In a recent time when the U.S Democratic camp was sparing no efforts to win over the wavering voters and states, Colin Powell, the former U.S Secretary of State and the first African-American who occupied the top U.S military post, gave his strong endorsement to the Democratic Barack Obama's White House bid. The Republican veteran said on NBC program 'Meet the Press' Sunday that Obama had 'met the standard' to lead. 'I think he would be a transformational president. For that reason I will be voting for Senator Barack Obama,' said Powell.
As the first African-American chairman of the joint chiefs of staff in the U.S history, Powell publicly expressed his approval to the Democratic presidential nominee at the critical juncture in the lead up to the general election set on November 4, which has been considered a matter of great weight in Obama's bid for hosting the White House. Therefore, after the announcement, Obama called Powell to thank him for the endorsement and said 'how honored he was to have it.'
On the rumors about the personal preferential weighing he placed on the mix-raced Obama, Powell rebutted saying Obama's racial background had little to do with his vote, and it was the economic crisis engulfing the United States that had made up his mind, in addition to McCain's choice of Alaska Governor Palin as his vice presidential nominee, who he thought was not ready to be president of the United States. In a stinging rebuff to Republican candidate John McCain, Powell said the Republican nominee was a little unsure as to how to deal with the economic problems that the U.S is facing.
Powell said Obama, in contrast, had come out of recent weeks looking presidential. 'He displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge and an approach to looking at economic problems like this, and picking a vice president (Joseph Biden) that I think is ready to be president,' remarked Powell in the TV interview.
But analysts said the in-depth reason under Powell's disquiet over the Republican Party might lie in his long-term disgruntlement over the Republican policies. When in office, Powell, as the Republican veteran, was thought of 'a practical mind in diplomatic affairs, while keeping mild and neutral in political affairs.' In 2004, he was forced to step down as a result of his disagreement with the hardline political opinions held by the then vice president and Secretary of Defense. That is why his endorsement on Obama was interpreted by some Republicans as a political retaliation.
Some Republicans even said pointedly that Powell's vote for the Democratic Obama was something of 'a cup of hot milk plus a few biscuits, which could soothe the man who is suffering insomnia, as he is upset by the lack of experience to be the president.' Even if Powell is a political figure of great weight in the U.S, how much weight his preference could carry will still need to be measured on the decisive day.
By People's Daily Online
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