The following is an article by Politico:
In the latest round of the increasingly heated intra-GOP feud, former Secretary of State Colin Powell Sunday defended his Republican credentials and fired back at radio host Rush Limbaugh and former Vice President Dick Cheney, saying the party had to expand beyond its conservative base.
“Rush will not get his wish and Mr. Cheney was misinformed – I am still a Republican,” Powell said in a much-anticipated interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation” two weeks after Cheney suggested on the same show that the retired general had left the party by endorsing Barack Obama last fall.
Powell outlined his party bona fides, noting his votes for and services under a string of Republican presidents, and said it was not up to Cheney and Limbaugh – the radio host has kept up a steady drumbeat of criticism since Powell’s cross-party endorsement last year – to determine who belonged in the GOP.
“Neither [Cheney] nor Rush Limbaugh are members of the membership committee of the Republican Party,” Powell said.
Powell suggested that there were a number of moderates in the party who shared his concerns but were hesitant to speak out “because if you are vocal you’re going to get your voice mail filled up and get lots of e-mails like I did.”
One such Republican did seem to take Powell’s side of the fight today, as Former Homeland Security Secretary and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge also joined in the criticism of Limbaugh Sunday.
“I think Rush articulates his point of view in ways that offend very many,” Ridge said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“It’s a matter of language and a matter of how you use words. It does get the base all fired up and he’s got a strong following. But personally, if he would listen to me and I doubt if he would, the notion is express yourselves but let’s respect others opinions and let’s not be divisive.”
Ridge also split with Cheney on the vice president’s claim that Obama’s policies were making Americans less safe. “I do not” agree with that, Ridge plainly told CNN’s John King, adding, “Yeah, I disagree with Dick Cheney.”
Powell also found a less likely ally in former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who said on “Meet the Press” that “I don’t want to pick a fight with Dick Cheney, but the fact is, the Republican party has to be a broad party that appeals across the country,” adding, “To be a national party, you have to have a big enough tent that you inevitably have fights inside the tent.”
Reiterating his support for closing down the terrorist detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Powell said Cheney’s opposition was an affront to Obama’s predecessor as well.
“Mr. Cheney is not only disagreeing with President Obama’s policy, he’s disagreeing with President Bush’s policy,” Powell said.
And, citing Cheney’s suggestion in a speech last week that President Obama only wanted to close Guantanamo to make Europeans happy, Powell said, “No, we’re doing it to reassure Europeans, Muslims, Arabs, all the people around the world, that we’re a nation of law.”
As for Limbaugh – whose name Powell pronounced as “Lim-bow” – the former secretary of state said he was an “entertainer” but who had such influence over the party that officials had to live in fear of offending him.
He lamented that RNC Chairman Michael Steele had “to lay prostrate on the floor” apologizing to Limbaugh after criticizing him and that other GOP members of Congress had to be similarly repentant after taking on the radio host.
“Well, if he’s out there he should be subject to criticism, just as I’m subject to criticism,” Powell said.
Steele, who’s giving on Tuesday what the RNC is touting as a major speech out his vision for the party, said in an interview this week with “Fox News,” that “I want a party that speaks to people. The idea that we only narrowly speak to one segment of the population is boneheaded and it’s not reflective of the history of this party,” adding, “How is kicking Colin Powell out or kicking Dick Cheney out or Rush Limbaugh in going to feed a child who’s hungry tonight?”
In an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Karl Rove dismissed the dust-up between Cheney and Powell, since “neither one of those two are candidates,” and deemed the fight “a false debate that Washington loves.”
Asked if he agreed with Cheney’s contention that Limbaugh was better for the Republican Party than Powell, Rove said: “Yes, if I had to pick between the two.”
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25 Responses
I come to Yeshiva World to read about news of interest to the heimishe/yeshiva world and news that’s not readily reported on elsewhere. On many occasions YWN mentioned that they asked a rav about whether an article should be posted.
I think the editor should ask if political news should be reported on YWN.
I am not trying to be narrow-minded, as personally I read these articles, however they are not within the stated framework of “Yeshiva News”. I think the editor should revisit its purpose and report accordingly.
There are plenty of sites to read political news.
