Colin Powell: Voting Restrictions 'Are Going to Backfire' on Republicans'

"These kind of procedures that are being put in place to slow the process down and make it likely that fewer Hispanics and African Americans might vote, I think, are going to backfire, because these people are going to come out and do what they have to do in order to vote, and I encourage that," he said.  (General Powell, 25 Aug 2013)

Is the following quote from General Powell what some of the hard right want to go back to today when a black could not eat at certain restaurants?

"In my lifetime, over a long career in public life, you know, I've been refused access to restaurants where I couldn't eat, even though I just came back from Vietnam: 'We can't give you a hamburger, come back some other time,'" Powell recalled. "And I did, right after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, I went right back to that same place and got my hamburger, and they were more than happy to serve me now. It removed a cross from their back, but we're not there yet. We're not there yet. And so we've got to keep working on it."

I get incensed when I realize that this happened to members of military who had been fighting in Vietnam but also to the average minority that just wanted something to eat.  I see some of that same mentality rising from the Republican Party today with their comments against minorities and wanting an all white preferably male party.   The GOP of today has basically thrown out their old base who believed in civil rights and we are all equal to cater to the John Birchers, Libertarians, Tea Party, social conservatives, and religious right who seem to have the idea that their "my way or no way" applies to the rest of us. The day I was asked last year why I was still a Republican because of what I was writing against Romney and other GOP candidates was the day I had to ask myself the same question.

President Reagan always said if you agree with a candidate 80% of the time, he is your candidate. Discovered in 2012 that I agreed with President Obama more than 80% of the time and am having a hard time thinking of anything I agreed with Romney on in 2012.  By Reagan's own standards I supported Obama and the Democrats.  Watching General Powell who I admire greatly talk about voter suppression, I know my choice was sound because the GOP of today are the ones behind the voter suppression.

"[H]ere's what I say to my Republican friends: The country is becoming more diverse," Powell told Bob Schieffer on CBS' "Face the Nation." "You say you want to reach out, you say you want to have a new message. You say you want to see if you can bring some of these voters to the Republican side. This is not the way to do it." 

"The way to do it is to make it easier for them to vote and then give them something to vote for that they can believe in," Powell added. 

In the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling that struck down a key portion of the Voting Rights Act, Republicans in states like North Carolina, Florida and Texas have sought voter restrictions that critics, including Powell, say will disproportionately hurt minorities at the polls. North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signed legislation earlier this month that requires voter identification, rolls back early voting hours and ends a state-supported voter registration drive. Powell condemned that particular law at an event in Raleigh last week. 

Powell pointed out that there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud, the very premise of the identification statutes. "You need a photo ID. Well, you didn't need a photo ID for decades before," Powell said. "Is it really necessary now? And they claim that there's widespread abuse and voter fraud, but nothing documents, nothing substantiates that. There isn't widespread abuse." Powell predicted that such measures will blow up in Republicans' faces.

Chris Matthew's program shows how the GOP is trying to suppress voting by minorities.  Would also throw in seniors, women, college students for starters.   When you break it down, it shows the GOP of today only cares about white males being able to vote along with white women who hang on to their every word and cannot think for themselves.  Please take the time to view this video and see how Republicans want to suppress the vote in order to win.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell condemned North Carolina's new voting laws on Wednesday, telling a Raleigh audience that he believes the restrictions unfairly target minority voters and will ultimately hurt the Republican Party. 

Speaking at the CEO Forum, where Gov. Pat McCrory was in the audience, Powell said he believed the legislation would make it more difficult for all individuals to vote. 

"I want to see policies that encourage every American to vote, not make it more difficult to vote," he said, according to the News & Observer. "It immediately turns off a voting block the Republican Party needs... These kinds of actions do not build on the base. It just turns people away." 

McCrory, a Republican, signed the voting bill into law earlier this month. In addition to requiring voter ID at the polls, the new law also reduces the time allowed for early voting, ends an annual state-sponsored voter registration drive and stops a pre-registration program for minors. The measure also scales back campaign donor disclosure regulations for "dark money groups," also known as 501(c)(4)s. 

During his speech, Powell pushed back on the idea, which McCrory has cited, that voter ID laws curb voter fraud. 

"You can say what you like, but there is no voter fraud," Powell said. "How can it be widespread and undetected?" 

He continued, "What it really says to the minority voters is ... 'We really are sort-of punishing you.'"  

...In January, he urged Republicans to stop trying to implement such measures.

“Should we really have gone after reducing the turnout of voters in those places where we thought it would make a difference? The Republican Party should be a party that says, ‘We want everybody to vote,’ and make it easier to vote and give them a reason to vote for the party, [whereas] not to find ways to keep them from voting at all,” Powell said during an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." 

In an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" that same month, Powell said the GOP had a "dark vein of intolerance in some parts of the party." 

"What do I mean by that?," he said. "What I mean by that is they still sort of look down on minorities." 

General Powell nails the GOP rhetoric of today which has no substance - Republicans are going to regret their attacks on voting rights of the American people as minorities and women I predict will swamp the white male vote of the GOP.  No way a pollster can get a handle on 2014 as too many of the GOP base have declared they will no longer support the GOP but will support Democrats in 2014/2016.  We made a difference in 2012 and are out to make a bigger difference in 2014.

Going back in time, found this interview from General Powell last fall talking about how he speaks to President Obama often.  Thought his endorsement of the President was as true today as when he said it. General Powell's comments on Mitt Romney last fall matched my opinions on Romney's inability to articulate his views as who knows where Romney stands.  Still don't today.

General Powell also blames Congress for the problems we have today.  Wish General Powell would run for President as I would work 24/7 for the man.  When he found out he had been lied to on WMD's in Iraq, he didn't hide but came out and told what happened leading up to the claim.  Cheney/Rumsfeld used Colin Powell to spread their lies on WMDs but in the end neither one of them are well respected while General Powell is still respected today.  This video says it all!  Best interview that I have seen in a long time - down to earth and honest from General Colin Powell even though it is from last fall.