Colin Powell weighed in this morning on what he called a "dark vein of intolerance" in some parts of the Republican Party that "still sort of look down on minorities."
Powell, a Republican, said the party has to "take a look at itself" and "think first about what's the party actually going to represent?"
The former Secretary of State also endorsed President Obama's nominee to fill another cabinet position: Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary. Powell applauded Hagel's "very distinguished public service record," and argued that many of the criticisms opponents have levied against Hagel were fair. Although, he said, "when they go over the edge and say because Chuck said 'Jewish lobby' he's anti-Semitic, that's disgraceful."
Ultimately, Powell thinks Hagel will be confirmed by the Senate.
(Watch the full interview with Colin Powell here)
Also don't miss our roundtable discussion that broke down the the coming battles over the presidents cabinet, the gun-control proposals that Vice President Biden will present, and whether Newark Mayor Cory Booker will be New Jersey's next Senator.
We'll be back next week. If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
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Secretary Powell had me right up until he started talking about gun control…With the right ammunition Bushmasters make excellent home defense weapons:
Gun control by Executive Order is the second step after the Patriot Act on the path to dictatorship!
Still waiting for the truth of what happened in Benghazi!
BTW David, Thank you for not wasting time on the Woo signature. I changed channels when Liar Lance's name was mentioned.
As long as you keep your size 2 three cornered tin foil hat you will be ok.
The future of GOP?
The Elephants are now among the endangered species...all because of self-destruction.
The newest Gallup poll shows that 47% of Americans identify themselves Democrats, 42% as RepubliCONs. Only a year ago, the same poll showed the parties roughly even.
Well, then the GOP has actually done something good, by destroying its own brand.
George
Yup, conspiracy theorists are always welcome on blogs, mosdtly for theirt entertainment value. Keep it up, we need a good chuckle now and again.
Not sure where this comes from, I never mentioned any conspiracy's. I consider myself and Independent. While I admit I voted for Obama, the fact is the citizenry was lied to at election time and no viable explanation has been put forward by the administration, CIA or media! That the left is willing to overlook this is puzzling. The Left would be screaming were Obama a Republican!
And Johntho, My tri cornered hat is considerable larger than size 2! I will however keep the tin foil handy! :-)
PS We can discuss this further after David P. & Hillary C. testify, having sent their underlings in their sted.
I am dismayed at the use of words such as "lunatics" and "crazies" by Mike Murphy and saddened that no one called him on it. That is a big part of the problem whereby people with mental illnesses are totally disenfranchised and treated worth that dirt. If we are to reform the system in the US that is as good a place to start as any; a public awareness campaign showing that people with mental illnesses are "human beings" with an illness. What do you think happens to people who are alienated from the mainstream of society and treated without respect? don't you think they become angry first, and things get worse from there. We need to deal with this as a society, to change the image of people with mental illnesses and how we relate to them. I recommend you watch some of the shows on Charlie Rose in his Brain Series where he has specialists in mental illness and a person with mental illness as a guest, and you will see what respect, caring, and compassion is. That is the only place to start.
I wholeheartedly agree with Powell saying the right wing gop's have gone too far with their stances AGAINST anyone who doesn't agree with what they endorse. I believe this is very correct, and they seem to be enforcing this belief by blocking almost everything coming out of Obama's office. They don't seem to care about Americans as much as they care about POWER. They'd be happiest with ABSOLUTE POWER. This is my opinion. and I can't help it if it's right.
If you want to see an example of republican "absolute power" look no farther then Michigan, and Wi., it isn't a pretty picture for the working people of either state. This agenda must be stopped and turned around if the middle class is to survive.
The only "Middle Class" that counts with the Right are the business owners. Workers are cannon folder! As King Longshanks said in the movie Braveheart...Send in the Irish, Arrows cost money, Dead men cost nothing!
TO: Johntho who wrote:
Don't forget Texas.
TO: George Henry-4408356 who wrote:
Texas has average people voting against the own best interests in favor of "business owners interests first".
