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RONALD G. BOOKMAN: Senator Barack Obama, ‘Now, Make Colin Powell Your Vice Presidential Choice, Please!’
New York -- In what seems like years ago, in this EUR space in March of this year, I wrote "Senator Barack Obama, Play the Republican Card, Please!"
As the Senator was in a pitch battle for voters in the now epic primary struggle with Hillary Rodham Clinton that'll be the topic of many political science classes for decades to come, I along with many other Republican voices exhorted Senator Obama to aggressively seek Republican support.
And not only to seek those voters merely disenchanted with the multiple failed policies of the current Bush Administration, but Republican voters in general who want a sweeping 'Change' in American policy, and in America's future.
No one will ever accuse Barack Obama of becoming a card carrying Republican, but clearly his campaign has reached out to Republicans and done so in a smart and cohesive way. Past Democratic aspirants for the Presidency only paid lip service to the courting of Republicans or for that matter, the so-called 'Reagan Democrats'. The recently Barack Campaign announced faith based initiative is no Republican exclusive. In announcing his support for the extension of the faith-based initiative, it goes the similar Bush plan one better. The same for Senator Obama's recently announced 'welfare to work' program and his added voice of support to the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on gun ownership with its affirmation of the 2nd Amendment. Clearly Senator Barack Obama is discussing common sense ways and means to reach out to not only Republican voters but also America without compromising his core Democratic constituency. It might not make all on the far left delirious with joy as the Senator smartly steers his campaign towards a centrist position, but it will likely attract a fresh trove of voters from the Republican trenches and the Religious vote that could not only detract from John McCain's base but ensure Senator Barrack Obama's ascendancy to the Oval office in January.
As the Senator is expanding his campaign to attract voters of all stripes, Republicans, Reagan Democrats and dare I say, Clinton supporters, his able VP search team of Caroline Kennedy and former Clinton Administration Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder are interviewing a host of potential vice presidential candidates. Rumors are all over the place and every cable show talking heads have offered up a litany of suspect advice on who would make the best Vice President to carry the Senator over the top with a major of American voters and the all important electoral college.
We're all, to a large extent now familiar with the names being bantered around as potential Vice Presidents to Obama. And the very vocal Hillary Clinton supporters, led in no small part by the erstwhile Bob Johnson, the former Chairman of Black Entertainment Television, still continue to remind us on an hourly basis that "she's the one". Other candidates whose supporters are a bit more muted include Republican Chuck Hagel, Governor Bill Richardson, the esteemed former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn, as well as another Vietnam War hero and former Reagan Administration Cabinet officer, Senator Jim Webb of Virginia.
Yet, curiously absent from the list of considerations for the VP slot is perhaps the most qualified of all: General Colin Powell. In setting the qualifications of a Vice Presidential partner are the normal career and life experiences, but to add fuel to the fire, the major caveat according to Senator Obama's listed qualifications is "a Vice President that could instantly assume the reins of power" were something to happen to him.
Concurrently, the presumptive Republican nominee for President, John McCain continues to push his foreign policy experience and hawkish stance on terrorism expertise. The Senator from Arizona admittedly only has one strong plank that gives him any credibility with voters and that is his questionable foreign policy expertise and his oft-stated stance on 'fighting terrorism'. Additionally, McCain has not been hesitant to remind anyone who has the time to listen of his heroism as a Vietnam wartime prisoner for over five years in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. Notably, highly decorated General Wesley Clark, himself a war hero and former Supreme Commander of NATO Forces, as well as a legion of others former military and civilians, have questioned Senator McCain's propensity as Commander in Chief solely based on his unfortunate yet heroic stint as a prisoner of war.
Most polls and political surrogates, as well as the American public all seemingly agree that with the multiple foreign policy challenges facing America, a person with stellar foreign policy credentials and enormous moral fiber would be a major positive to the Barack Obama trek to the White House. Undoing and repairing the Bush image and diplomatic damage around the world will not only require the personal strengths of Senator Barack Obama, but a Vice President of impeccable character beyond repute.
Unquestionably, that's General Colin Powell. Without little argument, Colin Powell, a vigorous 71 years of age, a 55 per cent Republican as he is prone to point out, is the most qualified person in America to be Vice President of the United States. Moreover, in any circumstance where he'd be called on to assume the full Presidency, no one in America or the world would have one concern.
