Two distinguished black men look at Obama

To support his decision to vote for Barack Obama as president, Colin Powell said, "I watched Mr. Obama," particularly in recent weeks, ... and "he displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge . . . in not just jumping in and changing every day, but showing intellectual vigor."

To support his decision NOT to vote for Barack Obama as president, Thomas Sowell writes, "When one thinks of all the men who have put their lives on the line in battle to defend and preserve this country, it is especially painful to think that there are people living in the safety and comfort of civilian life who cannot be bothered to find out the facts about candidates before voting to put the fate of this nation, and of generations yet to come, in the hands of someone chosen because they like his words or style."

Now, I'm not suggesting that Colin Powell hasn't put his life on the line in battle to defend and preserve this country, or that he "cannot be bothered to find out the facts about candidates." But I am surprised that even the accomplished General Powell appears most impressed by Obama's "words or style."

The rest of Sowell's essay is equally powerful and explains, in part, the answer to dagny's question thusly:

An e-mail from a reader mentioned trying to tell his sister why he was voting against Obama but, when he tried to argue some facts, she cut him short: "You don't like him and I do!" she said. End of discussion.

There's also an excellent dissection of "change" and where it can take us if we aren't careful. Future excerpts would be unjust. Read it.

Presidential Race 2008 Posted by JohnGalt at October 21, 2008 2:19 AM