This Is Leadership
…
Colin Powell on Meet The Press
This is leadership, not so much because of Colin Powell’s decision to endorse Barack Obama - which I admit to applauding - but because of his style and substance, his demeanor.
Measured, thoughtful, articulate, even-handed. He has praise for both men running for president. He correctly blames partisan bullbleep manufactured by hacks and hatchetmen in both parties - not the individual candidates - for the polarization of the campaign and the electorate.
This is a man who has been a Republican and has served in the Bush Administration. He disagrees with Barack Obama on several key issues. Gen. Powell (Ret.) is devoted to national security and a strong military presence, and understands the threat of militant Islamic terrorist groups. Yet, when he observes Republican attack ads suggesting that Barack Obama is a Muslim, (Obama is a Christian), he is willing to consider even the prospect of a Muslim president. Colin Powell asks the right question: So what?
He finishes up by noting that it’s time for the next generation of political leaders to emerge and assume the leadership of the country. Indeed.
I’ll tell you what: After watching this YouTube clip of the Meet the Press interview, I have a new Dream Ticket - if we could go back in time about two years:
Powell/Obama, in that order. How far we’ve come, when it is actually possible that the two brightest lights in the political firmament are two intellectually discerning and articulate African-American men, from dissimilar backgrounds, with many differences on issues and policy, but both inclined to transcend the political bullbleep. Especially Colin Powell, the real straight-talking maverick in Washington D.C..
Maybe we’ve finally moved into the 21st Century.