They can't sue their doctors if the doctors make a mistake.
Their employee wages are among the lowest in the country.
Texas employers do NOT furnish their employees with health insurance.
All of these were approved by Texas voters, against their own best interests of protecting themselves against medical malpractice, against employee unions that protect workers, their pay, and their fringe benefits such as health insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance.
The rep/teabaggers are going to have a fit over Gen Powell's assessments of his party.
My reasons for getting out of the GOP after 35 years was it finally dawned on me that they were going the way of the Taliban, KKK and many Other wacko job fringe groups.
They hate woman, free choice, the elderly, weak, sick, gays and talk the walk of wanting "smaller" Government, but try to Control things Their way. They have lost ANY credibility they ever had.
The "religious right" is No Better than the Taliban.
Sad because the GOP will be a faint memory.
Thank you for deleting my link. (larrycorreia.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/carbine-vs-shotgun-vs-pistol-for-home-defense/)
This how most republicans feel today about their party. Even though I'm a demorcrat most of the people i went to school with or work with are republicans and they state the same things Colin Powell did. This party has really showed their real agenda over the past 5 years and it is shamefull. I hated Bush but i respect that he never tried to keep people down or treat them like 2nd class citizens. This new age republican is turning in to the whig party and they are no where to be found now.
Oh NO you mean Powell isn't a Republican after all? Lets see, he supported the most far left politician in the history of the U.S..
Powell is a strictly race based voter. I don't know why he doesn't come clean and admit it.
No conservitive could possibly support Obama. Get real!
No REAL conservative would vote Republican today. Conservatives believe in paying their bills. This Republican Party views the faith and credit of the US as a bargaining chip. No loyal American would put America at such risk.
If you think Obama isd to the far left, you've been drinking. Obama is a pure centrist. The problem is that the right has gone so far right they can't recognize where the middle went to.
I'm alternately amused or amazed at the charges leveled against Obama. Some call him a Hitler, a Nazi dictator, others call him a socialist or even a commie. In Europe, they consider Obama a "moderate," and that's pretty much the way I view him. He's too willing to compromise with the wingnuts to be a "far-left" politician. I can only wonder how far right a person must be to consider the President "far left." It's mind-boggling, to say the least.
Obama a Centrist? Those in Europe believe he is a moderate? Interesting considering those in Europe freely announce they are socialist or communist so I guess they could consider him a moderate. Robert Warner I find it interesting that the idea of trying to pull back spending by holding up the raising of our debt ceiling to get cuts in the budget is not paying your bills. This country has not paid its bills for years and its only accelerating. We are a debtor nation and raising the ceiling only makes it worse.
Kirk
They admit to communism? Not so.
By the way, tell me what's wrong with a little soclialist influence (short of pure socialism). If you let the pure capitlaists reign, we're really in deep crap. Remember the robber barons from your high school history?
Does anybody remember what party openly had KKK members in the Congress?
Which party fought the civil rights bills and which party sponsered them?
Powell has no credability as a conservitive. Sorry that dog don't hunt!
If you are attackiing Democrats, keep in mind that the republican party is not the party that elected Lincoln. The party today would support JW Booth.
I've heard this argument before, but Ferro is correct- the GOP is not the Party of Lincoln. Ever since the Democratic Party embraced the Civil Right cause led by Martin Luther King, the country's racists and rednecks all alligned with the Republican Party and Progressives aligned with the Democrats. Hence, the Republicans strength in the home of slavery, the South. As well as the monolithic southern stance against both elections of Barack Obama.
Your an idiot, cuz Lincoln is rolling over in his grave right now over what is party became. You talking aout 1865 compared to now? Really
Robert Byrd? Dimocrap from West Virginia. Admitted Grand Wizard.
Robert, why the use of the word "redneck"? Thats a little racist of you isn't it?
I'm starting to think that Powell is a nut job. Shame on him for supporting Obama!
