Sununu suggests Colin Powell's Obama endorsement racially driven
Updated: 3:53 p.m. ET
At the height of an election that has been characterized as among the most racially polarizing in years, top Mitt Romney surrogate John Sununu on Thursday suggested that Colin Powell, the former Secretary of State under George W. Bush, endorsed President Obama in part due to race.
Sununu, the former Republican governor of New Hampshire and the co-chair of the Romney campaign, downplayed the significance of the endorsement to CNN's Piers Morgan, and suggested Powell, a Republican who also endorsed Mr. Obama in 2008, had a "slightly different reason" for doing so than other prominent politicians.
"When you take a look at Colin Powell, you have to look at whether that's an endorsement based on issues or he's got a slightly different reason for endorsing President Obama," he said. "I think when you have somebody of your own race that you're proud of being president of the United States, I applaud Colin for standing with him."
The Romney campaign later walked back Sununu's statement, sending out an email on his behalf calling Powell a "friend" and expressing "respect" for his decision.
"I do not doubt that it was based on anything but his support of the President's policies," Sununu said in the statement. "Piers Morgan's question was whether Colin Powell should leave the party, and I don't think he should."
Asked about the comment in a radio interview on Friday, Mr. Obama said he'd "let General Powell's statements stand for themselves" but dismissed the notion that the endorsement was less credible because he and Powell are both African-American.
"I'll let General Powell's statements stand for themselves. He spoke about the fact that my foreign policy during a very difficult time had been steady and strong, he talked about with respect to our economy that we had helped to rescue America from a potential great depression, and that we were moving in the right direction," Mr. Obama said. "I don't think that there are many people in America who would question General Powell's credibility, his patriotism, his willingness to tell it straight, and so any suggestion that General Powell would make such a profound statement in such an important election based on anything than what he thought was what's going to be best for America I think doesn't make much sense."
The Romney camp limited its response to the statement it sent out on behalf of Sununu. But some argued that the comment highlighted the ongoing influence of racial presumptions in America.
New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker, who is African-American, on Friday called Sununu's comments "disrespectful," "dumb," and "unfortunate," and said "we should talk about those issues and presumptions that still often exist."
In the final days of an increasingly tight race, however, Booker argued that voters should be focusing on "the candidates themselves, what their plans and platforms are."
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This guy didn't have a problem with government spending when it benifited him. A real Republican hypocrite!
and
Romney is a chameleon who will say anything to get elected with a lot of former George W. Bush associates as advisors and he's talking about real change? C'mon people!
Vote Obama / Biden 2012. If Romney wins there are those who are salivating and chomping-at-the-bit for another opportunity to rape and pillage for the almighty dollar and think about little else other than their own position, that Romney's policies will unleash and permit to exploit again!
The rape, pillage allusion refers to the actions and resulting condition our economy was left in after George W's run in office! You know, where tens and hundreds of millions were made by a relatively small percentage of folks while a 'vastly larger number' lost their pensions, saw life savings shrivel-up and home values plummet; all while having to dance to the tune of the reckless, greedy Wall Street, Bain Capital, Uber-Capitalist types and their allies in Congress!
It is this unmitigated morass and mess that President Obama has been trying to navigate and rectify with zero, I repeat, zero Republican support throughout his entire term in office. For those in the 99% voting for Romney, it will be the 2nd greatest mistake middle-class America has made since voting George W. Bush in for another term in office in 2004, should Romney be elected.
Romney received a joint Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from Harvard but according to the liberal geniuses he's stupid.
With regards to his religion, I have yet to hear any leader of the Mormon Church say "God damn America".
How Colin Powell can remain a Republican and endorse a president who is so far left of center can only be answered by Colin Powell and no one seems to be asking.
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No, they don't say that. But they do wear magic underwear and claim blacks are evil by birth.
Which, unfortunately, a lot of white Americans share.
Which, unfortunately, a lot of white Americans share.
And a lot of us (hopefully the vast majority) do NOT.