I've watched MTP after Tim Russert, aside from the group discussion, it is so sad. For me, Tom Brokaw has lost much of his credibility of being an unbiased fair reporter, but his attack on General Colin Powell today was unforgivable.
Tom, you mad huh?
Colin Powell endorsed Obama today even though his is a long time friend of John McCain.
Powell on Obama:
"He has both style and substance. I think he is a transformational figure," "This is the time for outreach," Powell said, saying the next president would have to "reach out and show the world there is a new administration that is willing to reach out."
In particular, he said, he welcomed Obama’s president to "talk to people we haven’t talked to," a reference to Obama’s controversial pledge to hold talks with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"I think that [Obama] has a definite way of doing business that will serve us well," Powell said.
Why Powell did not endorse McCain:
I think that Senator McCain, as gifted as he is, is essentially going to execute the Republican agenda, the orthodoxy of the Republican agenda with a new face and a maverick approach to it, and he'd be quite good at it, but i think we need more than that."
"I don’t believe [Palin] is ready to be president of the United States," Powell said flatly. By contrast, Obama’s running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, "is ready to be president on day one."
Powell also said he was "troubled" by Republican personal attacks on Obama, especially false intimations that Obama was Muslim and Republicans’ recent focus on Obama’s alleged connections to William Ayers, the founder of the radical ’60 Weather Underground.
Now on to useless azz Tom Brokaw. There was no doubt that Brokaw was mouthpiece for McCain during the convention coverage, and no doubt was left when he admitted that he was a NBC liason for the John McCain. And Brokaw was ready to pounce on Powell and try to mute the impact of Powell's endorsement on Obama.
Brokaw went on the attack and grilled Powell:
(parapharased with my own translation)
Brokaw: "You were against Iraq timelines and Obama was for them. How could you have a different opinion now, HOW COULD YOU SUPPORT HIM?!"
Powell: "The Iraqis and the US are working on a timeline for withdrawal as we speak. Obama's got some good foresight and judgment."
Brokaw: "Damn near all the 'good white people' are going to say you are supporting Obama because he is black. What say you? HOW COULD YOU SUPPORT HIM?!"
Powell: "I have studied both men over this Presidential campaign and while McCain is running around like a chicken with his head cut off and using the Bush playbook as his guide, Obama actually has a brain and uses it and wants to work for all America not just "real America".
Brokaw: "Many people on the left, especially those at Daily Kos, don't want your endorsement! So why would you want to help the Obama campaign. HOW COULD YOU SUPPORT HIM?!"
Powell: "I AM NOT TRYING TO GET THEM TO LIKE ME. I BELIEVE IN AND SUPPORT BARACK OBAMA. HE IS THE BEST FOR THIS COUNTRY!"
(I would like especially second the sentiment in the last comment. WTF, do Kossacks think they are doing by vehemently opposing the Powell endorsement? Have you not realized yet, that Obama needs more than just liberals to win the White House? Some independents, moderate Republicans, and military folks who admire Powell, so if he can sway those votes into the Obama column, LET HIM DO IT!)
Right now, all I could find was the actual Powell endorsement video and not the subsequent Brokaw interrogation.
*****UPDATED******
To address the "Tom did a good job" responses. There is no doubt that some of you are salty because of my comment about Kossacks being upset about the Powell endorsement. Too bad. As for the others, as I said to one poster: The problem is that Brokaw IS NOT FAIR! He is always "thoughtfully" quizzing Obama supporters, while allowing McCain supporters to spout off talking points WITHOUT Brokaw offering and pushback or followup. Brokaw himself often offers talking points for the McCain camp even if the points are irrelevant or outdated.
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Update2x: Great follow up vid from jasperjohn