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Political Hay
Did I Hear That Right?
Perhaps one day someone smart will write a book explaining how to parse political logic, because the political kind is very different from the regular logic we all use, with varying degrees of skill, to get through the day. The only sane response to some of the downright peculiar syllogisms we hear from the campaign trail is, "Say what?"
One of the most dazzling examples of faux logic from the trail is Obama's excusing of himself for hanging around with former Weatherman (not the kind you see on TV every day at 6 and 11) Bill Ayers, a man who gave his heart and soul (if he ever had either) to a terrorist organization that murdered Americans and would have liked to have murdered more in order to bring America down. It's OK to do business with this guy, Obama explains, because Ayers and his merry associates committed their atrocities when, in Obama's words, "I was only eight years old."
This is the most perverse statute of limitations I've ever heard of. Who the hell cares that Obama was just a kid when Ayers was in league with murderers and America-hating crazies? Using this logic Obama would be free to hang around with Dr. Mengele if he were available, as Dr. Joe's terrible work was done before Obama was even born.
The fact that Obama is allowed to slip his responsibility on this one using a transparent non sequitur demonstrates again, as if another demonstration were necessary, the double-standard that exists in the left-stream media. If John McCain (or any Republican or conservative) had a relationship as close as Obama's with Ayers with someone who was an unrepentant Klan member it would be page-one news and clear evidence to the chattering class that McCain was unfit for high office.
As lame as Obama's Ayers defense has been, John McCain's dealing with it has been only slightly more coherent. McCain has been saying on the campaign trail, and I paraphrase here from memory, that it doesn't matter that Obama associates with a washed-up Weatherman, but it's important that Obama should be honest with the American people about his association with Ayers.
Huh?
Of course it matters that Obama associates with anti-American, far-left extremists who have admitted to but never apologized for or showed repentance for the most despicable acts. This goes directly to character and world view. But if McCain takes the peculiar position that this kind of association doesn't matter, why is he bringing it up at all? And why should McCain make such a point of Obama's association with Ayers while at the same time putting his even longer and closer association with Rev. Wright out of bounds for discussion. Trying to follow McCain's twisted logic re Obama, Wright, and Ayers reminds me of the time I listened to Yogi Berra on television trying to explain the infield fly rule.
NOW COMES General Colin Powell gracing page one of most of America's dailies with the less-than-shocking news that a social liberal who supports affirmative action (discrimination against white people and Asian-Americans) will be voting for another social liberal who supports affirmative action. Thus is news judgment these days. All these editors missed the bigger point of the story, which is how much more comfortable the general would be as a Democrat.
The NYT tells us that Obama fetched in the general because he, Obama, is reaching out in a "more diverse and inclusive way across our society." Diverse and inclusive are two words with political meanings quite different from the meaning the words have traditionally carried for the apolitical. In operation they basically mean, as affirmative action means, including as few straight, white males in on the good stuff as possible while escorting minorities, women, gays, and members of other certified victim-groups (certified by the left) to the head of the line and catering to their interests. I don't mind a political party whooping these policies up, but it frosts me that these policies are hidden behind cuddly-sounding adjectives like "diverse" and "inclusive."
General Powell also said Obama has the gravitas and the understanding to conduct foreign policy and to be commander in chief, which is a pretty breathtaking conclusion based on the evidence. In giving Obama his blessing, Powell went on to complain of how far to the right the Republican Party has come (would it were so) and to assert how he would not like to see "two more conservative appointments to the Supreme Court." We're deep into RINO-land now.
Powell says he has gotten to know Obama, has followed the campaign closely, and claims that Obama has demonstrated "intellectual vigor," and has crossed intellectual, ethnic, and racial lines. Hmm. I guess I was out of town the weekend when Obama did all this.
Powell even said McCain's criticism of Obama for his relationship with Ayers was "over the top." It's the general's view that McCain should not be suggesting that Obama "pals around with terrorists" just because he, well, pals around with terrorists. At least has a history of hanging out with them, though of course his guest list has been sanitized of late for the campaign. The general has well learned the lesson from the left-stream media that the life-time associations of Republicans, particularly the more conservative ones, must pass a Marine Corps white-glove inspection. But if a Democrat works and plays with Old Scratch himself it would be tasteless and narrow-minded and not at all inclusive to point it out.
Here's some G-2 for you, General. You're a Democrat.
Somebody smart, I forget who or I would give credit, said, "Most political campaigns in America are mere exchanges of nonsense. To the extent a candidate has a case -- and it's rare that one does -- he almost never states it clearly." There's been little in this gaudy election cycle to prove this melancholy diagnosis wrong. Hey, maybe the guy who came up with this insightful quote could write the book on political logic. It would be a public service. And it's clear that this guy understands American politics.
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d. carlos | 10.20.08 @ 7:27AM
I had a great deal of respect for General Powell untill this day. What he has done is show to all of the american people just how racist blacks in america are, his endorsement of Barak Hussin shows that in his heart of hearts he is a racist. A Obama presidency would be the end of the republic as we know it.
E. Edwards| 10.20.08 @ 7:46AM
I don't think that Colin Powell is racist at atll, or that his endorsement of Obama shows how racist American blacks are in general. In fact, it is statements like this that are keeping more conservative blacks in the Democratic Party; why would we want to join up with a Party that seems to see Blacks the same way that Democrats do...as an unthinking monolith?
