Colin Powell Should Say Good Riddance to the GOP

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell obviously didn't read the speech that Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele gave to the state GOP chairmen the week before he knocked Dick Cheney, Rush Limbaugh, and the GOP hardcore on Face the Nation. Powell said as he has time and again that the GOP must be more moderate, compromising and inclusive to save itself from total ruin Steele as he has said time and again that the party must be more conservative, unyielding, and monolithic to save itself from total ruin.

Steele got raves from the party chairmen for his best Reagan stay the course line. Powell got the usual jeers. But it's jeers that he's used to by now. His well timed and publicized knock of Cheney, Limbaugh, and hard core party regulars simply further enshrines him as the GOP's odd man out.

That's probably just as well with Powell. He's still paying the party back for the harsh treatment he got from some within the Bush administration and from others in the GOP during his stint with Bush. That was nothing new.

Despite his impeccable military credentials, unwavering party loyalty, towering prestige, and diplomatic savvy, Powell always stirred unease, even deep furor in the bowels of most conservative Republicans. They were never awestruck by the general's bars, commanding personality, and public popularity. The anti-Powell grumble was heard loudly in 1996 when he made some soundings that he might seek the Republican presidential nomination. Pat Buchanan and ultra conservative groups went nuts.

They sternly warned that they would make "war" on him if he were really serious about grabbing the nomination. If Powell had ignored their threat and charged ahead in his bid for the party's nomination they would have pounded him for backing affirmative action and abortion rights. They would have dredged up the charge that he did not take Saddam Hussein out when he had the chance as chairman of the Joint Chief of Staffs during the Gulf War. The general got their message and quickly opted not to seek the nomination. As it turned out, they hammered him with the soft-on-Hussein charge anyway.

It made absolutely no difference that Reagan, Bush Sr., Gerald Ford, William Buckley and nearly every other Republican top cats wanted him on a Republican ticket. They remembered that in some opinion polls, Powell actually made it a horserace in a head to head contest with President Clinton. They figured that as the party's vice-presidential candidate he could breathe some life into the stillborn campaign of Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole in 1996 while not alienating the party's hard liners.

This was the stuff of delusion. If Powell had actually chosen to run he would have been under the most savage scrutiny of any candidate in American presidential history. The public and press would have mercilessly grilled him on foreign and domestic policy issues. Powell would have been forced to answer the same tough questions and face the same objections as the Republican vice-presidential candidate as he would have as a presidential candidate. And Republican hard rightists would have objected just as strongly to the prospect of Powell being one heartbeat away from the presidency.

In 2000, Powell knew that the same Republican rightists still itched to pick a fight with him. He quickly scotched any talk about a Republican presidential candidacy. The Secretary of State post was a much better deal. It gave him a high political profile without the risk of stirring the rancor of the right. As a Bush cabinet nominee, rather than a presidential candidate, Powell would implement, not make, policy. This supposedly kept him out of political harm's way.

But this also proved to be the stuff of delusion. The battle within the Bush administration between Iraq war hawks Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice over the war and the terrorism fight is well-documented. Powell's diplomacy-first tact, his deep understanding that a unilateral too aggressive military policy posed the dire risk of a terrible blowback to U.S. security, and his personal inclinations that Hussein was largely an impotent, contained dictator who had absolutely nothing to do with the terrorism threat was anathema to the hardliners. They still demanded that he vigorously and enthusiastically help beat the administration's war-drum policy. It was a bitter pill for Powell to swallow, but swallow he did.

By the time he walked, got the ax, or walked before he got the ax from his job with Bush, his influence in the GOP was nil. His endorsement of President Obama was strictly a formality. Powell by then was considered by Cheney, Limbaugh and GOP regulars as little more than a closet Democrat anyway. Their sentiment toward him defecting to Obama was good riddance.

Powell should return the sentiment and say good riddance to the GOP.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His weekly radio show, "The Hutchinson Report" can be heard on weekly in Los Angeles on Fridays on KTYM Radio 1460 AM and live streamed nationally on ktym.com

Comments

[IntellectuallyHonest]

Powell should have stood up to the wimps in the Republican Party and neoconservative movement who advocated the war in Iraq.

[dfranz]

I like watching Powel be a thorn in the side of the wing nuts. I predict that The Republican Party is about to split in two. Rational conservatives need something they can stand up for and he's the kind of person who appeals to the more moderate wing. Whether he becomes the figure head of the coming revolution, remains to be seen. This will further marginalize the Righteous right to a nagging minority status that makes a lot of noise but can't accomplish anything.

[Freesia2]

General Powell needs to give them the "one finger salute" and walk.

The GOP has turned into a sewer. No real, thinking conservative could align themselves with the likes of Cheney and Limbaugh and McConnell and Boehner, and they couldn't possibly take seriously the inanity and low wattage of Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann.

That party needs to crash and then anyone who's a real conservative will be there to rebuild. To stay in it in it's current form is to go down with them. General Powell, if he can't jump for whatever reason, needs to carefully pick his venues, steer clear unapologetically, and start making friends with people like Huntsman.

But as an Independent, frankly I'd applaud him for just walking away entirely. The GOP is as tainted as Guantamo. Some stains are indelible.

[Ohioan730]

Powell wouldn't be turned away from the Dem Party but he seems like the type who wont leave his camp even though he disagrees with them. I will be seriously surprised if he switched parties.

[AnnfromCA]

Agree 100%. He's not politically viable and hasn't been for a long time. This is just more "chip on the shoulder" stuff.

[FanofPaine]

He's way more politically viable than Cheney or Rush. And really, you need to get the chip off your shoulder. You've been lugging around a boulder size vendetta since last year. Take some of your own advice.

