Powell and Obama
Tea leaves aside, not much can be gleaned from the coverage so far of Colin Powell’s admission that he has met several times with Barack Obama to discuss foreign policy. The revelation by Powell to NBC’s Tim Russert on Meet the Press Sunday (video) has led to little substantive coverage – such meetings, as Powell pointed out, are not unusual, even across party lines.
“I’ve met with senator Obama twice,” said Powell. “I know everyone who is running for office. I make myself available to whoever wishes to chat with me.” (Transcript)
What Powell’s remarks did create, however, is “buzz,” which in “medianese,” translates roughly to “feel free to speculate.” The Politico, a leading political blog, had some fun with the idea of an Obama-Powell ticket.
The triple crown of surprising and intriguing revelations: Powell has “met with” Sen. Barack Obama. Powell says it’s “too early” to commit to supporting the eventual Republican nominee and instead is looking for “the best person I can find.”
The New York Times ran an AP story which noted:
“Mr. Powell said he did not want to serve in elected office but was less certain about a return to some government post.”
Outlets on the right were less amused. The New York Sun noted “Mr. Powell’s positions on a number of national security issues appear to be more in sync with those of Democrats.”
Mr. Powell kept mum after his former chief of staff, Lawrence Wilkerson, said the Bush administration was being run like a “cabal.” In 2005, Mr. Wilkerson helped sink the White House’s nomination of John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations; Mr. Powell did not sign a letter of former Republican secretaries of state endorsing the Bolton nomination.
The substance of Powell’s statements did not escape overseas outlets, however. There, Powell’s what he said about Guantanamo Bay took precedence over his nonendorsement of Obama.
“Close Guantanamo: Powell” says The Age of Australia;
“Powell urges US to close Guantanamo” says Al Jazeera.
“Powell urges Guantanamo closure” reports the BBC.
And, according to France 24: “Powell: Guantanamo should be closed.”
