Colin Powell a Republican?

Colin Powell has served his country. He served in the military and in the Bush administration as Secretary of State. He left after the first term to enjoy private life. All through his career and in his private life, Mr. Powell had and still has the right to vote for the candidate of his choice. In my view, he could still call himself a Republican if he had just voted for candidate Obama.

However, in the Obama/McCain contest, Mr. Powell endorsed candidate Obama, publicly. I remember hearing of the endorsement at a very critical time in the campaign as I passed through an airport. For all of those present, the impact was significant. The Obama supporters were very happy and the McCain supporters felt that Powell had switched sides. I do not think the GOP has officially pulled his party membership, but they should. He should not be kicked out of the tent due to race, income level, education, geographical residency, sexual preference or because he voted his conscientious. Mr. Powell should be kicked outside the tent because he is a very recognizable public figure and he publicly endorsed the other party’s Presidential candidate. This was not a mayor or a state senator; it was the President of the United States. The highest office in the land and he went against the GOP. Mr. Powell could have remained silent or could have worked within the GOP to make a McCain administration better. Instead, he endorsed a Democrat, publicly.

I do not think Colin Powell is concerned with being a Republican or a Democrat. This was never a concern before. Soldier Powell served as an officer with impact and influence in administrations for both parties. Mr. Powell did nothing to clear up speculation during his post military retirement days as to which party he aligned himself. This was not because he was unsure as to his views, but rather Citizen Powell used and still uses party affiliation as a tool. Then and now, Mr. Powell wants to put himself into the best position to guarantee future promotion. He is a politician, and what is more important to him than anything is getting Colin Powell promoted. I think Colin Powell spoke out this last weekend about the recent criticism of Powell by former Vice President Cheney and others not because he is concerned with his Republican Party status but because their criticism must threaten where Mr. Powell sees himself trying to get to next. Mr. Powell would come across more genuine to me if he would just declare himself independent of party affiliation.