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We haven't heard from Colin Powell for years. Now, all of a sudden, at the last hour, he rises up with great fanfare to tell the world he will vote for Barak Obama. He felt compelled to betray his Republican party and his old loyal friend, John McCain, because (in order, roughly quoted ‘ ’ and based on the Meet the Press interview):

‘He has gotten to know Obama and met with him twice over the past couple years’—that gives him more insight on Obama than the 25 years he has worked with and known McCain?
‘The Republican party is leaning too far right’—but conservatives think it has moved to far left. So why would Powell side with the most liberal, left-leaning politician (Obama) he can find?
‘McCain is unsure on the current economical disaster’—so Powell decides to side with the candidate of the party that started the disaster in the first place by legislating socialist-style easy mortgages for those who could not afford them, while ignoring McCain’s effort to institute regulations that would have likely averted the problems.
‘McCain showed poor judgment in picking Palin, and Obama showed good judgment by picking Biden’—yet Palin has the highest approval rating of any Governor, Obama has no experience governing at all, and Biden claimed Obama was not ready to be president.
‘Republicans are narrow, and Obama is inclusive and crosses party lines’—but Obama never votes against his party. McCain has often voted contrary to his party. The only proof of Obama's ability to unite and reach across the aisle is the high percentage of Republican African Americans who are flocking to him.
‘The unfair Republican political demagoguery of attaching Obama to a “casual relationship” with Ayers’—but the facts prove it was more than casual, and over an extended time. That combined with Obama’s links with other overt or leaning Marxists, including Alinsky, Wright, Fleiger, ACORN, Frank Davis, Alice Palmer and others, plus his voting record, seems to show where Obama’s heart is and what his judgment is swayed by.
‘Two conservative justices may be put on the Supreme Court if McCain is elected’—rather a strange objection from someone ostensibly belonging to the Republican (conservative) party. Isn’t making sure the country stays true to the Constitution the job of the Supreme Court, in other words, to be conservative?
‘Obama isn’t a Muslim as he is being painted by Republicans, and even if he were, that religion should cause no pause’—that in spite of the fact that the terrorists are all Muslim, and the Koran teaches killing non-Muslims and lying to them to gain power over them.
‘Obama inspires, is transformational, has insight and substance, and his election would be historical and electrifying’—aside from such reasons being of an emotional nature, at least half of the country feels he is a threat to the very essence of the Constitution and the American way.
‘Obama has a steady hand’—but he has changed or modified virtually every one of his positions during the run for president.
‘Obama is authoritative’—yet his campaign is filled with gaffes and blunders (using the word “ferment” for foment; claimed tornados that killed 12, killed 10,000; claimed Iran was small and inconsequential; said he traveled to 57 states and had one left to go; said he was born out of the Selma Civil Rights movement, but he was born in 1961 and the Selma event was in 1965; Afghanistan is Arabic speaking, yet it is not; wrongly claimed his uncle was among the American troops who liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp, and so on), and his position on the war was wrong. Must we forget that Powell made the case for war with Iraq, and never mind that Biden voted for the war. Are we to now accept from these two old salts that Obama was "right" about the war and they were wrong (even though millions of people have been freed)--and these two have actually humbled themselves under the exalted and beatified Obama (“The One”) and now defer to his “authoritative” wisdom?
‘Obama has great intellectual vigor’—Intellect that is important should be judged by one’s ability to rise above emotion and make judgments based upon the long range consequences. In America, staying true to the Constitution with its guaranteed freedoms, right “to pursue happiness” (keep what you earn), and limitations on government is a proven method to insure long term human peace and happiness. But Obama is Marxist/Socialistic leaning, which is the antithesis of the Constitution. Further, the long term consequences of “from each according to ability, to each according to need,” are disastrous for any society that tries it. Obama, and the party he has aligned himself with, do not display the intellect to understand this simple truth. Taking from doers, the productive and successful, and giving to the non-doers will cut the legs out from under the dream that is America. Anyone of even average intelligence should be able to see this.

Thus, none of the reasons Powell cites are logically valid. The Meet the Press moderator asked Powell about the elephant in the refrigerator—is Powell making this decision because Obama is a fellow African American? This, an elephant anyone can see, he denies arguing that he would have endorsed Obama long ago if he were so biased. On the other hand, one can argue that it took Powell that long to come up with the specious reasons he has in order to convince himself and others that the elephant is not in the refrigerator. Or, he purposely delayed the announcement close to election time in order to have the most impact on the electorate.

Are thinking people really supposed to ignore the elephant in Powell's refrigerator, or the one in Oprah’s, or those in 95+% of African American refrigerators?

It is disappointing to see that now that African Americans have been freed from unfair treatment, that many have not learned the lesson well so as to not ever be guilty of racial bias themselves.

People commonly favor other people who are most like them. That is to be expected. But such bias should never trump reason and fact in important matters like choosing a president. When honest thinking is no longer the dominant force in a democracy, all hope is lost.
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Dr. Wysong is author of thirteen books on health, nutrition, self improvement, philosophy, and the origin of life. He is a pioneer in the natural health and nutrition movement, and is the first to put the creation-evolution debate on rational footings. His blog, books, updates, mind-stimulating content, and interactive forums can be found at: asifthinkingmatters.com. To contact Dr. Wysong email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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Wrong thesis...
written by Juan, November 29, 2008

¨People commonly favor other people who are most like them. That is to be expected. ¨ (Dr. Wysong)

If this be the case. Then, the Republican Party has been voting White, because they are.
By the way, as I watched Both conventions. I noticed that only one party resembled the colors of a True America. While the other party resembled a reunion of a good old boys private club reminiscing past glorys. Why past glorys, because Barack Obama´s history making has indeed brought Change. Now, other minorities can have the same dream....

