Colin Powell Praises Obama, Burns Bush

Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly at 1:59 PM on January 20, 2009.

Former President George W. Bush's secretary of state had some insights on today's historic events that are worth reading.

Colin Powell, now the head of America's Promise, called Barack Obama's election to the nation's highest office a "reaffirmation of American principles, values that will help us overcome some of the difficulties of recent years with respect to the attitude of the world toward us."

Speaking with CBS News Managing Editor Katie Couric, Powell said America's prestige abroad has improved since Obama won a decisive victory over Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"I think it has really, really been an remarkable event in terms of getting everybody to stand back and say, look at what we have seen here in America," Powell said. "The America we remember is back again."

I've seen quite a bit of disapproval of George W. Bush today -- some direct, some less so -- but seeing Powell herald the return of the "America we remember" -- you know, before the last eight or so years -- strikes me as fairly devastating criticism.

Tagged as: bush, obama, katie couric, inauguration, coline powell