a great leader.

Colin Powell: Commander-in-teach.

[Bigga55]

Colin Powell should be the next Secretary of State. He is a soldier to the core and follows orders. He was the only sane person in the Bush II administration. He did what he was told to do, lie to the country and the world. He stayed until he could no longer be the voice of sanity in the Bush whitehouse. He is the most qualified person for the job. In time of war, you need someone that has an intimate knowledge of war and it's consequences. He understands that war is the last and worst option for diplomacy.

[chascates]

He'll need some education himself first. On how to tell the truth.

[Bigga55]

He knows how to tell the truth. He was ordered to lie by Cheney through his puppet Bush. He did not want to and it showed how uncomfortable he was in doing it. He stayed on as Secretary of State, until he understood he could not stop the insanity of the neo-cons and the energy companies.

[holyhandgrenaid]

Exactly, My feeling is that he went before the UN because of his sense of duty as a former military man- he received an order from above, and felt he had to follow it, regardless of his own personal dissent. Of course, his sense of honour was likely devastated by having to lie, causing the internal conflict that eventually lead to his departure from the Bush administration

[EricHayes]

It sure would be nice if people would do a little research (or remembering, for people my age) before they go shooting their mouths off about an honorable man who was ordered to lie.

[Graywolf48]

Why? Why can't we get some young blood, some of the best and brightest America has to offer? Why must we fall back on these retreads who have had less than honorable careers? Why not put an educator in position as Secretary of Education? Powell does not inspire confidence in a lot of Americans, he's not change, he's a dishonest hack who lied this nation into a very nasty and needless war. No, no Powell.

[ristakay]

I'm not really feeling Colin Powell as Secretary of Education. How about Marian Wright Edelman?

[tompoe]

Powell is a war criminal. He won't have time to play.

[Hare]

In the words of one I rather forget, THANKS BUT NO THANKS

[hortonhearsawho]

Someone from the Wasilla PTA....okay okay i am drinking.