Limbaugh: Powell's Endorsement All About Race

(NEWSER) - John McCain is disappointed that longtime friend Colin Powell didn't even call him before backing Barack Obama, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. McCain didn't like Powell's criticism of Sarah Palin, either. "I wished he had taken the opportunity to meet Governor Palin," McCain said. "I'm proud to have four former secretaries of state endorse me and over 200 admirals and generals who are retired support me." More»

Obama endorsement from respected statesman will draw swing voters

(NEWSER) - Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama has backed an already-defensive John McCain even further into a corner, writes Politico. Following what McClatchy Newspapers calls a “blistering critique” of McCain’s campaign by the former secretary of state, the Republican has found himself defending anew the Palin pick, the Ayers angle and his recent onslaught of negative robocalls—a tactic he condemned in the 2000 race. More»

Senator no longer needs to prove he can lead the nation

(NEWSER) - Colin Powell made life a lot easier for Barack Obama by endorsing him today, Mark Halperin writes in Time. He swallowed up a few days of media time; he gave Obama the support of a respected figure; and he allayed fears that Obama can't cut it as commander-in-chief. Powell's support "makes it much harder, even if there is an unexpected international crisis, for Republicans to suggest Obama simply isn't qualified to protect the country," writes Halperin. More»

Rush doesn't believe 'ideal Republican' will turn his back on Obama

(NEWSER) - Colin Powell said this weekend that he wasn't all that sure about voting for President Obama this election, but Rush Limbaugh says that's a load of hooey, reports ThinkProgress . When it comes down to it, the "titular head of the Republican party, the ideal model Republican" will vote for the Democrat, says Limbaugh, because "melanin is thicker than water, folks. And that's what'll happen." More»

Says, 'It was negroes that brought Ted Kennedy his booze'

(NEWSER) - The word negro hasn't seen this much action in years, but Rush Limbaugh last night joined Harry Reid in resuscitating the term—with a little speaking ill of the dead thrown in for good measure. Discussing the 2008 presidential campaign on his radio show last night, Limbaugh jumped into the fray by saying, rather gratuitously, "It was negroes that brought Ted Kennedy his booze," the Huffington Post reports. More»