The General's Last Stand?

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s resume is long and impressive; Four-Star General, National Security Advisor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of State. For most of his political life, Secretary Powell has enjoyed a high level of popularity among moderate republicans, independents, and even many democrats. However, his last stint as the Secretary of State under President George W. Bush did come with a price.

In 2003, it was Powell who went before the U.N. Security Council and made the case for invading Iraq. Once he provided the administration with the cover it needed to send in the troops, Powell often found himself on the outside looking in. As the more hawkish members of the administration seemed to have the president’s ear, the onetime shining star of the Republican Party suddenly became irrelevant.

This past Sunday Mr. Powell, a lifelong republican, officially endorsed democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States. This was an extraordinary step. True, many republicans have made no secret of their displeasure with John McCain and his moderate stance on such conservative touchstones as abortion and immigration. However, none of them has gone so far as to actually endorse the other party’s candidate. Why did the former General make such a move?

Some in the media and other quarters are postulating that by endorsing Obama, Powell is seeking to repair some of the damage done to his reputation and to re-establish his own relevance in the political arena. Perhaps. But maybe there is another explanation.

Powell has long been trying to wrest power away from the far-right wing of the Republican Party and put it back into the hands of its more moderate members. Most of his efforts have occurred behind closed doors. He has made his vision for the party known publically on occasion as he did during his fiery keynote speech at the 1996 Republican National Convention. During that speech, he admonished his party to, among other things, strive to become more inclusive.

Despite his efforts both public and private, the Republican Party has continued its rightward tilt. After years of trying, did the former General finally decide that a change in tactics was in order? If he could not accomplish his prime objective by working from the inside, maybe he figured his chances would be better working from the outside. Maybe he figured that an endorsement of the opposition from such a high-profile republican such as himself would be enough to embolden the moderate majority and prod them into taking back the reigns of the GOP.

While Mr. Powell has not officially changed party affiliation, he has essentially crossed the political picket line. Those in the right wing of the Republican Party have long suspected that Powell has always been a democrat in republican’s clothing. Was this Sunday’s endorsement of Obama confirmation of their suspicions? Only Powell knows for sure what his inner convictions truly are. And if he says that he is a republican, the General’s service to the country has certainly earned him the benefit of the doubt. But his endorsement of Obama will most assuredly not earn him many points within the party he claims to believe in.

If Obama wins in November and does not see fit to make a place in his administration for Mr. Powell, it could be a very long and lonely winter for the General.