What happens if Colin Powell endorses Obama?

[J. J.]

It might hurt Obama with some supporters.

[J. J.]

It might hurt Obama with some supporters.

Explain.

Obama was suppose to be against the war.  Powell was one of the people in favor of the war.

It looks like poor Lunar forgot that too:

Question: What impact could the Colin Powell's endorsement have?

It might hurt Obama with some supporters.

[J. J.]

Er... Barack Obama's running mate was in favor of the war. As was a good chunk of the United States of America.

Ah, Powell was one of the people strongly associated with it.

[J. J.]

It might hurt Obama with some supporters.

*groan*

This is such a J.J.-esque response.

A I raised the possibly of either Powell or Rice on the ticket, and this was one of the reasons given why it wouldn't be a good idea.

[J. J.]

Let me get what's going on in J.J.-land

Obama's supporters are going to jump ship because a guy who supported the war announces he's going to pull the lever for Obama?  Yeaaaah

I stand by my comedy goldmine.

Well, here is what one of our more liberal posters said:

Oh yeah, a member of Bush's cabinet and one completely inseparable from his foreign policy. That's exactly what McCain needs, after all it's not like he doesn't have to distance himself from Bush at all.

In all fairness, BRTD was referring to Rice, but the analogy is identical.

[J. J.]

How is that equivalent?  A liberal poster doesn't think he'd be a good VP choice for McCain so people like that will switch their votes to McCain/Nader simply because Powell announced he was voting for Obama as well?  Does this seriously work logically in your head?

 Imagine I'm posting my hand-grasping-straws image again. 

The analogy is the same, because the war was Obama's key issue and Powell was obviously part of the planning (on the diplomatic side).

I doubt if it will turn off a huge number, but it could turn off some of those core anti-war people.

[J. J.]

I don't understand how someone could be turned off from voting for someone just because a specific person happens to endorse them.

For example, lots of conservatives hate Hillary Clinton, but if she were to hypothetically endorse McCain I don't think any conservatives would suddenly change their minds just because of her.

It would depend.  If Hillary would say "He'd be the kind of president I'd be," it wouldn't help with the right. 

In the case of some Obama supporters, it doesn't help that he fudged a bit on the troop withdrawal. 

[J. J.]

I don't see how such a liar would help Obama. From My Lai to the Iraq war, this guy is a liar.

Case in point. 

[J. J.]

Just announced it.  Will decline to campaign.

[J. J.]

Just announced it.  Will decline to campaign.

This might help Obama.

I don't know how many numbers it will run.  His "after conference" was not hugely enthusiastic.

[J. J.]

The first reactions of Republicans in this thread tells me that they're at least worried what the effects of this endorsement could be. So far, they don't know what it means exactly (same probably applies to Democrats), but they're concerned that it might have a positive impact for Obama. That's what would I read out of it.

Well they are those who certainly seem intent on rubbishing Powell's endorsement as being nothing to do with anything beyond the fact that both men are black

Dave

I don't think too many people are "rubbishing Powell's endorsement," except me saying it really might hurt with the left (and somebody from the left agreed with me).

[J. J.]

Both Obama and Powell are black, you see.

Well, in all fairness, I've never bought the "Bill Ayers connection," though Obama has been less than forthright about his past (though nothing dishonorable).

[J. J.]

At least a one-day news cycle win (maybe another one or two), unless something big steps on it.

Guys, if Joe the Plumber can get a few days' media wins, this can, no matter how lukewarm/black/whatever the endorsement is.

Not a guaranteed two points or anything, but positive news is positive news.

Both Obama and Powell are black, you see.

Well, in all fairness, I've never bought the "Bill Ayers connection," though Obama has been less than forthright about his past (though nothing dishonorable).

what?

The background.

His father didn't abandon his, as his been hinted at.  He was a Harvard earning a master's.  His mother actually was the one pushing for divorce.

His stepfather (who actually sounds like a pretty nice guy) wasn't poor and was an executive with Mobil Oil.

Obama went to live with his grandmother because he wanted to attend school in the US; it wasn't because his mother couldn't afford to take care of him.  He attended an exclusive school.

His grandmother was, at the time, a vice president at the Bank of Hawaii.  He didn't grow up poor.

His first job after college wasn't as a "community organizer," but working as a researcher for a financial newsletter in NYC.

If he was up front about it, and would say "I was luckier than most," I'd feel a lot more comfortable about him.   I'm worried because, if he's not going to be upfront about these things, how can we really trust him to honest about policy (which everyone is flip-flopping on this year).

(BTW:  I had major trust issues with Mitt Romney, but those were with changes on policy.)

[J. J.]

The background.

His father didn't abandon his, as his been hinted at.  He was a Harvard earning a master's.  His mother actually was the one pushing for divorce.

His stepfather (who actually sounds like a pretty nice guy) wasn't poor and was an executive with Mobil Oil.

Obama went to live with his grandmother because he wanted to attend school in the US; it wasn't because his mother couldn't afford to take care of him.  He attended an exclusive school.

His grandmother was, at the time, a vice president at the Bank of Hawaii.  He didn't grow up poor.

His first job after college wasn't as a "community organizer," but working as a researcher for a financial newsletter in NYC.

If he was up front about it, and would say "I was luckier than most," I'd feel a lot more comfortable about him.   I'm worried because, if he's not going to be upfront about these things, how can we really trust him to honest about policy (which everyone is flip-flopping on this year).

(BTW:  I had major trust issues with Mitt Romney, but those were with changes on policy.)

I understand the background, but I don't see why you're riffing on the Ayres situation here.  It was barely mentioned in passing in the interview.  And I don't see what it has to do with the quote you responded to from Bob Dole.

Hold it.  I think you might have misread it.  I don't think that Obama's "connection" to Ayers is important.  I think he might have been less than forthright about the extend of the contact, at least initially.  Just, "I know the guy. We serve on a board together.  He, along with a number of other folks have, has contributed to me.  [etc.] I don't take advice from him."  If that would have come out early, it wouldn't have been an issue.

I know a lot of left wing people, some of whom are personal friends that I do have more than casual contact with.  If I were asked about them, I'd be more upfront with it.  Obama's story was first that he was just a guy who lived around the neighborhood, then just a guy he served on a board with, then someone who provided some political support, but it took a while to get that out.  I mean, just be straight forward.  Obama is the leader of Ayers terrorist cell or anything.