There’s a dark vein of intolerance in some parts of the [Republican Party]… What I mean by that is they still sort of look down on minorities. When I see former governor [Sarah Palin] say that the president is ‘shuckin’ and jivin,’ that’s a racial era slave-term.
[Gov. John Sununu] didn’t say Obama was slow, he was tired, or he didn’t do well.: He said he was ‘lazy.‘
Now, it may not mean anything to most Americans—but to those of us who are African-Americans, the second word is ‘shiftless,’ and then there’s a third word that goes along with it…
I think what the Republican Party needs to do now is take a very hard look at itself and understand that the country has changed. The country is changing demographically, and if the Republican Party does not change along with that demographic, they’re going to be in trouble.”
—Former Secretary of State Colin Powell on NBC’s Meet the Press
deltabadhand
Still awaiting Powell’s analysis on whether fire is hot or grass is green.
yaoming
This isn’t gay news. Next!
watching1
Thanks for this. For those wishing a return to a more moderate GOP, meaning a saner US political climate, Powell is one of the few voices of reason (and I say this having almost always despised the party). It affects everyone, and I for one did not see enough news analysis on the GOP’s concerted effort to employ racism to bring Obama down. It’s a truly shameful era in US history that the have stooped this low.
jwrappaport
@yaoming: I second that. I was hoping he’d have the balls to call out the GOP’s anti-gay bigotry along with its racism, but alas – not gay news.
Ronbo
Said the man who knowingly lied so as to justify an unconscionalbe war of choice. The 200,000+ dead Iraq citizens can’t ask you to apologize for cooperating in their deaths.
A “man of reason” doesn’t use his enormous power and clout to push us into a for-profit war. Haliburton thanks you for the profits.
1EqualityUSA
“Dark vein of intolerance?” More like a mainline artery of intolerance. When they fall flat on their white, wealthy, intolerant faces for the next four elections, it will be fun to watch the GOP transition from bigoted blow-hards to inclusive, “Republican” values that stay out of bedrooms. We will NEVER forget what a creepy party you are.
Eban
@yaoming: Well us gays do fall under the category of minorities. We should look at all types of discrimination as equal, whether it be racial, gender-based or based on sexual orientaion. We cannot live in a more equal society without combating all forms of discrimination.
Joetx
@Ronbo: Ditto.