Some reactions to Powell’s endorsement of Obama are appallingly racist

October 20th, 2008 at 07:34pm Pat Cunningham

The ugly image and words above are the work of syndicated conservative cartoonist Gordon Campbell, who SAYS Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama for president only because he “wishes to see someone who looks like himself in the White House.”

If such sentiments were unique to Campbell and a few other nitwits, they could be ignored.  But they’re not. Rush Limbaugh is singing the SAME SONG, and a mere glance at the right-wing blogosphere reveals loads of denunciations of Powell as a “traitor” or a “turncoat.” These extremists, possessed of a power denied to us mere mortals, presume to know that Powell based his endorsement entirely on race.

I think some of these people don’t even understand the racism inherent in their theory. They’re saying that Colin Powell — decorated veteran of the Vietnam War,  retired four-star general, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,  former secretary of state, a man of legendary professional stature — is unable to overcome racial considerations in choosing whom to endorse for president. They’re saying that Powell’s race supercedes all else in his mind.  They’re saying he thinks like a black man.

But, hey. Don’t accuse them of racism.

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