Passing the Torch

This past Sunday morning, Tom Brokaw, of NBC’s Meet the Press conducted an Interview with General Colin Powell, a man Senator John McCain would undoubtedly refer to as (an eloquent) friend. By Sunday, a fair amount of buzz had formed around Powell’s appearance. It was gleaned that in all likelihood, the General would endorse Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama.

Powell enters the arena as an accomplished and widely respected statesman. His credentials are hailed widely as impeccable. Of course most people know he took one for Team America, and acted, in his capacity as Secretary of State, as the front man and mouth piece of the Bush Administration, as it made its case for initiating and waging the War in Iraq. It was Powell who enunciated the case that Americans, and indeed the world, were threatened by Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD’s). On balance, it must also be noted that most people know he was the lone voice in the President’s Inner Circle who opposed the war.

But not so fast; how did Powell arrive at this pivotal point in the history of our nation? Well, let’s review a brief summary of his climb:

· 35 Years U.S. Army
· 4-Star General
· 16th National Security Advisor (President Reagan)
· Commander In Chief of the U.S. Army’s Forces Command
· 12th Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff (Presidents G. H. W. Bush/Bill Clinton)
· 65th Secretary of State (President G. W. Bush)
· Served in Vietnam
· Oversaw the Invasion of Panama
· Oversaw the Gulf War
· Earned the Legion of Merit
· Earned the Bronze Star
· Earned the Purple Heart

Throughout the course of General Powell’s military service, his political affiliation was muted. He had gained favor with both major Parties during a series of increasingly responsible assignments, and successful engagements. Democrats admired his moderate stance on military matters, while Republicans associated him with many of the successes of Republican Administrations.

After declaring himself a Republican, Powell campaigned for a number of Republican candidates. At one point in 1996, he was thought to be a potential adversary for Bill Clinton in the 1996 Presidential race. One 1996 Election Day exit poll cited Powell defeating Clinton 50-38 in a hypothetical match-up. Rumors surfaced at the time that Powell’s wife Alma, was concerned about his safety, and forbade him to run.

After taking himself out of the political equivalent of the direct line of fire, Powell campaigned for a number of Republicans, including John McCain, and eventually George W. Bush in the 2000 Presidential Election. That brings us full circle, as W made Powell his Secretary of State. The rest, as they say, is history. Disillusioned over the Administration’s insistence on staying the course on Iraq, and infuriated upon discovering the subterfuge relating to the unfounded assertions about WMD’s, Powell testified that the major sources providing information about the weapons stockpile were wrong. He was immediately asked to resign, and did so on November 15, 2004.

Since Powell never served as, or even ran for President, it is fair to ask, how is he Passing the Proverbial Torch? The fact is Powell constructed and executed a career path so flawlessly, the Republican hierarchy felt, more than a decade ago, he would make a worthy candidate for the nation’s highest office. At that time, his reputation and credibility were such that he was widely viewed as a viable candidate.

But 1996 was a different time in America. Moreover, Powell had sided with the GOP. If one takes any cues from the current race for President, it is difficult to fathom the Party of McCain and Palin, of Hannity and Colmes, of Limbaugh and the like, coalescing and providing vigorous support for Colin Powell. Actually the reality is, Alma likely made the right call.

But here we are in 2008, and the General has the opportunity to add credence to the candidacy of someone who not only may be better positioned in (American) history, but who has shown in may ways that he has mastered the qualities necessary to successfully lead our nation. As Virginia Governor Tim Kaine put it last Sunday morning after Powell’s announcement, "General Powell is seen as someone who is pragmatic, not as an ideologue, as a unifier, not a divider, and also as someone with a firm grip on and appreciation for issues of National Security." His endorsement is significant.

As for the General, he said even though he and Senator McCain were friends, and that he had labored over the decision, he believed McCain has been running a polarizing campaign, showed questionable judgment in selecting Governor Palin as his running mate, was erratic in his approach to dealing with the nation’s financial crisis, and acted inappropriately in spending so much time, energy, and focus on Bill Ayers.

He concluded, after months of review and analysis, that Senator Obama brings intellectual rigor to problem-solving, has been thoughtful and steady in responding to the financial crisis, will bring the forces of a new generation to solving the problems we face as a nation, and is a transformational figure.

There are many opinions on the importance of General Powell’s endorsement. Some say endorsements in general are overrated, others suggest this endorsement in particular was a racial thing, while a few insist Powell was attempting to punish the GOP because of the acrimonious split he had with the Party. Senator McCain publicly expressed disappointment that his friend endorsed Senator Obama. It has been reported that privately he is furious about the endorsement, and the fact that the General did not tell his directly, before hand. By and large, Republicans hated it; Democrats loved it. Senator Obama accepted it, graciously, and enthusiastically.

In fact though, Senator Obama has garnered many endorsements, from a wide variety of sources: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama_endorsements), including individuals, groups, and media outlets. For example, two notable newspaper endorsements include the Chicago Tribune, and the Los Angeles Times. The Tribune is one of Senator Obama’s hometown papers, but they have never endorsed a Democrat for President before. The Times has not endorsed a candidate for President since Richard Nixon in 1972. They have also never endorsed a Democrat.

As the 2008 Presidential Campaign winds down, there are13 days left, General Powell’s endorsement was important, but not critical for Obama. It was a good get; however, that Powell did not endorse McCain, as he did in 2000, probably was a bigger deal for the Senator from Arizona. In the end, as General Powell Passed the Torch, he handed off to Barack Obama a thoughtful and dignified legacy, a tradition of servant leadership that advanced his personal aspirations and ambitions, but more importantly one that imbued our nation with an effective leadership that it desperately need through a variety of crises, including Desert Storm, and 9-11. At ease, General. I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday.


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