Robert Parry: Is Obama Getting 'Colin-ized'?

[babylonsister]

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/062307.html

Is Obama Getting 'Colin-ized'?

By Robert Parry
June 23, 2007

Sen. Barack Obama’s decision to seek foreign policy advice from former Secretary of State Colin Powell has boosted the Democratic presidential hopeful in the eyes of Washington’s insider crowd, but the move suggests that Obama is positioning himself as a conciliator rather than a battler, which may unnerve the party’s “base.”

snip//

His decision to seek the counsel of Colin Powell – a move leaked by the Obama campaign and confirmed by Powell on NBC’s “Meet the Press” – suggests that the Illinois senator is hoping Powell’s “gravitas” inside Washington might rub off. Powell also retains popularity with many centrist Americans despite his Iraq War role.

But the Obama-Powell alliance may mean, too, that Obama won’t press very hard for an end of the Iraq War since Powell’s current position is that the United States can’t afford to withdraw despite the many errors in implementing the war strategy.

Much of the Democratic base, however, is sick of attempts by Democratic leaders to build alliances with “moderate” Republicans when that always seems to end up letting Bush continue his Iraq War and “war on terror” policies, no matter how harmful they may be.

The base wants to see a fight for both the principles of the American Republic and for political victory. Instead of seeking more accommodation and fuzzy centrism, many are putting up lawn signs that read, “Impeach Him.”

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[BeyondGeography]

1. Give him a Colin-oscopy and find out

Sorry...couldn't resist.

[patricia92243]

2. Just think how many replies to this post you would have if the exact same thing were said about Hill

Hillary!

[Kagemusha]

3. Hillary's consulting with Colin Powell? Who knew!

I sure didn't.

(Edit: Should've probably said :sarcasm: . Sorry, rough day]

[Demeter]

4. I Feel Obama Is Making a Big Mistake

I doubt that Colin Powell has repented. He sure hasn't done public penance for his role in starting the Iraq Fiasco. As a tainted liar, Powell should be avoided at all costs, but Obama, out of some misplaced sense of solidarity, is welcoming this snake with open arms.

And so another faint hope dies.

As for Hillary, she's doing much worse things.

[PurityOfEssence]

5. This is an incredibly stupid move on his part and shows more than just poor judgment

How can anyone who gives a damn about the human race consort with this dupe, liar and enabler of mass murder? Powell is selfish, vain, unscrupulous, deceitful and just plain morally ugly. His speech at the UN was a stem-to-stern concoction of lies and it's obvious. He knew full well what he was saying, and the fact that he didn't repeat the nuclear lie doesn't get him off the hook for a moment.

Powell's idiotic performance in his term as Secretary of State showed him to be a willing tool and a supreme sucker: they used him and his reputation for all it was worth, then discarded him like the whore he is.

Obama will pay for this, and he should. It'll be interesting to hear how his current crop of extremist supporters on this board deal with this; to date, I haven't seen them admit any of his many missteps.

For all of his HUGE fund raising success, Hillary's pulling away from him and Edwards is gaining ground. In an odd way, this mirrors his individual speeches: he starts off hot, then gets wonky and stuffy and loses steam.

Colin Powell is hated by the base, and the base is what'll determine the nomination. Perhaps he's convinced by his own hype of inevitability and he's already looking to the general election. Anyone with half a brain should see that consulting Powell is akin to consulting Cheney, and since this guy's very smart, I'm at a loss to explain it.