CNN reports on Colin Powell's response to Harry Belafonte's incredibly lame criticism.

I personally have an INCREDIBLE level of respect and admiration for Colin Powell.  I remember seeing an interview with Tom Clancy a few months ago on CSPAN2/BookTV where he was discussing one of his "reality" books.   A caller to the show asked him about his opinion on Powell to which Clancy replied something along the lines of "I don't know where you'll find a better man in Washington."   My sentiments exactly.

Yesterday, talking to a talk radio host, washed up 1-hit wonder, turned-informed-political-pundit Harry Belafonte had the following to say about Powell:

"There's an old saying," Belafonte said. "In the days of slavery, there were those slaves who lived on the plantation and [there] were those slaves that lived in the house. You got the privilege of living in the house if you served the master ... exactly the way the master intended to have you serve him.

"Colin Powell's committed to come into the house of the master. When Colin Powell dares to suggest something other than what the master wants to hear, he will be turned back out to pasture."

Powell's reponse on Larry King Live was the essence of the man himself:   intelligent, dignified, and measured --

Powell responded: "I think it's unfortunate that Harry used that characterization. I'm very proud to be serving my nation once again. I'm very proud to be serving this president.

"If Harry had wanted to attack my politics, that was fine. If he wanted to attack a particular position I hold, that was fine," Powell said. "But to use a slave reference, I think, is unfortunate and is a throwback to another time and another place that I wish Harry had thought twice about using."

What a great guy.   Another thing that I found somewhat disturbing was checking out the online voting on cnn.com.   When asked if "Did Harry Belafonte cross the line in his comments about Colin Powell?", 80% said "yes" but a still-amazing 20% said "no" (as of ~1030am PST).

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UPDATE:   Belafonte can't keep his mouth shut.   Reuters has this followup article where Belafonte says:

"This was not a personal attack on Colin Powell," Belafonte said in a statement issued through his New York-based publicist. "However ... speaking on behalf of so many African American citizens, I have found Colin Powell to be a tragic failure."

I have no f**king idea how this is NOT a personal attack.   Nor do I understand who elected Belafonte to be the the spokesman for African-American citizens.

 

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