An Eagle rejects the Turkey

Collin Powell is an Eagle among Turkeys.

His studied and eloquent endorsement of Barack Obama for President must have been hard for him to do. But listening to his critics, all former supporters, you would think he was a craven race monger.

A Sample of such:

"Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama is about race. R-A-C-E. You can quote me."

---Rush Limbaugh

"One last note: I see in comments that many believe Powell supports Obama because he is black. Powell has said electing a black president would be “electrifying.” He is a staunch supporter of government racial preferences.
It’s a mistake, though, to attribute Powell’s endorsement primarily to some kind of race loyalty.
It’s Obama’s social liberalism, not his skin color, that attracts Powell most."

---Michelle Malkin

"Colin Powell's choosing Obama is a gutless endorsement."

---Ed Rollins CNN

"Not long after Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama, folks on the right suddenly remembered something they'd forgotten for two long decades. Colin Powell is black!"

---Rush Limbaugh

""It's my understanding Colin Powell gave his word to John McCain that he would not make an endorsement in this election. Powell stabbed McCain in the back. This is the same Powell who kept silent for two years."

---Radio Equalizer, syndicated host Mark Levin

" Buchanan: Alright, we gotta ask a question, look would Colin Powell be endorsing Obama if he were a white liberal democrat...

Walsh: Oh, Pat, I'm really sorry you went there.

Buchanan: Look, General Powell Started off by saying it would be electrifying an African American and it is naive Joan to suggest it had nothing to do with his decision. "

---Pat Buchanan talking with Joan Walsh on Hard Ball MSNBC

And there are many many more......

But then there is this whether real or apocryphal it is telling:

"So a canvasser goes to a woman's door in Washington, Pennsylvania. Knocks. Woman answers. Knocker asks who she's planning to vote for. She isn't sure, has to ask her husband who she's voting for. Husband is off in another room watching some game. Canvasser hears him yell back, "We're votin' for the n***er!"Woman turns back to canvasser, and says brightly and matter of factly: "We're voting for the n***er."In this economy, racism is officially a luxury. How is John McCain going to win if he can't win those voters?"

-- Sean Quinn http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/

Powell sees Obama as a "a transformational figure". Things are definitely transforming. Definitely transforming.