In an interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos during ABC’s special inauguration day coverage this morning, former Secretary of State Colin Powell lashed out at people in the Republican Party who spent the last four years spreading “birther nonsense” and other “things that demonize the president,” calling on GOP leaders to denounce such talk — publicly.
“Republicans have to stop buying into things that demonize the president. I mean, why aren’t Republican leaders shouting out about all this birther nonsense and all these other things? They should speak out. This is the kind of intolerance that I’ve been talking about where these idiot presentations continue to be made and you don’t see the senior leadership of the party say, ‘No, that’s wrong.’ In fact, sometimes by not speaking out, they’re encouraging it. And the base keeps buying the stuff.
“And it’s killing the base of the party. I mean, 26 percent favorability rating for the party right now. It ought to be telling them something. So, instead of attacking me or whoever speaks like I do, look in the mirror and realize, ‘How are we going to win the next election?”
But Powell, who served as National Security Adviser under President Ronald Reagan, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush and as the nation’s top diplomat under President George W. Bush, didn’t stop there.
“The Republican Party ought to be out there not restricting voting by voter ID, but saying we want everybody to vote,” he told Sawyer and Stephanopoulos. “It’s a party that has to stop saying, ‘We are going to appeal to you with new messages.’ You need policies — the country is becoming more minority.”
Powell, who endorsed President Obama’s reelection bid in October, said that his critiques of the GOP have left some wondering, “Why are you still a Republican?”
Read More at ABC News . By Michael Falcone.
Photo Credit: jdlaisca (Creative Commons)
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My question is : are you still an American? General, you once were a very highly respected military man, who we (mistakenly) believed was essentially without bias regarding race. It has already been put to you sir, but do you have even one shred of evidence that Obama is Constitutionally qualified to be President. If so, let the rest of the world see it. Obama has never presented any valid evidence that he was even born in this country. The preponderance of the evidence which has been permitted the public indicates that indeed he is not. If you believe that this is somehow not important, therefore saying the Constitution is not important, you have betrayed us all. To go around the country using this slur "Birther" is nothing short of ignorant. There is a valid question here, still, and you as a General in the Armed forces should be examining the question instead of casting aspersions on patriots.
Excellent response!!!
I agree Ray
EdinNola, Terrific response!! If the president has nothing to hide then why is he hiding almost every bit of his past? He uses lawyers and the liberals favorite tactic of lie, hide and deny then demonize your critics by name calling and insults. The most importatnt tactic is to never, never , under any circumstances tell the truth. I pity Obama. The day will come when the TRUTH will out and what then? What teleprompter speeh or bumper sticker rhetoric will save him then? I guess he will just blame it all on Bush and the Clingers.
What has happened to this guy. No voter ID.H must have lost his mind. Voting by illegals,terrorists and Obummer socialists to get him elected. Voter fraud in Ohio,Philly (57 polling locations) and how many multiple votes,votes by deceased. Let's call in the Russians & Chinese they might as well have a vote too!!
AMERICA:
By denying that Obama is not a natural born citizen of USA, will make the issue more popular and the people will believe more and more to be true. IT is a GREAT publicity for our case against OBAMA, if more celebrity and famous people talk about Obama's INELIGIBILITY, we will soon millions of believers that will march to Washington with us….We need more publicity and announcements and declarations to the American people, by the RICH AND FAMOUS people in politics, in the medias, in the world of the MOVIES. We want to hear from all the celebrities to deny that OBAMA is not a natural born citizen. Good job Mr. Powell, we need more people like you to tell the world who Obama is.
AMERICA:
Since Obama immersed from obscurity, America is still in a state of DOUBTS,CONFUSIONS and UNCERTAINTIES, that this man who was elected president, YET did not have "enough proof and evidences", that was REALLY QUALIFIED to be president. What happened, was that millions of gullible, brainless people, believed him to be what he claimed he is. Obmbmbm was lying and continue to lie, until he will be removed from his rented White House to his very own "Cell" surrounded with bars and concrete cemented building. Or he will spend his retirement ifn KENYA, where he was born to plow the fields, he father used to herd the cows and goats. Our wish will soon be fulfilled, if and when we all MARCH TO WASHINGTON, to demand his resignation., We really a leader like FLOYD BROWN, DR. JAMES DAVID MANNING, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Atty. Mike Zullo, Dr. Orly Taitz, Donald Trump, Joseph Farah, E.T. Williams, Thomas Washington and many more. We need you and your family and friends to go with us when we march to Washington.
JWL: This no good Rino should be kicked out of the Republican Party. This "BUM" who endorsed this Communist for reelection showed then just how much of a no good he is. Now this Communist so-called president calls for greater back ground checks on gun buyers but according to this Powell we shouldn't be asking questions about Obamies background.Why not? If he will spend upwards of three million to hide his background then we know for sure something is wrong. Could it be that Communist Franklin Marshall Davis might come out as his father???
Powell is talking to the wrong crowd. He should be encouraging his bud, Barry Soetoro (AKA Barack Hussein Obama) to release his REAL birth certificate, explain why he is using a SSN issued to a Connecticut man who was born in 1890, and release his passport records. If Barry did these simple things, then the veil would be lifted and the questions would be over.
Powellis a just another igger kissing the ass of Barrack Obutthole Like most iggers he voted for this Oreo simply because he was black and Powell is no republican and some one should tell him to get out.all the respect I had for him is long gone.
Because mr racist one time respected now permanent loser former general, mr sooetoro is not a citizen therefore there is no nonsense about this. It is obvious that Obscumbo was born – his birth is not questioned – it is his citizenship and thus his llegitimacy, eligibility and loyalty. Mr bonehead it is crystal clear that obscumbo has violated all of these. Hillary Clinton was the first person followed by her irreverent husband that drew attention to Obscumbos lack of citizenship, qualifications and intelligence. There have been several legal inquiries as far back as 2007 but the first thing Obscumbo did as a pseudo president was seal his records. How do you respond to a liar fraud who is afraid to reveal his Kenyan roots and ties to a Saudi King. Your argument about obscumbos legitimacy is groundless until you unseal his records!