Colin Powell: "Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh?" (UPDATED)

CNN:

In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria for Sunday's "GPS" program, President Bush's former secretary of state said his party's attempt "to use polarization for political advantage" backfired last month.

"I think the party has to take a hard look at itself," Powell said in the interview, which was taped Wednesday. "There is nothing wrong with being conservative. There is nothing wrong with having socially conservative views — I don't object to that. But if the party wants to have a future in this country, it has to face some realities. In another 20 years, the majority in
this country will be the minority."

Powell, who crossed party lines and endorsed President-elect Barack Obama just weeks before the election, said the GOP must see what is in the "hearts and minds" of African-American, Hispanic and Asian voters "and not just try to nfluence them by… the principles and dogma."

"I think the party has to stop shouting at the world and at the country,"Powell said. "I think that the party has to take a hard look at itself, and I've talked to a number of leaders in recent weeks and they understand that." Powell, who says he still considers himself a Republican, said his party should also stop listening to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

"Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh?" Powell asked. "Is this really the kind of party that we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal to our lesser instincts rather than our better instincts?"

What are Colin Powell's principles?  What are the foundations of his beliefs?

Why is it that articulate conservatives with principles and the ability to express them confidently are belittled by middle of the roaders who seem to have no core?

Colin Powell, your embrace of a Chicago thug who's pulled the wool over the eyes of this country with the help of a complicit media and an ignorant electorate says much more about why we can't listen to you than anything you're saying about why we can't listen to Rush Limbaugh.

Thank God for Limbaugh.  Thank God for his ability to see through the charade that is liberalism. 

Thank God that his voice and the views he's expressing are not yet muted by political eunuchs like you Colin Powell.

UPDATE: Michelle makes a point here that needs to be given widest dissemination:

Here is something I’ve found to be invariably true of the loudest Rush Limbaugh-bashers in Washington and Manhattan:

They don’t actually listen to him and have no idea what he talks about day to day.

They criticize a figment of Rush in their heads, which is echoed and amplified by liberal media elites who share the same figment of Rush in their heads.

And they tell two friends, who tell two more friends. Who turn it into another endless series of liberal Republicans-complain-to-liberal journalists-about-Rush stories.

And so and so on and so on.

Comments

[syn]

Prior to 9/11/2001 I used to be stuck on stupid like Powell believing Rush was a right-wing nutcase out to destroy America without having ever listened to his show.

I started listening in 2003 and I agree, thank God for Rush Limbaugh!

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

Well said Rick.

I’m more than a little tired of people saying the Republican Party needs pander to certain ethnic groups. Maybe some people ought to figure out what their beliefs are and pick the party that best represents them. Nobody came to me and had to convince me I was a Republican.

I have seen, heard and know know people who are R’s by their beliefs, the most important beliefs, and yet for whatever unexplainable reason as almost a default they vote D. It’s mind numbing to try and understand.

[Max]

Colin Powell was never a Republican.

[chuck aka xtnyoda]

Colin's philosophy of republican expansion

...offer more candy...

[chuck aka xtnyoda]

Colin's philosophy of republican expansion

...offer more candy...become a democrat

[Sylvie]

Michelle's blog about this is dead on, I couldn't have expressed it better.

[cmb]

Does Rush Limbaugh ever go 5 minutes without spouting an outright lie? Can't think of such a pause in recent memory.

And yes, I listen to him regularly.

[tim aka The Godless Heathen]

Let’s see, Rush is on, here at least, 3 hrs. a day. So that would mean (*quick math*) 36 “outright lies” a day, 9,360 “outright lies” a year according to you, cmb.

You didn’t provide even one of the many, according to you, available.

Who should I believe, the most listened to radio show in America, that’s been on the air for 20 (?) years, or you. Yup, tough choice there.

Since we’re all prone to exaggeration, I’m willing to give you a break. I think, one half of one half…ah, whatever…how ‘bout nine? Nine “outright lies” out of 9,360 possible seems fair to me? What say you?

[Mommynator]

So we're too stupid to know what to listen to, and to make up our minds as to what we agree with or disagree with.

We're only allowed a certain party line.

cmb, it's scary to be a grownup. Please - take your bankie and your binky and go take a nap somewhere.