Powell's not the nut job..
Colin Powell is the biggest phony I have ever seen. And he is nothing but an opportunist. He is a Republican when it suits his personal situation, but miraculously blabbers on condemning them when he doesn't need them anymore. I can not and will not listen to this man as I absolutely do not respect him. I do think he is a nut job also.
If the Tea Party calls itself the Tea Party after the Colonists raid on tea on British ships in Boston Harbor, and if those Colonists were as extreme and radical as these Tea Party nuts are, then perhaps the King of Enland at the time ( George the First?) was actually glad to get rid of all the Colonists. They probably did not want to pay taxes in England, either. Just thinkin'.
Francie: Last I checked this is a free country to think an make decisions without others forcing you to do what they say...He was expressing his feelings...the truth stings I know but everything he said was true...an x-republican....same reasons.
General Powell, saying people have a right to their opinion, but some opinion is shameful. Obama is a socialist, lazy, and shucks and jives the public. Shameful discourse. A former Governor is a slut, whore, twat, bitch. Acceptable discourse. Thanks General for clearing that up. It will be interesting to see what discourse gets censored by the moderator.
The General should just become a Dem...I would seriously consider voting for him though even as a Repuke..A good man and has Brains and speaks with logic.
The Iraq war is a deal breaker for me. He was a key player in the biggest mistake ever made, by any country. The one slack I'll cut him is that I believe his part in that debacle was unintentional- but only his.
Robert
he was just being the team player. He had little choice. Although it is true that resigning would have probably made a big effect!
You are right Ferrosynthesis-3490482 he had no choice but to say what those behind him had told him. Wonder who he is doing it for now?
The TeaParty has rebranded U.S. conservatism from a traditional business oriented pragmatic party to one that coddles bigots, a party which has agreed to give safehaven to racists and tinfoil hat-wearing conspiracy theorists in pursuit of the once successful coalition of the crazies. Any sane person knew how far the once-proud Republican Party had sunk, in the pursuit of votes, when prominent party members endorsed the Birthers.
General Powell is a man of integrity and courage...too bad the Republican party represented in Congress are rebels without a cause to actually benefit the US and are unwilling to demonstrate any degree of integrity...gutless, mean spirited and devoid of any constructive ideas, it is a party in its death throws...
For those of you who believe that Obama is seeking dictatorial powers, you had better look at the extreme right of the Republican party...it is their way or the highway. Also for all the hate these same TP Republicans hold for the US Gov., they certainly have little trouble sucking at the Gov's teat...
The Tea Party is against excessive government size. Does anybody think that government is too small ? Not intrusive enough ?
The only thing too small these days are the brains of the TPers. They only know how to criticize, which is the easy route to gain attention. But nothing they offer benefits the greater good for the US and its citizens...nothing...
Yeah, we saw how the Republican idea of "government" responded to the Katrina disaster. They figured if they showed how incompetent government could be (at least under their rule), everybody would be happy to have smaller government...but somehow that idea backfired on them.
Americans just want efficient government, not just smaller.
No, the TP is against taxing the rich, as they were birthed by the Koch brothers. They had no problem with taxing the middle class and poor. They are nothing but the must unrealistically conservative faction of the GOP, dominated and created by bigots and racists. They seek the disolution of all social programs and all laws that would protect workers, the poor and the elderly- such as medicare, medicaid, foodstamps and OSHA. They rail against any regulations to protect workers' health and safety and lobby against any laws to protect our environment. Their bigotry and racism materialize in fraudulent PR campaigns which damage our political process, such as "Birthers" and "Climate Deniers". In pursuit of their own racist ideology, they are perfectly prepared to let our country fail. It would please them.
I would agree with you Socrates II if you refer to some of the Tea Party grass root members but Robert Warner is 100% correct regarding the Tea Party leaders.
What does a "conservative" mean anymore? We endured 8 years of a "compassionate conservative" president who started two unpaid wars, cut taxes when we needed more revenue, spent money like it grew on trees, and actually expanded government.