When George W. Bush was running for President, not only was he bereft of any foreign policy experience, Bush hardly knew the names of any foreign leaders with the possible exception of the then President of Mexico, Vicente Fox. And most attribute his knowledge of Fox as the Mexican President in that Mexico bordered Texas, where George Bush was then Governor.
But, when Bush needed to show the voters, as well as our friends and allies around the world that he could be trusted to lead America, as his dad before him, he enlisted the support of General Colin Powell. And few would argue that it was Colin Powell's gravitas that gave 'W' respect and confidence in his then pending leadership around the world. Such is the esteem and respect that General Colin Powell holds in every port of the world.
Perhaps the only controversy of General Powell's esteemed career would be his participation as Secretary of State before the United Nations in making the case of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) in the lead-up to the Iraq War in March 2003. Ironically, none of the vicious enemies of Powell within the Bush Administration, including Vice President Dick Chaney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfield and one of the principal architects of the Iraq war, former Deputy Secretary of Defense, Paul Wolfowitz and others, had the skill or reputation within the World Body to make such a presentation. Although, history now tells us the intelligence that served as the basis for Powell's argument was deeply flawed, that in and of itself is not a negative against his making the case before the United Nations. Even having done so, most credit Powell with arguing within the war bent Bush administration to reconsider its planned military campaign against the hapless Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein.
Having lost that battle to the hard-liners within the Bush Administration, Powell with his reputation still in tact left the Bush Administration on his own terms in November of 2004. Yet, the Powell doctrine, which was to a large degree discarded by the Bush Administration, remains perhaps their greatest failure.
Odds are favorable that Senator Barack Obama will indeed be the next President of the United States in January 2009. But, at this juncture with all the competing forces jockeying to be Barack's running mate, there is in my mind only one person totally qualified to put this thing to bed now. And that's General Colin Powell.
Some have even speculated that General Powell should consider a VP role with John McCain. The two are long time friends and there is a genuine respect for McCain's military service and his heroism. But, I think the political chasms between the two are too great to meld. And it's growing wider as McCain totes water for the vast portfolio of Bush Policies including the five year Iraq War.
And we should not forget that had Powell ran in 1996 as a Republican or as an Independent against Bill Clinton, chances are that Colin Powell in his own right would have emerged as President of the United States. In fact, no less than Bill Clinton stated then at the prospect of having to run against Colin Powell that he "would have been beat and beaten badly" by Powell.
The question, of course is "would Colin Powell accept a VP role" to a Barack Obama, a man two decades younger. I'm not sure if he'd accept if asked and I assume that in these matters, a certain sense of drama is part of the lead-up to the final candidate. So, the chances of Barack Obama asking Colin Powell to be his VP after reading the enclosed is not necessarily a given, as much as I'd like to think that it would be.
Now, Barack Obama has announced, "we need to extricate American forces from Iraq as carefully as we were in carelessly going in". Who better to oversee the withdrawal of American forces with a careful hand than General Colin Powell? Who better to ensure America's interests in the region will be skillfully and smartly retained? Who better to assist the Obama Administration restore the American image and reputation in the region and internationally than one of the most admired and accomplished persons in the world, General Colin Powell.
Recent News reports state that both Senators Obama and McCain have ventured up to the offices of General Powell in Arlington, Virginia. No one is speculating on the scope of discussions with the General from either camp. But, we can reasonably assume that the trip to Arlington was not one in which either Obama or McCain was offering their assistance or technical help in the restoration of one of the General's vintage prized automobiles he loves to refurbish and rebuild.
But, the meetings, which were supposed to have occurred in mid June, would certainly have given General Powell an ample opportunity to hear both men state their case in looking to his possible endorsement.
With presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, we just can only hope that the two discussed more than just a mere endorsement. So, my personal appeal to the Illinois Senator is the following.
"Senator Barack Obama, Now Make Colin Powell Your Vice Presidential Choice, Please!" And we as a Country would be the clear winner if General Powell accepts.
Game Over. Checkmate!
Bookman is President and CEO of
Ron Bookman & Associates, Inc.
and a contributor to EUR
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