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Colin Powell sees that his political future is going down the drain. This is a desperate attempt by him to try to save it.
None of them are likely to run for office. They are “senior statesman” except for Rush, who is merely an “old” media personality. As in sports, who cares about the stars of the 1990s. It seems they are putting on an “old timers day” for our amusement (maybe they should debate Al Gore or Mike Dukakis, for old times sake).
There are plenty of “new” Republicans taking advantage of the current vacuum, and the geezers should accept retirement gracefully and stop trying to grab headlines from the generation of Republicans who will probably take over by the beginning of the next decade.
since I won’t be speaking about any frum yiddin, I don’t have to hold back.
Based on what I read in this article, I don’t begin to understand Powell or Gingrich.
According to the way they want to gear their Party, why will anyone ever want to vote republican? What’s the difference between a democrat and a republican according to powell?
The republicans were always a party that stood for values. I know that a bunch of you are going to jump on me and name all the “moral” republicans caught in scandals. That will all the more prove my point. A democrat scandal is no scandal. There are no morals at all in the democrat party. They stand for nothing. Anything goes. The only thing they say no to, is tax cuts for those that pay them.
As yidin we really have nothing to do with any parties since we belong to the Party of HaShem. However, since we do live in this great country and HaShem blessed us with the ability to allign ourselves with some party and vote, the closest party to our values is the republican party.
I hate to quote Limbaugh because he is VERY far from being a role model for anything, but the man does make sense in 99% of what he says. He claims that McCain was the candidate that Powell and the other blue-blood republicans want as the new party face. He’s not conservative. He too, doesn’t stand for much. He’s a ‘Perfect’ candidate for the ‘new’ republicans. But after all that, Powell still went to vote for the democrat! What does that tell you? What it tells me is that Powell ‘left the fold’. I don’t see anything wrong with what Cheney and Limbaugh have said about Powell.
I see this whole parsha as a power struggle between those of the old school and those belonging to the “new” establishment. I personally hope that the old school wins.
I would rather someone who openly hates me as a Yid (I can at least know his motives and watch out from him) than someone who hates me but smiles and acts as my friend (and slowly lowers the bar on standards that are important to raising my children in a moral environment).
to #1 – It is important that frum Jews be aware of American politics and economics. Like it or not, this affects us. For example, all our institutions are having financial problems because of factors that we had nothing to do with (rejecting for sake of argument that the Depression was caused by an ex-kollel person who regretteed giving up learning for parnassah, and davened for more time to learn).
who really cares what RINOs (republican in name only) like Powell says or thinks? Let him make his status as a Democrat official.
To #1: I’m pleased that Yeshiva World provides their readership with general news. This permits us to unsubscribe from other non Jewish publications whose features might include objectional material not suited for a Ben or Bas Torah. I would thus urge Yeshiva World to include more articles of a general nature so as to keep us informed of what is going on in our society.
As if also disagreeing with the most unpopular and inept U.S. president in history adds anything to the fact that he is disagreeing with Obama. Cheney is no fool – he would have gained nothing by openly disagreeing with Bush while he was VP, as he had a direct venue to disagree – within the White House. But now that he is on the outside, why shouldn’t he be allowed to criticize his former boss?
Mr. Powell says he’s still a Republican. Regardless of what I think of that statement, his support of Obama during his presidential campaign, makes him a racist republican. You cannot say that his support is based on policy, being that Obama’s votes (when he actually voted) were of the most counter-republican policies possible.
The Republican party does not need more inclusion by compromising conservative values. That just makes them (more) liberal. Keep to the core values. The people will see the genuine aspects of the party.
[Looks like Mr. Powell put on some weight, eh?]
Colin Powell is a truly accomplished and knowlegable person. Rush Limberger is a big baby who makes faulty conclusions like they are going out of style. Dick Cheney is the evil scientist behind all the “bush” mistakes which is why he is speaking out. He takes all the changes and corrections that Obama is making, personally.