The Grand Old Party is gone. What we see today is a party ruled by plutocrats who stir up the emotions of racists and religious zealots.
Ron if your budget was short you would spend less or get a second job. Too many people believe that we should just tax and borrow more. Did Bush spend too much, yes he added drugs to medicare\medicaid. Soon to be bankrupt. Soon the US will be like Greece. I am not rich. Not even close but even I know more taxes won't fix our problem.
Why doesn't David just move MTP to Fox? Again today (as almost every Sunday) he had an extremely right-wing biased show: 3 Repubs & 1 Dem. I know GE and Boeing are worried about defense cuts, but when did unbiased journalism start taking a back seat to corporate profits?
could agree with you more...i stopped watching the show ages ago...russert wasn't much better though...every time i see david, i think of him dancing with rove...remember? disgusting idiots...
meant to say "could not" agree with you more...
ITS HARD TO NOT PAY ATTENTION...the thing is its depressing...its like being in pre-school...at each others throat...over nothing...and the band plays on like on the TITANIC
Does anyone really thin the GOP has a future in this country? Who can they pick for 2016 that actually has a chance and is not a complete nutjob?
The problem is their grip on the south. The bigots down there will never vote Democrat. It is their dependable bloc.
The south will never rise again with their 400 year old thinking and the way the country is becoming more diverse. It makes me proud that i wasnt raised there and got a good education.
No, they won't rise again. They'll just put as many TeaParty roadblocks in the way of America's success as they possibly can.
I'd venture to say that most of the anti-Powell clowns here are also die hard gun fanatics. Not surprised by that.
Do you want me to trust you or whatever militia you want to form, over the US government? The government once led by Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Truman, Ike, Nixon, Reagan. George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton, now led by Barack Obama. The government who's built the most formidable military to protect us, the government who financed research and development that gave us the polio vaccine, lunar landing, interstate highway, Hoover dam, the TVA, the internet and plenty other great American accomplishments? How would you earn my trust and admiration.? What will you bring to the table other than your praying in the school, and the incestuous relationship with your guns. You'll pick your AR15 over the life of a 6 year old girl. No sir, I would not trust you with governing our exceptional nation based on your petty and narrow view of life and the world we all live in
I trust Colin Powell's judgement over any chicken hawk's in the Senate. He was our senator and not an Israeli one and will be our Secretary of Defense, not Israel's
You are all invited to celebrate the President's second swearing in and the festivities that will follow. Thank you Mr. President for your unbending service. Those grey hairs are the rewards for your unselfishness. God bless you and your beautiful family
who made powelll the authority on repubs and bigotry or being intolerant i have seen it on both sides of all the fences the sad news is that it is being taught that's right being taught to kids at anearly age by all colors or blends everyday and guess what the present saviour is not doing anything for america either maybe the unions and the 47% takers are that is also being taught aat an early age america has become the land of the takers and you owe me something we are more concerned about gays and lesbians being married and making marijuana legal than we are about real marriage and family and being responsible for our children with both parents in the home we are also concerned more for those who have never worked and contributed to our society that we are creating more opportunities for replication of such a poor life create an enironment for those who will to have the opportunity to be someone who contributes to society aan feels good about themselves and what they have
Most folks forget that Mr Powell was raised a Democrat and has always been. As a young Army Officer he played the system as a pretend Republican to gain sponship to move through the ranks. Check his record he has never done anything considered outstanding as an officer, just served at a time when the leader needed a minority four star. His vote was baised on color more than the canidate and issues. To bad Dr king is not here to speek to so many who have sold themself to the Democrat Party. Like Dr King said judge a person by the content of his character and not the color of his skin. Compare the content of the character of Mr Obama and Mr Romney, one is hidden and the other is completely open. One has a wealth of experience and the other has very little. Mr Powell and others will some day have to answere why they put color of the skin above the needs of our country.
Would you be so kind as to explain what these needs of the country might be?