Colin Powell Discusses Obama

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Barack Obama

Asked what he thinks of Barack Obama's political success this year, former Secretary of State Colin Powell had this to say yesterday on PBS: "I'm terribly excited, I'm impressed, and I'm happy for Barack Obama." You can watch the video here.

As AFP notes, Powell urged Americans to "enjoy this moment where a person like Barack Obama can knock down all of these old barriers that people thought existed with respect to the opportunities that are available to African-Americans."

"He is putting himself forward not as a black man but as an American man who wants to be president of the United States of America," Powell added. "We should see Barack as a candidate for president who happens to be black, and not a black candidate for president."

Powell, who is African-American, considered his own presidential run but ultimately decided against it. During the interview, Tavis Smiley told Powell he "could have been Barack Obama."

Powell responded that he had no regrets about his decision and said he takes joy in Obama's success. "Politics wasn't in my blood – it's in Barack's blood," Powell said.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by l8c6 January 10, 2008 2:44 AM EST: CLOJR

Agreed. SOME black people are all over him because he''s black. Those wealthy black people likely see opportunity for themselves. I can see Oprah having Obama''s racist wife on her show now. Yes, some black people have proven to be da*mn good at being racist. Obama''s wife said that black america knows how much Obama will take care of "his people". This is racist BS. We don''t need it. The black community identified Clinton as being the first black president for all he did for african americans. Hillary has more african americans working on her campaign than Obama.

Obama talks of change but there has been no real substance.; Reply to this comment


by l8c6 January 10, 2008 2:35 AM EST: She is a power hungry woman who directed her husbands life into office and now wants to run the free world on her own, without the middle man.

Posted by thomderr

I cannot even get upset by your ludicrous assessment. Hillary is power hungry? Anymore than any male politician has been? That''s the sexism that is beneath europe which frankly is starting to whip america''s *** in terms of their progress. We''re slipping and the ignorant are not seeing this quickly enough.; Reply to this comment


by l8c6 January 10, 2008 2:29 AM EST: At first I had a good feeling about Obama but after Edwards and he ganged up on Hillary. Obama glaring and scowling at her during the debates when she was speaking and Edwards trying to saddle up with Obama and label Hillary the "status quo" I thought, this country doesn''t need these jerks in power. I''m growing more skeptical of Obama and the excitement of racist black people who promote him solely for the color of his skin.; Reply to this comment


by l8c6 January 10, 2008 2:23 AM EST: There is way too much emphasis on the fact Obama is black and it''s coming from the black community. That is a real huge turn off frankly. We desperately need a president of the United States and it''s people. I''m beginning to doubt that''s what we''ll get as other special interests start to play out.; Reply to this comment


by prinzowhales January 9, 2008 2:05 PM EST: Powell has flushed any credibility he ever had right down the hopper when he repeated the Bush lies regarding Iraq in his address to the UN. It''s a shame, people like Powell--who I admire for his work as an administrator at State-- lend credibility to creatures like Bush. And, when he described himself as a "Rockefellar Republican"...in league with a man who brags in his autobiography that he "does not always do what is best for the United States"...one has to wonder...The Obama campaign already contains CFR-War Pigs at the highest levels...looks like another one is climbing on board.; Reply to this comment


by alaricii January 9, 2008 12:52 PM EST: I am just so grateful that she was given another opportunity. She is the person we need in this dire time of our community. We definitely do not need a slick arrogant kid who thinks he is Martin Luther King, John Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy in one body. He should not be comparing himself to such great men - men who actually got up each day and changed the world, one hour at a time. He should cut it out and Mrs. Clinton now needs to challenge his resume.; Reply to this comment


by thomderr January 9, 2008 8:35 AM EST: vivaviva80:
And just WHAT has Mrs. Clinton done for our society?
She is a power hungry woman who directed her husbands life into office and now wants to run the free world on her own, without the middle man.; Reply to this comment


by croft777 January 9, 2008 3:27 AM EST: CLOJR,
Obama will not win.Theres a good chance Clinton will though.If the American people cannot see what she has done for our society, and will do as president, then I feel sorry for this country. Yes we need a change,the concentration needs to be here at home, not in the other parts of the world. What about health care to all? What about all these jobs we have lost because of corporate greed? Living prices keep going up and wages are staying the same. The American dollar is not worth much anymore.Ethenol is not working, it just raises the price of dairy. Lets use all this garbage for fuel, that should do it!; Reply to this comment


by clojr January 8, 2008 11:04 PM EST: The United States will get a change with Obama. I hear he will not place his hand on the Bible. I beleive he will do more than take prayer out of school. If we want a change lets start with here at home. The people of the U.S. needs help here at home. Not the rich getting richer at our expence. The last honest president that we had was President Carter. He is still helping the United States and the people. Obama is not the one we need. If change is the reason it is the wrong reason. The Clintons have showed what they can do and Bush destroyed it in a heart beat. We''ve got to get the country back on it''s feet and its people out of poverty. I am a school teacher and can see just how bad leave no child behind really is. It is leaving more children behind than ever, it keeps the poor in their place. Just wait to see what Obama will do, he has no even spoke of what he''s going to do. While change is good, what is change going to be?; Reply to this comment