"Powell: I stay Republican 'because it annoys them'"

2015-10-02T10:07:18-04:00

From: The Hill

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell joked that he identifies as a Republican to annoy the GOP’s right-wing.

“Yes, I’m still a Republican,” he said about his party affiliation during the Washington Ideas Forum in Washington, D.C., according to the Daily Mail.

“I want to continue to be a Republican because it annoys them,” Powell quipped to host Walter Isaacson.
“I think the party has shifted much further right than where the country is and it should be obvious to party leaders that they cannot keep saying and doing the things that they were doing and hope to be successful in national-level election in the future, not just in 2016,” he added.

Powell said a small faction in the GOP is alienating voters with their rhetoric on immigration.

“I think most Republicans understand that we need immigration, we are an immigrant nation [and that] it is in our best interest to do it,” he said.

“But there are pockets of intolerance within the Republican Party [and] the Republican Party had better figure out how to defeat that."

Powell also disputed the notion that GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump represents the Republican message on immigration policy.

“I don’t agree that it’s the Republican position on immigration,” he said of Trump’s stance.

“If I was around Mr. Trump — Donald, who I know rather well — I would say, ‘You know, Don, let’s see what happens — let’s tell all the immigrants working in Trump hotels to stay home tomorrow,” Powell said. “Let’s see what happens.”

Powell urged listeners to look at their fellow Americans and take pride in the immigrant backgrounds they might find.

“There are first-generation American immigrants who will raise children who will go up to higher things,” he said.

“It’s that immigrant tradition — get started and the next generation will be better and the generation after that will be even better.”

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/255501-powell-i-stay-republican-to-annoy-gop

Powell: I stay Republican 'because it annoys them'

Powell said the "party has shifted much further right than where the country is."

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Oct 2 at 2015 10:08 AM

2015-10-02T10:08:31-04:00

He like all celebrities and people of fame should keep their political views to themselves

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Oct 2 at 2015 10:08 AM

2015-10-02T10:08:58-04:00

Arguably, one can say Powell is a true Republican.

Response by 1stSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 10:09 AM

2015-10-02T10:09:52-04:00

Colin Powell, saying it like it is. Wish he would run.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Oct 2 at 2015 10:15 AM

2015-10-02T10:15:17-04:00

Colin Powell may identify himself as a Republican but he is no more Republican than Bruce Jenner is a woman, Rachel Dolezal is black, and Obama is a Christian.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 10:19 AM

2015-10-02T10:19:18-04:00

I think we often forget that the "left" and the "right" aren't binary. POwell is definitely Republican, but he's not far right leaning. There's nothing wrong with that and I think a lot of what he's saying is true, the fringe of (both parties actually) the GOP is pulling the bulk of the moderate conservatives in a direction many don't want to go.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 2 at 2015 10:32 AM

2015-10-02T10:32:45-04:00

Hypocrisy doesn't annoy me. If one choses to play games, so be it. You can put lipstick on a pig......

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Oct 2 at 2015 11:09 AM

2015-10-02T11:09:30-04:00

Why should Powell be any different than the other members of the GOP establishment? The only difference between the GOP and the Democrats is the size of the ass on their iconic animals...

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Oct 2 at 2015 12:06 PM

2015-10-02T12:06:56-04:00

I'm much more aligned to the Colin Powell branch of the Republican Party than I am to the Allen West branch. Unfortunately, Colin Powell would never make it through the primary process.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Oct 2 at 2015 12:18 PM

2015-10-02T12:18:37-04:00

In 1990-91 I would have low crawled through hell if General Powell had requested it.

But when he made the statement that one of the reasons he backed President Obama was because of his skin color I lost all respect for him...

There is nothing he has to say today that has any further relevance.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Oct 2 at 2015 8:49 PM

2015-10-02T20:49:46-04:00

Obama has pulled us so far left. That if you believe in smaller governent and less taxes you are a right wing extremist.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2015 9:39 AM

2015-10-03T09:39:06-04:00

To hell with Powell. He is what is wrong with politics and I swear, that politics thoroughly corrupt and he is too full of his own self-loathing.

Response by LTC Marc King made Oct 3 at 2015 9:59 AM

2015-10-03T09:59:21-04:00

The General is running a classic deception operation. I'm disappointed that he has chosen to behave in this manner. I have always admired his military career and his service to the nation after that but acting as a shill for Obsma and those of his ilk leaves wondering if my admiration was seriously misplaced.

Response by CPO Randy Francis made Oct 3 at 2015 11:35 AM

2015-10-03T11:35:07-04:00

Colin Powell stopped being a Republican when he endorsed Obama in 2008.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Oct 6 at 2015 7:02 AM

2015-10-06T07:02:50-04:00

The problem isn't immigration. The problem is there are people who are in our country illegally.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2015 7:26 AM

2015-10-06T07:26:58-04:00

.... Dem... Rep... left ... right .... we all missed the big pic! nothing matter, only "Big Government" and "Small Government". An uber liberal's idea that don't involve big government? I will support, an uber conservative's idea that involve big government? I will do everything in my power to stop it.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Oct 29 at 2015 4:23 AM

2015-10-29T04:23:38-04:00

There was a time when I admired this man and really cared about what he thought ... since his participation in the Bush Administration, I don't give a rat's ass about his opinion on anything.