The conventional wisdom holds that John McCain should lean to his right in making his choice for a vice presidential candidate. This wisdom is completely wrong. Most of the names being bandied about would make terrible choices for McCain. I don't claim to be a political expert in the manner of Dick Morris, but I think the best choice for McCain would be Colin Powell.
Yes, Colin Powell. And here are the reasons why. First, Powell has an independent mind. He is not a captive of the right, and consequently he reinforces the public perception that McCain is not a pawn of Bush. True, Powell served in the Bush administration, but his disagreements with Bush are well known. Obama is trying to portray McCain as a Bush clone. Powell will help McCain convince independent voters--the ones he needs most--that his administration would not constitute a third Bush term.
Second, Powell has experience. The man has served honorably and responsibly in more high positions than Obama and all the other Democratic candidates combined. Moreover, Powell has gravitas while Obama merely has the gift of the gab. So Powell helps to highlight how green and goofy Obama really is. The point is not to contrast one African American with another, or to show how Powell like Obama has immigrant roots. Rather, it is to dissolve the race issue by showing that capability and experience, not race and skin color, are the real issues here.
Finally, who apart from the Obamorons can doubt that Powell would make a capable president? This is especially important given the fact that McCain is over seventy. A Powell choice would also reinforce the big question about the man at the top of the Democratic ticket: Is he ready? I am not going to say that Obama can never be a good president, but I seriously doubt that he is mature enough to climb into the saddle. Who would you trust--Powell or Obama--to better handle a national emergency?
Now all of this could be idle speculation, because Powell may not want to be vice president. I keep hearing about how his wife is so completely against the idea. But this could be one of McCain's first tasks: to persuade Powell to do it. This wouldn't be the first time that this soldier has been asked to put personal considerations second and to take on a great challenge for the future of his country.
Reader Comments ( Page 6 of 13)
76. Steve, what critical difference would it make in Obama's fitness for office if he was white instead of black? Same voting record. Same "associations" in his background. Same wife. He just happened to be a white guy. What would it matter? Would it magically made him an acceptable candidate if he were of the "right" race?
Race is a red herring being dangled by the right wing to make you debate and argue about an utterly superficial aspect of the election and to overlook the glaring inadiquacies in the republican candidate and party; not limited to Iraq, failed tax plans, failed economic policy, failed energy policy, and failed foreign policy.
Don't waste your time and brain power debating the most incidental aspects and ignore the most vital.
Somber at 5:31PM on Jun 16th 2008
77. Dinesh, I agree with you 100% that Powell would be the ideal VP...only for Obama not McSame.
Powell himself has eluded to his support for Obama.
Lastly, I truly believe if it hadn't been for Powells wife he would have pout in his 8 years as President already..
Victor at 5:38PM on Jun 16th 2008
78. I thought that my point was pretty clear but let me repeat it. Some are arguing that people of color have a tough choice: vote on the basis of race or vote for the best man. Many of us think that Obama is the best choice so there is no reason to feel 'torn'.
Steve at 5:43PM on Jun 16th 2008
79. Dear Mr D'Souza, like an earlier poster I would ask that you refrain from sophomoric insults like the term obamorons when having a political discussion. No doubt you may think it is clever but as this term is just one of many distributed to the faithful by the marketeers of the right, it would be good for you to remember that it does not take intellect to regurgitate phraseology. A parrot could do it just as well.
Steve at 7:04PM on Jun 16th 2008
80. Directed at no one in particular.
If Obama becomes president.
Whites will not be enslaved out of revenge.
African Americans will not get a race based tax rebate.
It will not become legal for black men to rape white women.
The Whitehouse will not be painted black or renamed the Blackhouse.
The vehicles in the presidential motorcade will not be pimped out with spinning rims and oversized woofers.
Michelle’s official title will not be “first bitch.” (Not to Democrats anyway)
The state of the union address will not be called the state of the union shout out to all my peeps in da hood.
The cabinet will not be comprised of bitches and hos.
He will not refer to his vice president as my nigga.
He won’t get gangsta on republican opposition.
Airforce one will not be painted purple or pimped out with spinning rims.
The Nation of Islam will not replace the secret service.
rabidmccain at 7:07PM on Jun 16th 2008
81. rabidmccain - lol
It is a typical political approach in this country (used almost every day by this blogs host) to apply the bait and switch to difficult questions. One has to wonder whether the GOP is so cynical (or clueless) that they think that having two people in the election who aren't rich white guys will sew confusion in the ranks.
Can they not imagine that many of us aren't clamoring to be able to vote for an African-American, a woman or any other demographic. We aren't trying to be trendy. What we are seeking is someone who makes us feel hopeful about this country's future. Someone who doesn't spends all his time trying to make us afraid of our shadows. For many of us, Barrack Obama is that man.
Steve at 7:30PM on Jun 16th 2008
82. rabidmccain, whew, and the song 'White Christmas' won't be outlawed?
Funny stuff.
JefFlyingV at 7:33PM on Jun 16th 2008
83. "There's another ex-general in contention for VP: I'm a huge fan of Wesley Clark."
Wesley Clark! Didn't he lead us in the illegal war over Kosavo? He was also a republican till they snubbed him.
Monty at 7:49PM on Jun 16th 2008
84. Don’t forget.
"How Life Began”
In a few minutes on The History Channel
I don’t expect you fundys to agree with the premise but at least you can stop claiming we have no idea or even a hypotheses of how life began without the direct action of a deity.
rabidmccain at 8:52PM on Jun 16th 2008
85. I have great respect for Colin Powell. General Powell; if you will. I think the voters are going to shy away from two military men running the country. But , he still would make a great VP.
Mark at 9:11PM on Jun 16th 2008
86. Only problem is that Powell has endorsed Obama!
Danyal at 10:30PM on Jun 16th 2008
87. Gee, I haven't looked at Dinesh's blog for so long, I had actually forgotten how "funny" are his so-called opininions. Ah, well! Another 'chuckle' enjoyed by all. I will have to look for more articles by other members of the 'think tank' with which he is associated. So far, if one is to judge by Dinesh's post, methinks their is a dirth of thinking and a surfeit of "getting tanked" in that organization. Time will tell.
RLaitres at 10:47PM on Jun 16th 2008
88.
Colin Powell has praised Obama, but not given an endorsement as yet.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/powell-praises-obama-but-doesnt-endorse/
T.Brough at 11:10PM on Jun 16th 2008
89. Is anyone on this board, or anywhere in the loony left of this country, that John McCain and his wife adopted a little girl from Ethopia? If this were the case with a dumbocrap, the liberals would be all over it. I mean, they're all over the fact that a vote against hussein obamoron is an indication of 'racism' as opposed to intelligence. Well, I suppose then that if you're against McCain, then you must be angry one of his daughters is black. Racist.
tsgrv at 11:43PM on Jun 16th 2008
90. Dr James Cone's Description of BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY, from his book "BLACK POWER AND BLACK THEOLOGY", used as the basis for the vision statement of Obama's Church, Trinity United:
"Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community. . . . Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love."
Among the Obamas' charitable donations in 2007 was $26,270 to Trinity United Church of Christ.
tsgrv at 11:45PM on Jun 16th 2008