Before Endorsing Obama, Powell Helped McCain

CNN Political Ticker from last year

While the McCain campaign would not be more specific about the contribution, a source familiar with the matter said the check totaled $2,300, the maximum an individual can give to any one candidate in the primary season, hinting at a likely endorsement in the future.

McCain advisers are privately thrilled about the contribution from the highly-respected retired Army General, which simultaneously reinforces the senator's credentials as an independent-minded Republican and a strong voice on national security issues.

...Powell spokeswoman Peggy Cifrino confirmed to CNN that the retired General made the contribution after learning that the senator's campaign was low on funds, though she stressed this is not a formal endorsement of the candidate.

So we've all known for a long time that Colin Powell was a social liberal (pro-choice, pro gun regulation, etc) and that he has had wide disputes with the Bush administration. All that's baked in, but today with the Obama endorsement... The straight line reading of this is that Colin Powell helped out his friend when he most needed it, implying that he wanted McCain to stay in the race. And now that McCain has won and needs him most, Colin Powell is nowhere.

The thinking the best about everyone version: Colin liked McCain then and he had a change of heart. Note that he apparently has not donated to any Democrats that we know of.

The Machiavelli version: Colin helped the weakest candidate win the Republican race so that his preferred candidate (a Democrat) would be the actual winner.

Yeah I know, tinfoil hat and all that, but I can't help thinking it, knowing that the best thing for the Republicans this year would have been to put a stake in McCain's campaign back in August 07 when it was nearly dead. Colin Powell prevented that, as much as he was able to.

Yes, this helps Obama, especially among the undecideds that care about what men with big G gravitas like Powell think. For myself I continue to be annoyed that we selected the candidate that was most wanted by the moderate Republicans, the Bill Kristols, the David Brooks, Powell, etc. But when push comes to shove they knife him in the back. Let this be a lesson to future Republicans. Being a moderate and bipartisan won't win you any friends in Washington.