Powell lashes out at Palin: I’m from the South Bronx, ‘and there’s nothing wrong with my value system.’
Powell lashes out at Palin: I’m from the South Bronx, ‘and there’s nothing wrong with my value system.’
In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that will air this weekend, former Secretary of State Colin Powell sharply criticized the Republican party and its “value system,” taking particular aim at Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK):
Gov. Palin, to some extent, pushed the party more to the right, and I think she had something of a polarizing effect when she talked about how small town values are good. Well, most of us don’t live in small towns. And I was raised in the South Bronx, and there’s nothing wrong with my value system from the South Bronx.
And when they came to Virginia and said the southern part of Virginia is good and the northern part of Virginia is bad. The only problem with that is there are more votes in the northern part of Virginia than there are in the southern part of Virginia, so that doesn’t work.
Watch it:
Powell also said that with the changing demographics of America, the Republican party needs to start listening to minority communities, rather than “shouting” at them with “loaded statements” and “Republican principles and dogma.”
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Well, most of us don’t live in small towns.
That’s why they are small.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:05 pmBad news dude. Palin acts as a polarizing figure by alienating huge blocks of voters (urbanites, minorities, educated voters, pro-choice voters, etc.) but she is aces with what little is left of your base. Can’t win with her, can’t get rid of her without alienating your loyalists. Of course if you think minority voters are turned off by “Republican principles and dogma” you might want to consider whether you really want to be hanging with this party to begin with.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:11 pmlet’s revisit Paline’s small town values:
Wasilla’s Meth Problem Made Palin’s Borough The Meth Capital Of Alaska
December 11th, 2008 at 5:11 pmThe Matanuska-Susitna area is the methamphetamine capital of Alaska, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Powell’s hindsight is pretty good. His foresight leaves something to be desired though.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:12 pmPowell has a deep credibility hole to climb out of after being a Bush/Cheney puppet. He really damaged himself. This might be the first rung on his ladder. But it will take a lot of rungs. Turning state’s evidence on the criminals in charge would also help him start to cleanse himself of the taint.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:13 pmIn my previous post “desired” may not be the right word, but I think you can get my drift.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:14 pm“there’s nothing wrong with my value system from the South Bronx.”
Which is why I don’t place any generic blame on South Bronx residents for an illegal war.
Powell’s personal value system, evidenced by his cover-up of My-Lai and his performance at the UN in 2002, suggests he has plenty in common with Sarah Palin’s values—ME First!
December 11th, 2008 at 5:15 pmIf small towns are so great, why are they still small?
December 11th, 2008 at 5:17 pmshoeless Says:
If small towns are so great, why are they still small?
‘Cause they can more easily cling to there guns and religion!
December 11th, 2008 at 5:21 pmshoeless…
because they think it really is a small world after all?
(nice to ’see’ you again BTW :D)
December 11th, 2008 at 5:21 pmWith all due respect, Colin Powell, the Republican Party will not follow your advice. Just listen to them now shouting about Obama holding back with information regarding Blagojevich which is nothing more than bull poopy. The Republican Party will continue to vanish. Perhaps another party will emerge but it won’t be the Republican Party that will change.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:21 pmSpeaking of “small town values”, if Palin’s highschool drop-out teenage daughter really was pregnant during the campaign, hasn’t she given birth by now? Or was that a cover-up pregnancy after all?
And is there anything but small towns in Alaska? Hell, the show state has a lower population than San Francisco!
Alaska’s small town slogan: Got Meth?
PEACE
December 11th, 2008 at 5:22 pmWhat South Bronx value is Powell exhibiting by staying with a party that used his personal credibility to start a war of lies and then tossed him away like a used tissue?
December 11th, 2008 at 5:22 pmRegarding Palin… she sounds like a person with multiple personality disorder doing brainstorming when she speaks. Only the disillusioned follow her.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:22 pmOOOPS! That would be “the whole state” not “show”
And Powell? Quit giving the GOP any helpful suggestions. I’m hoping to enjoy their minority status for years to come.
PEACE
December 11th, 2008 at 5:23 pmI just wonder why Colin Powell hasn’t yet figured out that to the Sarah Palin wing of the Republican Party, he’s just another shiftless n****r.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:26 pm“Powell also said that the Republican party needs to start listening to minority communities, rather than “shouting” at them with “loaded statements” and “Republican principles and dogma.”
Like, ‘We MUST crush Iraq before radical Muslims in America kill us all11?’
December 11th, 2008 at 5:27 pmNice one, Chuck ( #13) .
December 11th, 2008 at 5:28 pmSad. Powell says it, but he doesn’t get it:
That’s the problem– Palin embodies the current Republican mindset.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:29 pmspencers mom Says:
Speaking of “small town values”, if Palin’s highschool drop-out teenage daughter really was pregnant during the campaign, hasn’t she given birth by now? Or was that a cover-up pregnancy after all?
