Is race a factor for all the white support McCain receives? Is sex a factor for all the female support Palin receives? You old dog, you couldn't help yourself. You are feeling so betrayed right now, you can't believe that ungrateful Mr. Powell told you to stuff it "(after all you did for that ungrateful nword). Come on Pat, you know you're thinking it because you don't understand that neither you nor yours gave him anything. He earned the honor that has been given to him and the respect of American's and people around the world. He is an honorable man and made an honorable choice in selecting to endorse Senator Obama. True, Mr Powell was manipulated by a bunch of dishonorable men. Do you wonder, Pat, if they manipulated him and dishonored him because he was African American or because the American people saw him, as did the rest of the world, as our trusted Secretary of State and a Four Star General? Did they feed him all that misinformation because he was black, or because he was trusted? You can't deny the truth, a case could be made, using your racist logic, that he was manipulated and used because he was black and "uppity". We all know that's not true. Colin Powell is an intelligent man and like most African American's has experienced and recognizes racism.. The only mistake he made was in trusting his superiors and his President. The bad news is, you believe he is inferior. If you did not, your writing would dwell on his accomplishments, instead you write of him as a fortunate "token" in the Bush house of cards. The good news is, your generation is dying out. You old guard stiffs can't quite get that not all people have been indoctrinated with the "white superiority""black inferiority" mentality. All the old haters out there, you still believe in your own superiority based on nothing but the color of your parents skin. Now if you were a sophisticated man instead of a wannabe, you would realize there are some many evolved human beings out there who have learned to pick their friends and their leaders not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. You have certainly tried to malign Barak's character, but when you objectively evaluate McCain and his character and associations, which he has tried to hide by attacking Senator Obama, well you might then come close to understanding why honorable people, such as Colin Powell, choose Barak Obama.

Pat, why is it that there must be some alternate reason for Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama. Why imply deception on Powell's part? Why imply that the comprehensive list of reasons that he outlined were not ACTUALLY his reasons? Is it because you've been in politics so long that you've come to expect some level of deception from everyone? Or is it because there's a little deception in everything you do, so everyone else must be the same?
Colin Powell articulated his reasons very eloquently and comprehensively. All of which are probably echoed in most people who will vote for Obama. (He definitely voiced all my reasons.)
It seemed clear to me during the Meet The Press interview that Powell did not make the decision lightly and he did not want to hurt his friend of 25 years. The emotion was visible. I belive many life-long republicans are struggling with the decision to vote for Obama. They want to be loyal but know they must do what is RIGHT for our country in their opinion. But of course if a black republican comes to the same conclusion, it was all about race. Surely you must know that there's not a very high percentage of black republicans. So Powell has been voting against the majority of his race all of his life.
Also you said understandably Powell is being accused of being ungrateful to the PARTY he owes his fame and career??? He doesn't owe this "gratitude" to God for giving him superior intellect, courage, fortitude and talent to acheive what he has? During his lifetime the Rebublicans have not been the party of equal rights for blacks. So actually he achieved all of these things INSPITE of his party, not because of it.
Which brings me to my final point. This loyalty to the party NO MATTER WHAT is destroying politics and this country. Sticking with your party even when you feel or know in your heart that they are wrong, is NOT putting country first and is NOT what constituents are expecting when we vote officials into office!!

PU/RE AND SIMPLE HE ENDORSED HIM BECAUSE THEY ARE THE SAME COLOR

Dear Pat, Your suggestion that ACORN. Ayers,Jacksonand Wright are ex-comrades of Obama was a terrible dirty campaign untruth. You the patriot you are should be above this! Obama is not using the services of ACORN. We republicans register voters too. This a patriotic endeavor and should be encouraged. ACORN is within the laws of the States and alertinf their authorities of false registrations.Obama has stated yhat Ayers's involvement with the Weathermen bombimgs was despicable to quote him. Obama went on national TV to condem Wright's defamation of America. Jesse has nothing to do with Obama and say's he can't stand him. Good riddance to failed leader. How can you honestly use communist propagandato scare the public into believing that Obama shares their agenda.
The democrats are no longer left. They are center and more conservative. Our republican party moved to the extreme right starting with Regan and has become the Great Divider of our blessed Nation. Mccain has lost his political honor. Pat, be honest and fair, the American way!

Re: Marian; Sir,...Like most revolutionairies I am a conservative... I want to get to the liberties we once had and those promised in the Declaration of Independence... I am sure the thought you expressed crossed the mind of Mr. Powell, and that you would say it; and worse, believe it... There is nothing wrong with America that is not in part caused by the parties, which are a hold over from England... I can assure you, that if I have to choose between the democrats and the republicans, I will choose Americans every time... I know we are ignorant... We have many examples of ignorance...I know ignorance is more profitable than oil or gold because it does not have to be pumped or dug out of the ground to be exploited... If you ever get sick of being exploited for your ignorance, pick up a book, and even the Bible will do because it clearly illustrates how a nation can tear its own guts out for money... Would you crucify Mr. Obama??? Would you lynch him??? Your kind used to be the unreliable half of the democratic party, who would see democracy lose to have their nominated candidate lose, and see America lose so they could lose even bigger... I can hand you a book; but it takes more than books to cure a man of ignorance because he must first understand that his hate is fear. Fear is more painful and difficult to face than hate, so people afraid embrace hate... But it will not help you, and will only prolong your pain... Join America in looking for change...Quit beating your head against the future, afraid to relax for fear it will catch you napping... If you cannot face your fears you are a coward... No amount of hate is equal to any amount of courage... We have some tough times ahead, and some challenges; but we can find the light of day out of this dark night of hate, and fear... Do not let the parties oppress you... Don't let your party divide you from the human race... Cling to your humanity... No people can ever be completely defeated so long as they can hang on to their humanity... Try to hang on... Try to face your fears... Don't let yourself be used or deluded...Be brave...Thanks...Sweeney

Well said, Liz. I would only add that the race card is always sitting there ready to be played, and poor Byuke is just about out of anything else. And Marian, you need to understand that honest emotional outburts blow his cover, and he doesn't like that.

Pat please,please stop using this race thing, dont white people endorse white people. Colin Powell endorsement of Obama was the right ting to do.PAT be honest, be fair.

Pat - Maybe Powell did put country first. I like your columns most times especially when you write on foreign policy issues. But, just drop this race baiting will you?

Re: Marian

And was race an issue in your decision?

Pat, I appreciate this column because of the comments it garnered...it is good to know that many Americans feel the same way I do about Colin Powell.

I am sorry to see that you believe that Colin Powell owed his success to three Republican Presidents, because I always thought that the Republcians prided themselves on their strong believe in meritocracy.

I think that the real issue with the Republicans is exactly the one issue that you believed Colin Powell could have used: that is the neoconservatives! I think it is time for the Republican Party to really think about what the neocons have done to your party and while you are at it you might want to rethink supply side economics.

I believe that Obama is a "transformational figure" because he has run about the best Presidential campaign we have seen in a long time and by beating the Clinton machine he has already won against a much more formidable candidate than John McCain.

After this election you might want to look over the last few years to figure out what went wrong: Bush, Cheney, Delay, Hastert, and all the rest.....the Repbulicans did not so much lose this election as they squandered their 2004 mandate.