Colin Powell Endorses Obama

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/19/AR2008101900598.html?hpid=topnews

Colin L. Powell yesterday became the most prominent Republican to endorse Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, with the former secretary of state and retired four-star general declaring the senator from Illinois to be a "transformational" figure who would "electrify our country . . . [and] the world."

Powell did what he felt was right, I unfortunately believe he is totally wrong. Son and father don't agree either
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/colin-powell-splits-with-son-michael-over-white-house-race-2008-10-20.html

CinC wrote:

Powell said he was concerned about what he characterized as a recent negative turn of Republican candidate Sen. John McCain's campaign, such as the campaign's attempts to tie Obama to former 1960s radical Bill Ayers.

"I think that's inappropriate. I understand what politics is about -- I know how you can go after one another, and that's good. But I think this goes too far, and I think it has made the McCain campaign look a little narrow. It's not what the American people are looking for," he said.

Well, all I can say is he's wrong. It all goes back to the level playing field: would you think it was okay if McCain was associated with an abortion clinic bomber? Ayers represents the worst of his generation, and as recently as 2001 he said he wished he would have done MORE (click to view). And this man is a "respected professor"? What is WRONG with people?

Obama IS tied to him. Here's another connection recently uncovered, his own words, in print....


Obama praises Ayers book


It DOES matter. I just wished more people would realize how much.

Well, there's G Gordon Liddy. For his role in Watergate, Liddy was convicted of conspiracy, burglary and illegal wiretapping, and received a 20-year sentence. He served a total of five and half years in prison, including over 100 days in solitary confinement, before his sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter and he was released on September 7, 1977.

August 26, 1994, Liddy wrote "Now if the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms comes to disarm you and they are bearing arms, resist them with arms. Go for a head shot; they're going to be wearing bulletproof vests." ... "They've got a big target on there, ATF. Don't shoot at that, because they've got a vest on underneath that. Head shots, head shots.... Kill the sons of bitches."

In 1998 Liddy hosted a fundraiser at his house for John McCain's re-election campaign at which guests could have their pictures taken with McCain and Liddy. Over the years, Liddy, who has referred to McCain as "an old friend," has made at least four contributions totaling $5,000 to the senator's campaigns -- including $1,000 in 2008.

Many 60's radicals are now mainstream, respected authors, professors, etc. I don't truly think its fair to expect Obama, at the stage in his career the relationship started, to feel a need to vett every public figure he came across for traces of past questionable links to criminal activity. He'd need a full time staff to even begin such an activity. If Obama were at this time suggesting Ayers was going to be a key player in his cabinet or something then I could expect the vetting process to be necessary but it seems unfair to me to criticize Obama for ' palling around ' with college professors and author's who's personal past history he possibly didn't delve into.

I don't care about Liddy, it was just a way of showing that McCain has "interesting" friends as well. We can play tit for tat all day long.

BTW, Aryes wrote in a letter to the editor in the Chicago Tribune, "I condemn all forms of terrorism — individual, group and official". He also condemned the September 11 terrorist attacks in that letter. "Today we are witnessing crimes against humanity on our own shores on an unthinkable scale, and I fear that we may soon see more innocent people in other parts of the world dying in response."

When Ayers was asked in a January 2004 interview, "How do you feel about what you did? Would you do it again under similar circumstances?" He replied: "I've thought about this a lot. Being almost 60, it's impossible to not have lots and lots of regrets about lots and lots of things, but the question of did we do something that was horrendous, awful? ... I don't think so. I think what we did was to respond to a situation that was unconscionable." (It should be noted that no one was injured in the bombings, the bombings did minimal damages, and Aryes was never convicted. This in no way means that I approve of the actions of that time so long ago, just that the act was meant to focus a light on, and put a stop to, the death and distruction playing out in Vietnam.)

And finally, the words by Aryes that were twisted by the writer of the original link.

Quote :

On September 9, 2008, Aryes wrote "The one thing I don't regret is opposing the war in Vietnam with every ounce of my being.... When I say, 'We didn't do enough,' a lot of people rush to think, 'That must mean, "We didn't bomb enough shit."' But that's not the point at all. It's not a tactical statement, it's an obvious political and ethical statement. In this context, 'we' means 'everyone.'

just curious sponge - that sounded like it was directed at my response. I was agreeing with you I thought.

No, Morgan, it was an addendum to the Liddy post above that. I do agree with what you said, very astute. I wish I had said it.

.....and Renee and amain, a for you as well. This is a difficult time, and even if we don't always agree politically, I still value you as my friends.....