[MrBadger]

I believe Powell would be a formidable presidential candidate on ANY ticket. I haven't seen polls, but my guess is that even after getting pimped by Bush on WMD he STILL holds a high approval rating among independents. The Republicans are fools to throw away such a valuable asset. But thank goodness they are. Were they to rally behind Powell they could give Obama a run for his money in 2012.

[mamacat]

I too disagree with the headline of this article.

Since Mr. Powell is not in any elected office, he can not vote to stop the GOP tactic of shutting down the government to make the Dems look bad. He is not in a position to vote for cloture in the Senate. So, Mr. Powell should do what his conscience dictates, and if that means that he stays in the Republican Party, so be it.

If more Republican moderates, like Mr. Powell, start speaking up against the right-wing extremists now controlling their party, it may help, some day, in bringing the GOP back to a position of relevance on the national stage.

On the other hand, if Mr. Powell, as an outstanding American, decides to become a Democrat or an Independent, I would still have tremendous respect for him.

[jmpurser]

Where would Powell go if he leaves the GOP? And what would be his reasoning? He joined the party as a token black while the party was reaching a crescendo of racism and bigotry to win the South. He rejected the party responsible for the very programs that gave Powell his entire career in order to be the lawn jockey at the GOP country club. After that "defining" moment who else would have him?

[ladyfractal]

I served in General Powell's Army and I, as a proud Democrat, would welcome him with open arms.

[roshni]

I would welcome him to the democratic party too. Powell of one of the (very) few republicans I respect.

[jmpurser]

Why?

[justoverit333]

The percentage of Independents is very large now
and they tend to lean left. If the GOP continues to
shun the moderates, the Independents will be
leaning left even more.

[mamacat]

With all due respect, why does it always have to be about leaning left or right? In my opinion, the problem with the GOP is not just that they have become right-wing extremists, but that they have become unintelligible, dishonest, angry, and irrelevant.

[BrighterStar]

Powell lacks all credibility. He claims his point is that the Republican party needs to be more moderate. But, when the republicans nominated a moderate for president and the Democrats nominated a radical liberal he endorsed the democrat. I can't think of any reason republicans should listen to Powell.

[Shellly]

i think he voted against sarah palin, than in voting for barack obama.

[ladyfractal]

Obama is a radical liberal? Then what, pray tell, do you consider REALLY radical because Obama is only a radical to those who consider the far left wing of politics to begin with Ayn Rand.

[roshni]

What radical liberal? I'm missing something.

[FanofPaine]

I'm probably a "radical liberal" these days. Barack Obama is no radical liberal. Trust.

[FabricAssasin]

Powell was a man of honor who prestige was used to sell the lie of WMD in Iraq. Bush knew that neither the world, nor even the American people would believe those lies coming out of his (Bush's) mouth, so he conned Powell into making that speech at the UN so he could feed his monostrous ego and unleash the disaster that is Iraq on the world.
I think it would have been better if he had resigned immediately and spoken out, but I respect General Powell's sense of honor in doing what he did. However, I too hope that he can at last understand that there is nothing left in the Republican party leadership but greed, dishonor, bigotry and hatred, no "values" but those of absolute loyalty to the leadership, no matter how much evil it does to the country.
It's time General Powell. Independent or a new party if necessary, but come out into the light. Our children need to see and hear what American is and should be. The Republican Party has abused its history and position until it is well-nigh unredeemable. The only thing left is to let it true colors shine through, and not be softened by the few last people of honor left at its ragged edges, and pray for it's speedy disintegration before it can do much more harm.

[Thomas Castle]

GOP is has imploded into a bunch of irrevelant foo,ls trying to get aboard a sinking ship, but will eat their young to try to plug the holes....

[phuyay]

Powell didn't run for the Presidency because his wife was against it and thought he would be murdered. If he leaves the party, he would be turning his back on the Republican Presidents that promoted him to the highest military positions in the land. They promoted him because they felt he was the best man for the job. For these reasons, he will not split. Liberals are trying to make a big deal out of the Limbaugh-Powell controversy in hopes it will divide the party. All political parties have differences and divisions. I don't think the Republican right and Limbaugh are going to take the bait. After Obama and the Democrats bankrupt the country, the moderates, including Powell, and all the right wingers, including Limbaugh will unit to defeat Obama in 2012.

[allonfla]

LOL! Dude you are hilarious.­.....I can't wait to read more of your comments.

[larry278]

Colin Powell loves & cherishes his wife. His lady made great sacrifices during Gen Powell's military carreer(sp?); her sacrifices did not end when Gen Powell left the Army. Gen Powell know that he owes an unpayable debt of gratitude to her. There an impression among the public that Gen Powell listens to his lady & abidies by her wishes. Gen Powell is a practicing romantic. Ms Powell will be heard, respected, cherished & loved by Gen Powell. That is a given.

[roshni]

This is one of the reasons I still like and respect Colin Powell.

[justoverit333]

It wasn't just because of his wife that he didn't run.
He was told by his own party that they wouldn't back him.
We're not making a big deal out it - your buddy Limbaugh
is and your buddy Cheney are making a big deal out of it.
We like the guy more than they do.

[justoverit333]

it wasn't just because of his wife.

[gongylus]

I completely disagree. Your argument strongly suggests the reason Mr. Powell should STAY in the GOP. But, of course, for you a GOP purged of a moderate, inclusive voice does not represent a threat to the dems. The other argument that you suggest is more troubling: that a rightist movement, led by the Limbaugh's, et al, will tend to drive the left further left in response, thus ensuring a left-tending dem party. Therein lies the mischief in your thinking.