Powell Praises Obama

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell had some kind words to say about Barack Obama’s speech on race .

“I think that Sen. Obama handled the issue well . . . he didn’t look the other way,” said Powell, in an ABC News interview. “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.”

He also took a similar tack as Obama’s when judging Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s conversial comments.

“Rev. Wright is also somebody who has made enormous contributions in his community and has turned a lot of lives around,” he 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, who has served in both Bush administrations, said he has yet to decide who to back in the White House race.

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