Colin Powell Says Obama Handled Reverend Wright Issue "Well".. Wright "Has Made Enormous Contributions"... ABC News | ED O'KEEFE | April 9, 2008 07:58 PM
Former Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell threw some support behind Obama's handling of the Reverend Wright issue during a taping today for ABC's Good Morning America. Speaking to host Diane Sawyer, Powell said, "I think that Senator Obama handled the issue well. He didn't-- he didn't look the other way. He didn't wait for the-- for the, you know, for the storm to go over." ABC also talked about Iraq, whether to boycott the Olympics, challenges for the next president and more.
Read here for the entire ABC interview. See below for the specific excerpts on Obama and Reverend Wright.
"Rev. Wright is also somebody who has made enormous contributions in his community and has turned a lot of lives around," Powell said, "And so, I have to put that in context with these very offensive comments that he made, which I reject out of hand."
Powell added that he does not know Wright and praised Obama's response.
"I think that Sen. Obama handled the issue well . . . he didn't look the other way. He didn't wait for the, for the, you know, for the storm to go over. He went on television, and I thought, gave a very, very thoughtful, direct speech. And he didn't abandon the minister who brought him closer to his faith," Powell told Sawyer.
Powell, who has been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate in almost every election since he retired from military service and public life, expressed admiration for Obama.
"It was a good (speech)," Powell said. "I admired him for giving it. And I agreed with much of what he said."
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