Last time I checked the due date is Dec. 18. As there are so many twisted stories around the Palines one has to wonder on this one too.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:31 pmMore than anyone else I can think of, Colin Powell has the Inside “Goods” on the Bush Administration, and the Run up to the Iraq Invasion and Occupation.
I Hope that he keeps talking.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:35 pmRight,
when you and the local church or political organization is trying to shove their ‘values’ down your throat through intimidation.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:35 pmLet’s not be unreasonable and drag the entirety of the Palin family into this. To me, Sarah Palin embodies nothing more than the outdated ideas of the GOP, extreme social conservatism, and Republican ideals that promote exploiting the divisions between Americans. Both parties have their flaws, but the GOP is unwilling to accept the fact.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:36 pmPerhaps being saddled with the label “right” subconsciously reinforces their need to be right, as in correct, and creates the “if you are not with us you are against us” mentality.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:40 pmCombine that with the rigid belief system of the evangelical Xtian faction whom the corporo/militarists cater to, and it’s the perfect recipe for all the hatred, intolerance, and hand wringing fear they perpetually pander.
Colin Powell is absolutely correct in his observations, yet it seems he never gets much traction any more after his craven performance at the United Nations trying to peddle the Iraqi mobile weapons lab..
“And I was raised in the South Bronx, and there’s nothing wrong with my value system from the South Bronx.”
I too was raised in the BX ,and there is nothing wrong with anyones value system from the big city. And it’s about time you (Mr. Powell) started acting like your from the Bronx and start opening your mouth and speaking up when you see and hear BS. We’re ALL tired of being told that WE’RE not “real” Americans because we dont still step off the curb, bow our heads, and show all of our teeth, (you know like you used to) when we talk to certain people, or are “talked to” by a certain group.
So good for you, I guess. FINALLY!!!
RIP
December 11th, 2008 at 5:45 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
… they came to Virginia and said the southern part of Virginia is good and the northern part of Virginia is bad. The only problem with that is there are more votes in the northern part of Virginia than there are in the southern part of Virginia, so that doesn’t work.
Well, maybe not not the ONLY problem with that. I mean, I think there’s also a problem with simply labeling some parts of America “real” and, by extension, other parts “false”. Sure, the electoral consequences are serious. But in my opinion, the pandering and demonization are far more critical.
December 11th, 2008 at 5:56 pmOK. Time for the Republican Party to attack Collin Powell.
December 11th, 2008 at 6:03 pmPowell’s major fault is that he speaks up when it is safe to do so. He simply is not a capable leader. He will not place his personal values on the line when it counts. History will not treat him well given the leadership and character opturnities he has squandered.
December 11th, 2008 at 6:07 pmits nice to see colin powell speaking truths again.
good for him
December 11th, 2008 at 6:31 pmYou know the answer to your own questions, Gen. Powell.
Change parties!
Quite being an enabler of things you know are wrong (and over time we will forgive you for the UN speech — it’s already begun)
December 11th, 2008 at 6:42 pmAnd I was raised in the South Bronx, and there’s nothing wrong with my value system from the South Bronx.
Really? They taught you transferring weapons to terrorists, and covering up military atrocities was ok in South Bronx?
Powell, you’ve squandered any positive values you learned, to progress your career. Just go away.
December 11th, 2008 at 6:43 pmI thought old soldiers were supposed to “just fade away.”
December 11th, 2008 at 6:49 pmA black man would have to be a complete fool to be a Republican these days. Powell endorsed Obama but apparently still considers himself Republican. He just can’t stop being a good soldier; just can’t stop being a complete fool. They used his ass up and spit him out and he still doesn’t even get that.
December 11th, 2008 at 6:54 pmI support Sarah Palin as the standard bearer of the Republican Party. I support that she pull the Republican Party further to the right. I support that they continue to talk down to minorities. I support that the Republican Party continue to push for a theocracy in the USA.
This will ensure that Sarah Palin and her Republinazis stay out there in the fringe where they belong, spitting into the wind.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:31 pmDubious as Powell’s history is, it seems a bit petty for him to be taking Sarah Palin seriously.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:56 pmPalin is someone who wears “stupid” as a badge of honor. She walks around like everyone else & doesn’t even know she’s stupid.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:04 pmIt sounds like Powell is on the verge of a complete split with the Republican Party. Funny thing, its not that much different that the Republican Party of 1980 so one has to wonder where Powell had been for all of those years.