As for General Powell's endorsement, it is no great surprise at all. He has never been, in my eyes, a conservative anyway as he has almost always taken liberal positions when they matter most. And after his attempts at undermining the Bush foreign policy and his replacement as Sec. State, is it really a surprise that he would oppose the next Republican nominee?
L. Mac| 10.20.08 @ 7:54AM
I salute Powell for continuing to show the highest integrity and love for his country. General Powell has actually put country first, something more Republicans should actually do and not just talk about.
Inge| 10.20.08 @ 10:06AM
"One should not be judged by the color of ones skin, but rather by the content of his character" (Martin Luther King)! Seeing Powell endorse BO, it is the color of his skin, due to the following stmt made by Powell: "it would be electifying to have an african american president" (to a african american group). If anyone believes that Powell judged OB character, to endorse him is to approve of the color of his skin. Anyone who thinks otherwise, I have a bridge to sell! Powell also lied, republicans have not raised the muslim issue, but rather democrats during the primary.
M. Tobias| 10.20.08 @ 10:37AM
The comments of General Colin Powell are surprising only in that they come from a man who was not only the Commanding General of the United States Army, but the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. During his professional career, he would never have even thought of suggesting the promotion of a 1st lieutenant to the rank of general without a demonstration of near God-like talent for Command in battle. Something that Barack Obama has not shown. This indicates that General Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama is either based on something other than his stated reasons or dementia.
matt| 10.20.08 @ 11:43AM
I would like to hear Gen. Powell answer this question, "General Powell, Vietnam Veteran, would you still think questioning the Ayers/Obama connection is over the top if Mr. Ayers and his fellow Weatherundergrounders succeeded with their planned bombing of the Fort Dix officers club and killed some of your fellow soldiers?"
Marc Jeric| 10.20.08 @ 12:12PM
Colin Powell - what a general! He let go Saddam's army free and unmolested when cornered in Kuwait by saying "we are not in the killing business". And so we had to engage in this second war to get rid of him. What forsight, what wisdom! His endorsement of Abu Hussein is pure racism of the black kind.
Erin| 10.20.08 @ 12:26PM
Wow. I would say the level of ignorance astounds me, but considering the recent McCain/Palin rallies, I guess not. Colin Powell made his choice with wisdom and integrity, two words most of you probably don't even know the meaning of, let alone have. If you listened to him and actually understood what he was talking about, you would see that. Instead, you blatent racists instead accuse him of racism, to take the focus of yourself. You are the problem with America and the world. It's too bad that none of you can get your heads out of your @ss long enough to see what's wrong with yourselves and actually make a change for the better.
matt| 10.20.08 @ 1:24PM
Hey Erin, I guess that makes Juan Williams (noted black pundit) a racist, because his stated opinion is that Powell's endorsement was a lot about race. As to "wisdom and integrity", I think Mark pointed out some of Powell's military "wisdom" above. And as to "integrity", let's not forget his kabuki dance in the media prior to the 1996 election, when he was deciding which party he belonged to; or his going public with his disagreement with the Bush administration over affirmative action (Powell for, administration against). Sounds like someone more interested in keeping his cred with PC circles (and not jepordizing his speaking fees) than someone wanting to lead.
Jim| 10.20.08 @ 2:17PM
"The NYT tells us that Obama fetched in the general because he, Obama, is reaching out in a "more diverse and inclusive way across our society." Uh huh, yeah, right, I'm sure that is exactly how this all came about. What a mesmerizer, the messiah. And all the Republican Party shall becom "fisher's of men."
A_Nonny_Mouse| 10.20.08 @ 5:34PM
I don't think Colin Powell is supporting Obama because of ethnicity; I think he's paying the GOP back for screwing him over after he was forced to override his REAL beliefs about the Iraq invasion in order to Obey The Commander-In-Chief. (Remember the phrase "you break it you own it"?) He was an ambitious man, had a promising future, but his President didn't listen to him and then chopped him off at the knees. Not ethnicity. Politics. Don't get angry, get even. Now he's got a future with Obama's camp.
John| 10.20.08 @ 5:58PM
Well anonymouse, if powell was a man of integrity, he would have stepped down before he was to speak in front of the UN about the war. This is nothing more than a skin color endorsement. if he felt so strong, then why didnt he endorse him alot earlier in his campaign? He did a Obama and waited to play both sides of the fence and whoever got the lead, he jumped on their bandwagon. Powell is a liberal in republican clothing. He couldnt hold Schwarzkopf's jock in a training session.
John| 10.20.08 @ 6:05PM
Powell = Iraq War Obama = Anti Iraq A little Hypocrisy Obama ? You betcha !!
Robert Nowall| 10.20.08 @ 6:29PM
I read somewhere---and I don't remember where---that Powell once had a Lyndon Johnson bumper sticker on his car. Should this be true...then he's hardly a lifelong Republican, as some have said, and it's hardly surprising he'd endorse a Democrat now.
David Muncier| 10.21.08 @ 12:01AM
Bitter and negative, just like McCain's campaign. Why can't you take Powell's well reasoned endorsement as something that comes from his mind rather than the color of his skin.
OCPatriot| 10.21.08 @ 7:34PM
The fun thing about this piece and all the others that put Powell down for one reason or other is that, if Powell had come out for McCain, he would have been hailed as a leading light of the Republican Party. Think of it that way, and you can't help but realize that such articles as Novak's and this one are nothing but "sour grapes."