Colin Powell made America look good to the world when he appeared on Meet The Press.
I was so proud to hear him speak and say the things that really are a part of the greatness of America.

We have done some shameful things and for McCain and Palin and Joe the plumber, to say "We are America and we do not have to apologize" Ridiculous, Stupidity, Arrogant, comes to mind. As we teach our kids, when you do something wrong, the thing that makes you great is when you admit you were wrong and apologize.

When you think you are big and bad and untouchable, that is when you are at great risk. and for years we al have heard, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

We can protect this country, and strengthen our economy without using Fear, Hate, and Lies.
Together we survive, divided we perish.

A leader changes attitudes.

I am still upset with Gen Powell for not doing more in the face of all that has happened in this administration...

But he is a leader and today he demonstrated that. His words were very well thought out as if he took a scalpel to the problem areas for the republican party and the McCain camp. He honored Senator Obama and I agree that he has the potential to become an extraordinary president.

finally colin powell.....thank you kindly....some will say you did it simply bc obama is black...be prepared for that attack line.....for all the years that blacks have voted for whites, the question was never raised as to why blacks are voting for whites....now all of a sudden, a black person is racist if they do not cast that vote for the status quo.....for all it's worth, i thought your answer was succinct and the most damaging of all was your defense of muslim americans....it is not enough to say obama is not muslim b/c that doesn't explain what is wrong with being a muslim.....we are nation that is supposed to be tolerant...toodles for bringing up the subject...due to the tone of mccain's rallies

i find it difficult for any non-white to cast that vote for mccain/palin....why in the hell would a non-white wish to be a part of a group of people who thinks you are lesser than???? i get the sense that if you are not blond hair/blue eyes/irish and christian, get lost.....i dont ever get that feeling from obama/biden....america looks more like obama/biden rallies....if not due to issues and policies, the tone and feeling of acceptance is enough to make all of us, whites and non-whites flock to the campaign that truly embodies that which is america the great-the america we all love so much!

Over the years, I had lost a tremendous amount of respect for Colin Powell. I thought he could have brought down the Bush administration for their ill advise War in Iraq. I could not believe that he allowed his good name a judgement to be used to legitimize the Iraq War . His endorsement today of Obama was a pure class act. However, I am amazed at the MSM today, for the part of the endorsement that they chose to make the focal point of their show today. From CNN, MSNBC and Faux News they all pretty much ignored the smearing of people by equating them to terrorist because they practice the islamic faith. I have been waiting for someone from Obama, to any high profile politician to state the case Powell made regarding the insinuation that if one is a muslim than they must also a terrorist. Therefore, they are anti-American. His statement regarding this issue I thought was rather outstanding. I still find it amazing that up until today, McCain and the RNC have been allowed to get away with blatantly suggesting that Obama may be a terrorist and his anti-America. This is something we should not have to deal with in 2008.

Thank you. The picture is speaks volumes, and I think of that boy who was the same age as one of my daughters.

And good for Secretary Powell. To the extent that he needed to redeem himself for the mistakes he made as Secretary of State, he went beyond the call of duty today, both in his compelling defense of our Muslim brothers and sisters and with his ringing and heartfelt endorsement of Senator Obama.

Recommended and then some.

Finally, truly peaceful and powerful conviction, from a source that is unimpeachable. Hatred is unAmerican.

I think Powell knows that in 2003 he demonstrated too much loyalty and not enough courage. Today he partially reversed that. Endorsing Obama was a pretty politically safe thing to do, but defending the patriotism of Muslim Americans was courageous and classy. He should be at least as admired for today's action, as he is criticized for his U.N. speech 5 years ago.

With his endorsement of Obama, Colin Powell has gone some way to redeeming himself in my eyes for aiding and abetting (and helping give some legitimacy to) this Administration. His reputation is forever stained for helping bring about the Iraq war, but his fine and irrefutable words - only the moonbats of the Right would try to refute them - speak volumes.

Hopefully it's the final nail in the coffin of McCain-Palin.

Thanks for this post Mark! I was so happy to hear Powell's words and frankly a little disappointed that Democrats weren't standing up and saying it a long time ago!

When I heard that Powell was endorsing Obama my first thought was too little, too late, why didn't he do it in the primary, but when I actually heard what he said, particularly this part of it, I, too, was moved to tears. It sounded like Powell was a little choked up when he was telling the story as well. In the past week when McCain has been patting himself on the back non-stop for his decency in correcting that woman at the town hall meeting when she said she didn't trust Obama, he's an Arab by saying "No, ma'am, he's a good American", it's even more important to be reminded that not only can a person be of Arab descent (which Obama is not) but even a Muslim (which Obama is not) and yet STILL be a good American!!

I only wish more members of the media had picked up on what I think was the most important aspect of the endorsement.

This is how the U.S. works. African American veterans returning from the world wars were lynched for wearing their uniforms, in the South. When it comes to barbarism, the U.S. is the champion of the western world.

I never dreamt that the single most eloquent passage in the 2008 campaign would come from Colin Powell. The photo reference reinforced this line a moment before:

"... But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president?"

Finally someone says 'what is wrong with being a muslim'. Finally.

I'm so glad the photo is included in this post. It speaks volumes.

Powell went on to say, in a press conference afterwards, that these types of statements are repeated on Al Jezeera and do nothing to improve our standing the world nor among Arab people. They only hurt any diplomatic efforts.

I'm sorry, I don't care what Colin Powell thinks about anything.

thanks for the pretty speech powell, but, too little too late.

i don't understand what the fuss ever was about powell aside from he was black and had managed to kiss ass his way to the top.

it makes for a nice sound bite, but shows zero courage.

he will never serve in public office again.

it just shows how degraded our public discourse has become when someone is praised for stating the obvious at even this late a date.

What he said needed saying. But it does nothing to vindicate him. The best it does as concerns him is condemn all those who are in a position to say it -- McSlimer, anyone? -- but don't.