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Former secretary of state claims parts of GOP harbor 'dark vein of intolerance' against minorities
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Former secretary of state Colin Powell made news yesterday when he accused his own party while affirming that he's still a Republican.
Of racism and bigotry.
Saying the GUP lost the last two elections a presidential elections.
Because of a significant shift to the rights and a racist strain within the party.
There's also a dark.
It dark vein of intolerance and some parts of the party what I mean by that.
I mean by that is they still sort of look down.
On minorities.
How can -- evidence that when I see a former governors say that the president is shocking and -- That's of racial era slave term.
When I see another former governor after the president's first debate we didn't do very well says that the president was lazy.
He didn't say he was slow he was tired he didn't do well he said he was lazy.
Now I mean I mean anything to most Americans but to those of us are African Americans the second word to shift listen and -- a third when it goes along with it.
-- the whole birth -- movement why do senior Republican leaders tolerate this kind of discussion within the party.
Joining -- now -- Whitman the former deputy assistant to president George W.
Bush and -- Clifton a democratic strategist and CEO of Clifton consulting.
-- let me start with you on this because it you know here's a guy who worked for the same president you worked for.
And starts the interview by saying he's still a Republican but well.
With that with friends like that within the Republican Party who needs enemies -- he was not kind and your party your thoughts on his accusations.
I rejected in -- -- secretary Powell if our party was like that the why would you consistently call yourself Republican.
And if our party was like that where you perceive it to be.
That way what have you done to change it.
Did you run for office know we -- delegate at the convention though did you speak to the convention no did you try to influence the party platform if you thought.
It should be changed he answered all that is no matter of fact he supporter Barack Obama in two elections when is a Republican a Republican I don't think.
The secretary is a Republican he thinks he has.
I think he's become an -- general when it comes to the Republican Party and I think it's easy to just send accusations out.
But I don't believe that there's any basis of fact to what he perceives to be a problem and endemic problem within the Republican Party had just rejected.
You know -- you can go and find individual comments.
By anybody on either side if you -- -- make and his his.
That -- examples he used.
-- -- the birthers and that's a whole entity unto itself right but those terms you know sleazy thing.
You that's that that's a matter of perception and a matter of opinion but eight.
You can do that brighter side and say and then try to tar the whole party with.
Well and I think there's a danger in saying that he's not a Republican and using a purity test and actually I think what he's doing.
I think he genuinely wants to improve things for the Republican Party and I think that his taking a stand on this issue is his way of doing that.
I mean you do look at the facts only 6% of African Americans are registered as Republicans.
And as we saw in -- elections there is a lot of work to do with -- than we thought should since the Bush Administration where 44 to 45% of voters.
Were Latino are as of -- threat Latino population were voting for President Bush.
And since then there's been a large -- so I think that what he's speaking to -- a genuine desire to see a shift in an opening and a broadening the tent for Republicans and you have to look at his experiences while in coming on the backs of the Golden Globes -- Lincoln won a ton of awards.
He saw -- Lincoln what struck me.
Was what recent history slavery and segregation really is I mean Colin Powell when he was -- military officer couldn't get a hotel room because he was a black man.
So his sensitivities toward the language like that is understandable -- same way the woman.
When someone says I had -- recently opt out of a trip to Afghanistan because my daughter was two weeks old I thought gosh that hurt to hear can opt out of that.
-- word for a woman and -- hands of an African American man absolutely and I think he's trying to do I think thinking about than just the party.
Don't -- your thoughts on that -- I.
I don't at all as mere fact if you look at the policies of the Democrats they've hurt minorities look at that look at the unemployment rate.
Among African Americans -- inner cities is double the national average so when you're talking about.
Policy vs rhetoric there the Republican Party has been if anything.
Open look at that look at that fantastic minorities we have not only -- -- government but supporting our party feel like Bobby Jindal and and and and senate and -- the governor of New Mexico governor Martinez and and senator Marco Aurelio via we've we've gotten we've got tremendous representation.
And to save it that some of these words that were taken out of context.
Are somehow what the Republican Credo -- what our platform is we reject that we reject the birthers.
We reject anybody within our party who who makes disparaging comments against.
-- -- -- about that -- because he says why -- Republican leaders speak out about like.
You know what there's so many comedy to point two of the democratic several people -- line in democratic leaders didn't speak out like in -- yeah.
Yeah there's examples on both sides I think the whole point is not to reject but to embrace and to listen.
And I think what have to happen is a cultural shift.
Within both parties absolutely but I think certainly within the Republican Party when you look at the numbers in terms of embracing more minorities at the grassroots level not just of the leadership level and I -- -- ask you about that so I ask you follow that because there is a theory among some that it doesn't matter how embracing the Republicans are of the African American.
Voters their policies are most likely not going to appeal to a large section of those voters today tomorrow four years from now.
Well I think that absolutely culturally there's sometimes where people label themselves among party gathering some of -- that policy driven.
But again I think that's where some of the listening needs to happen and then on both parties' part.
With that swing to the extreme is not doing any favors in terms of getting meaningful legislation passed on a lot of fronts that are really necessary.
Like immigration reform one of the key things that both parties are talking about both Republicans and Democrats understand how necessary that is and end.
You're -- dark corners isn't gonna do any favors with -- -- I had.
We look what as a Republican as we take no group for granted and we should be reaching out to every group to be part the Republican Party because.
-- -- it's crazy to say that Africans Americans will not have an affinity to our party they certainly do.
And we're seeing that every day with -- type of candidates were fielding.
And and the length and breath we're going to to encourage them to come into the Republican Party under the Obama policies they're not doing any better today really worked for five years ago.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I just -- thanks for the think like him.