December 11th, 2008 at 8:51 pmlivelongandprosper Says:
December 11th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Powell has had a considerable gift for doing dirty deeds in the service of ‘the service’ and somehow later scraping shit off himself–on the backs of subordinates, one could imagine. I still think he sees a role for himself in the ‘new’ regime…
December 11th, 2008 at 8:59 pmI grew up in a small town in Iowa and it was nice. Not all small towns are hickish. In my opinion its better to grow up in small towns than big cities. But of course one does need to get out and go to new places which is what I did. Palin on the other hand should have never left Wasilla. America doesn’t need her.
December 11th, 2008 at 9:00 pmI support Sarah Palin as the standard bearer of the Republican Party. I support that she pull the Republican Party further to the right. I support that they continue to talk down to minorities. I support that the Republican Party continue to push for a theocracy in the USA.
This will ensure that Sarah Palin and her Republinazis stay out there in the fringe where they belong, spitting into the wind.
December 11th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Be careful of that for which you wish…
One can foresee without particular difficulty the appeal of a Huckabee/Palin ticket if, by 2011, the economy is still mired in recession/depression, and there are still wars going on in central asia, and the big three is out of business, and there’s epidemic unemployment in the midwest…
demagogues only need a sympathetic audiences…desperation makes for strange sympathies…
the ‘religious’ in the USofA this very day are NOT far removed from the witch-burners of Salem and elsewhere…they’ll FIND the Devil…
December 11th, 2008 at 9:06 pmI live in a small town (in the South to boot), and believe me, “small town values” leave a lot to be desired.
December 11th, 2008 at 9:28 pm> Let’s not be unreasonable and drag
> the entirety of the Palin
> family into this.
Its not unreasonable. Jon Stewart put it brilliantly as to why her inbred drug addicted wh#re of a daughter is fair game:
when you put yourself forward as a person whose morality is superior to others, the results of your so called “moral” idealogy deserve to be held up to scrutiny.
If you imply “my family values are better than your family values” , dont be suprised when your family values get held up to scrutiny. In legal terminology, its called “opening the door”, and Palin did it big time, with her “real america” comments..
Palins daughter is a perfect example of the results of her mothers “morality”. I am by no means saying everything a child does is the parents fault, but lets face it…parents have a HUGE affect shaping thier childs attitudes and actions. Maybe if Palins daughter had felt comfortable telling her mother she was having sex, her mother would have had the sense to put her on birth control and this unplanned pregnancy thing could have been avoided.
Trying to win votes by espousing an idealogy that says you don’t talk to teens about birth control? How well did that absintence only education work with your own family sara?
December 11th, 2008 at 9:31 pmI believe in personal redemption. I think certain things tug at Powell’s conscience that keeps him on this stage instead of out of the way in the background.
If he can help put the kibosh on Sarah Palin’s ambitions, that’s one good step in the right direction.
The last thing we need is a female George W. Bush with sex appeal for at least four years. I don’t think the Constitution could withstand it!
December 12th, 2008 at 1:49 am>Wasilla’s Meth Problem Made Palin’s Borough
>The Meth Capital Of Alaska
AND don’t forget they made rape victims pay for thier own rape test kits..howse THAT for decency and “small town values”?
December 12th, 2008 at 1:54 amI’ve always had respect for Colin Powell, and always will. He’s intelligent, well spoken, and has always shown class. Sarah Palin is trash. Plain & simple. Frozen tundra trash.
If Palin is the “future of the republican party”, than quite simply, the republican party has no future!
December 12th, 2008 at 9:23 amI can’t believe all these people who have thrown Sarah Palin under the bus! She was the only reason the popular race wasn’t as big of a landslide as the electoral! Maybe politicos don’t believe in her, but the American people do! And that is just what we need, someone who makes Washington scared! Come on Sarah lets shake things up!! Every day I look at my Sarah Palin calendar and I am inspired to fight! She will make it to the White House! (the calendar by the way, is on amazon, and is GORGEOUS!! it also makes a great gift!!) SARAH PALIN 2012!!
December 12th, 2008 at 2:04 pmkdn25 Says:
Oh PLEASE make that ignorant Caribou Bimbo your choice in 2012. Who was it exactly that named YOU to speak for the American people? No one did? Imagine my suprise. You can show yourself out in disgrace. If you think that ignorant bimbo was anything but an embarassment I urge you to look into adult education and you better start at about a third grade level.
December 12th, 2008 at 2:06 pmyeah, he’s a real profile in courage. he could have said the same thing before the election, but that’s just not his way.
December 12th, 2008 at 2:15 pmWho said there was Colin? It’s not like anyone’s suggested that lying for hours about that whole Iraq WMD thing in order to deceive a country into war reflected poorly on anyone’s value system.
Oh wait… why was it that ThinkProgress still loves this guy again?
December 12th, 2008 at 2:37 pmHow is he in any way qualified to criticize something Palin or anyone else has said?
Tank Says:
Well you make a good point Tank. The Caribou Bimbo is still an embarassment.
December 12th, 2008 at 3:03 pm