Forget about the other endorsements. Forget about John Kerry, John Edwards, and even the shows of unification from the Clintons.
This is the big one.
This is a Republican. And not just any Republican, but a Republican who has been by any standard the brand for the past few administrations of foreign policy and military credibility. He's a man who clearly speaks for himself and stands up for what he believes.
While I disagree with his endorsement of Senator Obama, I have enormous respect for General Powell. And I relate to him not only as a moderate, but as someone who can separate from party to support and endorse based on matters of conscience.
Where I found his endorsement wanting was highlighted in his conclusion regarding the inclusion of Ayers as an issue in the campaign. The issue is not whether or not William Ayers is or was a terrorist, and any assertion that Obama is by default also a terrorist is a strawman. The issue is one of Senator Obama's truthfulness, which in this case, is found wanting.
I also disagree with his conclusions regarding Governor Palin's lack of readiness for the position of Vice President, since I see her as equally qualified as the top of the Democratic ticket. Unfortunately, it's difficult to raise charges of misogyny or any other form of class discrimination in a year that racism will be the rallying cry. An electorate which has been clamoring for "one of them" really doesn't want one of them. It wants smooth and debonaire, even if dishonest.
My third disagreement with the Powell endorsement centers on his conclusions based on observations of the two candidates during the economic crisis. The "Obama was a steady hand" and "McCain was erratic" story is one that doesn't match with the facts. It only illustrates that the Obama campaign has more money and more resources, and more happy pockets in the media, to advance its own storyline. The Obama strategy was one of stealth and conniving. The McCain response was one of self-sacrifice. Whether or not either was well equipped at that point to assist much in the crisis, the fact is that Senator McCain felt it was important enough to do that. While Obama criticized him for that from the sidelines, he was plotting behind the scenes to put forth a big switch on the American people.
For those three things, I disagree with General Powell's conclusions enumerated in his endorsement.
But I respect his willingness to buck his own party, and even his powerful endorsement of the current administration eight years ago at the RNC, and stand as a moderate who votes his own conscience and is willing to take the hits to do so.
