Debbie Schlussel: Hype Overkill: So a Liberal Black Guy Endorses a Liberal Black Guy
So, two prominent liberal Black politicians go into a bar . . . .
It reads like a joke. But the punchline is that one of them, Colin Powell, endorses the other for the White House.
Colin Powell is and has always been a liberal. The liberal mainstream media, which, of course, wants Barack Obama to win, is making a big deal out of something that's actually not a big deal, something that's quite predictable.
As I've always noted, Colin Powell was a liberal and has been a fan of skin-color-based affirmative action, from which he's benefited his entire life. Skin color, in no short measure is why he became a General, why he got promoted to the top of America's military, why he was chosen for a key role in both Bush, father and son, administrations, and why he was given a coveted position on AOL's board, which made him an instant gazillionaire, once his son (also benefitting from Bush-based affirmative action) approved the deal as head of the FCC. It certainly wasn't his foreign policy, which was anti-Israel, pan-Arabist, and liberal, liberal, liberal. As I've always noted, as Secretary of State, Colin Powell was "Madeleine Albright Minus the Skirt" . . . and lipstick . . . and ugly brooches.
Powell was never a Republican. He benefited from positions in Republican administrations. There's a difference.
From my April 2001 column on Colin Powell:
Is Colin Powell Madeleine Albright in Republican clothing?As Secretary of State, he's acting more like her everyday. Minus the lipstick and ugly brooches.
That should trouble anyone disgusted by Clinton's Keystone Kops foreign policy conducted by the secretary of state in a skirt.
Albright loved being a celebrity and its associated trappings. . . .
The Czechoslovak-born Albright even had the gall to push for amending the Constitution so foreign-born Americans -- particularly herself -- can run for president. Indeed, she is Mad (-eleine Albright).
It's as mad as Powell's claim he's a long-time Republican. In his 1995 best-selling autobiography, "My American Journey," Powell said he is liberal on many issues. "Neither of the two major parties fits me. ... The time may be at hand for a third major party to emerge." "I admire ... Bill Clinton." During Clinton impeachment hearings, Powell's daughter Anne got a coveted audition for co-host of ABC's "The View," during which she vehemently attacked Republicans and conservatives and stood up for Clinton and his private life. You can bet the young Powellette apple didn't fall far from the tree. Her sister played a proud lesbian in an off-Broadway play, with Papa Powell gushing to the media.
Powell shares Albright's taste for celebrities. But, even worse than attending their concerts, he's consulting them on foreign policy. In March, he met for an hour with U2's Bono about forgiving tax-funded loans to third-world nations. Wednesday, he met with Paul McCartney and girlfriend/model Heather Mills about their anti-landmine campaign. That's supposed to be a defense issue. Apparently, one must be a has-been UK pop star to advise Powell on U.S. foreign policy. Who's next, Elton John?
Then, there's Powell's Albrightesque behavior toward Israel. A Palestinian-sponsored torrent of terrorist bombings, shootings, and warfare now faces Israel on a daily basis. In the tradition of U.S. peace through strength defense policy, Israel responds, attacking those Palestinian installations fomenting the violence. And what does Powell do? He attacks Israel as "overreacting." In Powell's world, Israel should just accept the cold-blooded murder of its civilians within its own borders. Could this be connected with the $200,000 in speaking fees he accepted in November from the pro-Syrian, anti-Israel Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Issam Fares? Powell already knew he'd be Bush's Secretary of State when he delivered the paid Tufts University address, a huge conflict of interest.
Powell's policies are no surprise. He's the same guy who opposed the Gulf War. Being a "great military mind," Powell opposed the engagement, predicting we'd badly lose in a ground war. As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he and Albright pushed Clinton for military involvement in Kosovo. . . .
There's a difference between Albright and Powell. A noxious presence, she did not carry Powell's heavy conflict-of-interest baggage. In addition to questionable speaking fees, Powell was a large stockholder in America Online (AOL), sitting on its board. His son, Michael, now FCC Chairman, voted to approve the AOL-Time Warner merger, earning pops millions in increased stock option value when he exercised them. Now at State, Powell brought in crony AOL Time Warner Chairman Steve Case to consult and install State's new computer system. All without a competitive bidding process. Suddenly, Powell is against sanctions, which he so adamantly supported during the Gulf War. Interesting, since Case wants to expand AOL's empire to U.S.-embargoed nations. It's not the only conflict of interest for the Powell family. Daughter Anne was suddenly named co-host of AOL Time Warner's TBS network's "War Games" show, while brother Michael regulates the company at FCC. The Powells are well-connected.
Which is why Powell, an Albright-clone, got the job. Sounding like Hillary, Laura Bush told Larry King, on Wednesday, that she helped Bush pick his advisers and staff. She said she was "proud that a lot of women are at the table." Apparently Bush has a Clintonesque affirmative action staffing policy.
Clinton picked Albright because she was a woman. Did Bush -- or his wife -- pick Colin Powell merely because he's black?
Unless it's a mutual affinity for Beatles' political advice, it sure seems that way.
Bottom line: If you liked Madeleine Albright's foreign policy, you'll love Barack Obama's. Colin Powell will be one of his top advisors, even if it's not in an official capacity.
Posted by Debbie on October 20, 2008 03:55 PM to Debbie Schlussel