Wrong!
written by Wrong!, November 09, 2008

Here's the tally of the African American vote since Carter:

Jimmy Carter – 86 percent
Walter Mondale – 89 percent
Michael Dukakis – 88 percent
Bill Clinton – 86 percent
Al Gore – 90 percent
John Kerry – 88 percent
Barack Obama – 95 percent

Seems like all this hype about Obama winning 9 out of 10 African Americans is just more right wing devisive hype. AAs have always voted overwhelmingly democrat. So when Gore got 90% of the AA vote, were they voting for him based on race or skin color? In my opinion the right will use any lie to spread division.

Wrong Assumption
written by Wrong Assumption, November 09, 2008

I think your assumption of African Americans and Colin Powell voting for Obama because he is black is asinine. The fact is Obama is NOT the first African American candidate to run for President. If in the past African Americans had come out in droves to support black candidates your assumption may have credence. But, they did not. Past African Americans candidates include: Shirley Chisholm, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Carol Moseley Braun, and Lenora Fulani. This year there were also African Americans two on the ticket: Alan Keyes and Cynthia McKinney. Neither the current, nor past African Americans received significant support from the black community. African Americans are voting in significant numbers for Barack Obama as a matter of choice, because they feel he is the superior candidate… not because of skin color. If it was skin color we would have seen the same trend in the past…. but we did not. You dummies.

As the condition of the heart.........
written by Sharryl, November 07, 2008

For the past two years we have "endured" the presidential campaigning of two men who I believe are NOT christians. It had gotten to the point where I could not stomach either party of politicians and told fellow believers quit sending me information about the candidates, especially about Barack.

McCain, like so many other republicans, and Christians didn't focus on the issues but went as far as having a very negative campaign.

Since Obama has been elected as president I have seen the true "heart" of the religious folks. I can't call them brothers or sisters because their racial hatred is so deeply embedded stops me from this.

The Apostle Paul confronted Peter concerning his racism and the organized church needs confronted with the same. Since when is what the "white man or woman" says is gospel truth, and blacks have to fall down at their feet and cry holy?

I , as a believer in Christ for over 30 years finds this historic and will not make any apologies for it. And of course I will be labeled as "liberal" which I AM NOT!

Should we only pray for those in office if they are white, and the candidate that we want, or should we do as says scripture to pray for those in authority.

The organized church is steeped in racism, lacks true spritual understanding, and is more interested in their own "kingdom" instead of the kingdom of God.

L:et me make this clear....I am neither Republican or Democrat or any other political party. In Ephesians 4:11 it says that he gave some Apostles, Some Prophets, some Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. For what? The Perfecting of the Saints, the Work of the Ministry, for the Edifying of the Body. Nowhere does the scripture say, and he gave some Republicans, some Democrates..etc. Get the Picture?? And we as believers need to redirect our focus on what is important instead of scrabbling over that which will pass away.

Remember Judas the Zealot, who was one of the disciples. He was in a very radical, political group during his time, yet the Lord told him that His kingdom was not of this world. I am one who believes that you cannot legistate righteousness, because true righteousness and holiness comes through the Blood of our Savior. So if they pass or try to pass laws to place men in women in prison if we speak against homosexuality, or any other unrighteousness and you are afraid to go to prison....shame on YOU!. Are we better than our Savior. Are we better than those feature in the "Gospel Hall of Fame' and Faith " in Hebrews 11. We want our big churches, and our celebrity status in the country, but we aren't willing to pay the price as Christ did for our faith.

I don't care who endorsed or didn't endorse Obama. Do blacks lack intelligence just because we disagree with the "norm?" Colin Powell is now studpid? and has Elephants in his fridge as well as 95% of black?! What an ignorant and absurd comment. So would Colin Powell be more intelligent if he endorsed McCain.

Let's look at the big picture......We all fall short of the glory of God, we need a Savior to cleanse us from sin, and this world is not our home. He is returning for a church not having spot or wrinkle, and it is sooner than we think whether we like it or not!

We are aliens....so get with the program and not with a political party!

...
written by Alvin, November 04, 2008

Why is it that race plays an issue, since Obama is african american and other african americans are voting fof him, it is because of color. Yet, when caucasions vote for other caucasions there is nothing wrong with it. What ever happen to having someone in office that maybe you can relate to or that you may agree with. The sad thing about all of this is that no one who has entered into the office of the President of the United States was prepared, if it were true we would not be in the position we are in now. Just because a person hold a title behind their name doesn't mean that it is to be take as the GOSPEL. Furthermore how is it that one person that follows after Christ believes that this one person is more fit than another.

Nonsense
written by Sharrie, October 30, 2008

Dr. Wysong is proof that an advanced degree isn't enough to lend credibility to this racist editorial. To presume someone as educated and color-blind as Colin Powell would endorse Obama because of shared African-American origin is absurd.