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A 'No Spin' interview with Colin Powell

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    Talking Points 1/29

  • Duration 8:53
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Hi I'm Bill O'Reilly thanks for watching us tonight a no spin interview would -- and -- That is a subject of this evening's talking points memo it is curious.

To say the least.

The general Powell has become such an ardent supporter of President Obama.

On paper it would seem that the general and the president are total opposites.

Mr.

Obama.

The champion of the entitlement state of social justice a big government providing.

For those who don't have very much with very few strings attached.

Colin how.

Self reliant guy rising from poverty in the South Bronx to the powerful position of secretary of state and Powell did it the old fashioned way.

He earned it.

While attending City College in New York City.

He joined the RTC.

Was eventually sent to Vietnam won the bronze star there came back a respected army office.

He then went to Washington as a White House fellow during the Nixon administration.

From there general Powell -- -- the ranks becoming national security advisor to President Reagan.

The first black American to ever hold that post he continues in the administrations of bush the elder and the young.

General Powell presents himself as a rather conservative individual a traditional man but his politics -- mixed he's pro choice for example.

However up until 2008 he was always a staunch Republican.

Now that it's changed as a general voted for Barack Obama twice.

In the process Powell has been very critical of the Republican Party as it stands today.

He's also made some comments about race and the GOP.

-- -- Sort of look down.

On minorities.

How can I evidence that when I see a former governors say that the president is shocked and and -- That's of racial era slave term.

General Powell referring to Sarah Palin who use that term criticizing President Obama for not being forthcoming.

About the Libyan disaster.

Having known general Powell for a while I wanted to understand.

Why his politics of change he's a well respected men in America and the why of the story is very important.

So last night the general and -- finally commiserate.

The general -- like to be very specific and I'd like to be very brutal tonight.

About the Republican Party.

What is it that you object to most late.

That cause you to vote for President Obama twice.

I voted for the president twice because first and foremost I didn't think that the economic plans put forward.

By the campaign in 2008 or 2012.

Really for suitors for the times -- -- and so I had an economic reason to do that.

Secondly.

I became a republic in -- officially in 1995.

After I decided not to run.

And I have voted previously seven straight times for Republican candidates I've spoken that they.

1996 convention the 2000 convention I worked for Reagan -- work -- Weinberger worked for Nixon.

As a White House also I think my credentials are fine.

But in the last several years I have been troubled by.

The right shift of the Republican Party to part of the right now I've said this on a number of occasions.

And so in 2008 I found that as an American.

The best choice for America at that time and continue in 2012.

Was Senator Obama and then not now President Obama reelected.

Now here's what perplexed is made it's you're an analytical man would you say that's correct you have -- had a big all right.

President Obama -- economic plan and work.

Among African Americans when you voted for him.

Twelve point seven unemployment.

December 2012 months after you voted form again.

14%.

Unemployment up.

Okay and work.

-- Black income 32000 dollars compared to white 55 now it's gone down on -- -- Obama hasn't worked.

So you basically said to yourself I'm still -- to support the guy.

Even always economic policies haven't worked for African Americans and pretty much anyone else.

It's why you only see me as an African American bill that if you didn't hide it even started no I know that we consolidated some of your criticisms you said.

And correct me if I'm wrong.

That the disengagement of the Republican Party from the minority community blacks and Hispanics troubled U.

The economic situation in the country has improved but not enough -- -- -- for African Americans.

I don't I don't -- I'm not speaking as an African American -- -- the minority part of my criticism in a moment.

But we have seen a doubling of the stock market the financial system has stabilized.

The economy is starting to improve I wanna see -- improved even faster.

And in a broader sense so that.

Those who were at the lower end of the economic scale including African American Latino Americans and others can start to come up ultimately.

Those numbers that you just cited -- going to be fixed by an improving economy and an economy that spread out more.

And more and more African Americans will benefit and Latino Americans if they also get the education needed for the more demanding jobs.

You seem to be voting again on hope and twelve because we haven't seen an economic and -- in this country very much and in addition.

The big spending policies -- -- Democratic Party in the president.

I've driven the dead as you know too close to seventeen trillion dollars and he's the biggest spending president -- should be set something very interest.

The education we spend more per capita on education than any other country in the world except Switzerland.

All right so it isn't -- money.

But the money continues to flow it's -- discipline it's the disintegration of the family structure.

All of the things that the Republican Party and the conservative movement.

Are emphasizing.

Yet you have drifted away from them and I'm saying -- you know it's not about money in education MI wrong.

It is money and education but it's more fundamental -- that -- -- respect to some of the things I've been saying have been critical of the party.

Is that I don't think the party recognizes the fundamental demographic changes that are taking place in the country.

And one more generation.

African Americans Asian Americans and Latino Hispanic Americans will be the majority of the country.

And we have to educate those youngsters for the positions of leadership that they are going I don't think that's being done and I -- You know I don't think it's I don't think it's being done adequately and the big important point have been making.

Is we have to understand that if you want these people to come to the Republican side.

You can't have immigration policies.

That affect them in a negative way okay we do you believe that cost you one more point -- -- one more point I had.

You can't have policies that tried to make it harder for minorities to vote I think one of the most terrible things have happened in the past election season.

There's -- had a number of states that we're going out of their way claiming there was just outright fraud.

When there really wasn't any fraud -- -- be of concern to us but we were doing things to making it more difficult for those people vote.

I wanna get very micro on this -- try to gain the full wet wet wet -- -- voter -- you object to showing an identification card when you vote now afford another Republican Party -- -- That's what I -- -- -- right -- I object to putting in place additional levels of voter ID.

Then -- -- just -- more -- disenfranchise.

Those of our fellow citizens I wanna see a Republican Party.

That rather than trying to make it more difficult to vote and restricting the number of days and hours you can vote.

A Republican Party that says we want everybody to vote and we're gonna give your reasonable for us all right but I don't I don't know I don't know what's his image -- asking for an ID.

He's trying to restrict the -- I mean I'm sorry.

You shouldn't be able to prove who you are before you cast the ballots with no you should be able to prove who you are when you registered to vote.

And when you make the proper registration identify yourself you shouldn't have to go this -- surely you will not -- law Heidi is committed.

And by we I mean Boston and Chicago you register and -- show up and it's not you know I have not seen.

Any study that says fraud is a problem of such significance.

That these kinds of procedures were in place and I'm glad to see that governor Scott of Florida has recently said he's turning his back over to -- His local car I didn't think Michelle and I need to vote is is the bare minimum.

-- come back we'll talk with general Powell about Sarah Palin and other Republicans he finds objectionable.

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