Whatever his politics, Powell served his country in the army for over 30 years, was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of State ( he has earned some respect). Rush is a former addict, three times divorced and never served in the army. He is an entertainer who earns a fortune for his comments. Powell endangered his life in combat and served the country for bubkes.
veryinteresting: Powell is a first-class loser. Dick Cheney is a True American hero who has served his country well his entire life. And you must be confusing Rush, who Amrericans overwhelmingly vote with their ears for, with the demagogue Savage — who England (America’s parent country) banned for life!
#12. You are entitled to your statements based on emotion and opinion. Let the rest of us reason.
#13: I understand you are emotive about the issue. But the British Government banned Savage for good reason.
Good for him. Cowardly Dick Cheney, the Five times draft dodger had no business taking on the decorated Four Star General, a rela leader and true American Hero.
#12, you couldnt be more wrong. Powell is a first class leader, a decorated general who rose from the bronx projects to be a 4 star general, a presidential candidate and the first black secretary of state. He was the most unfortunate casualty of the Bush administration, as he took the fall for their mistake despite his sheer brilliance.
Dick Cheney is a coward, who got one convinient deferrement after another dondging the draft to go to vietman (though he has no problem sending everyone else’s children to the front lines). Was a terrible Vice president, and now runs around TV criticizing everyone else. Some hero.
12, FYI Dick Cheney didnt serve his country!
#16: Richard Cheney is the True American hero. Powell is a loser who tried to steal credit from Norman Schwartzkoff for the Persian Golf victory. Who cares what color Powell is? That is your hangup. You think he must’ve been good, since he was the first black.
akuperma,
What about all the new blood that say the same thing?
I guess your narrow left wing mind wont let you hear that.
#18
In a country where it would have been impossible just a few years earlier, yes indeed it is an achievement in and of iteself to be the first person of a previously persecuted group to achieve such high office, when a few years earlier he or his parents coulnt even get vote or get a job because of their color.
To backtrack now and find things wrong with him is absurd. Powell is a multi decorated, multi awarded and brilliant 4-star general, with over 35 years in the military and who saw action in 3 major conflicts. He was chairman of the joint chiefs of staff both presidents HW Bush and Clinton. He was national security advisor for president Reagan. He was and secretary of state for president Bush. He himself rab for president at one point.
Cheney is a college drop out with multiple DWI arrests who flunked out of Yale and was a cowardly draft dodger five times over who became a was a political hack who helped lead this country down the path of mistake after mistake.
How is Cheney a “true american hero” ? Wheres the heroism? what has he accomplished that was so heroic? englighten us, please.
#20: Powell is a wannabe and a republican outcast. Vice President Cheney is an American Hero who helped prevent further terrorist attacks.
Sorry bacci, despite your democrat talking points, the American people TWICE elected Vice President Cheney to the Second Highest office in the land, whole Powell was run into the ground and out of his little Sec’y of State office.
shalom #24: Your knowledge about American electoral politics is lacking. Yes it is a ticket. And yes the American people TWICE elected both President George W. Bush AND Vice President Richard Cheney. One ticket with a vote for each of the two candidates. TWICE – 2000 & 2004.
G-d bless the American people.
Mr. Chaverim:
How exactly is Cheney a hero? What has he done that has been so heroic?
After everything Powell had accomplished in his life, he then did his duty as secretary of state for his requisite number of years implementing Bush/Cheney policy. He did so with grace and dignity in the face of opposition and doubt. He was their salesman to the UN and around the country. and then when there were no WMD’s to be found, they threw him under the bus. He took the fall for their mistake. Powell was one of the most unfortunate political casualties of the Bush Cheney stupidity.
Oh, and by the way, the American people actually chose Al Gore and Joe Lieberman in 2000. Say what you want, but no one can dispute the forgone fact that more actual people voted for Gore/Lieberman than Bush/Cheney.
Colin Powell is an american hero, 10 times over.
Dick Cheney is a just a grumpy old man.
#26:
Vice President Richard Cheney, with President George W. Bush, help save the United States of America from further terrorist attack after the Clinton insecurity years that led to 9/11.
That alone makes him an all American Hero, leaving out his long career in the service of the United States prior to his holding the second highest office of this land.
American elected the Bush/Cheney ticket @ times. 2000 and 2004. G-d bless the American people.
Powell is an all times loser, 10 X over. You don’t like hearing it apparently. Sometimes the truth hurts those opposed to it.