THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 23, 1995 TAG: 9509230005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Regarding ``White House Material'' (Commentary, Sept. 3): Quite a few Republicans are hopeful that Colin Powell will toss his hat in the ring as the Republican nominee for the 1996 presidential election. They hope that he will be the man who will rescue America from liberalism. They believe the country needs a leader with military experience.
However, Powell has not leaked to the American public just where, if at all, his political ties and ambitions are to be found.
But let's assume that his views mirror the views of the right side of the political spectrum. What remains to be seen is how large a number is the ``quite a few'' who claim to want him nominated.
I've had co-workers who vote along Republican lines say that if Colin Powell would run, they wouldn't think twice about voting for him. I think the majority wouldn't. Powell has the best chance to unseat President Clinton. However, like a black college quarterback who has superstar painted on him all during his collegiate career but finds on draft day so many ``can't do this'' and ``can't do thats'' levied against him, that he can't find a team that is willing to draft him, I feel this will happen to Powell if he decides to run for president.
These ``colorless-minded'' conscientious voters will find that prejudice has reared its ugly head just in time to punch the lever for anyone else who happens to be more ``fitting'' for the White House. Does anyone think that a Rush Limbaugh dittohead or a Jesse Helms-type could close the curtain and pull the lever for Powell? Some hard-core Republicans might even consider voting for the truly disliked Bill Clinton instead of any black candidate.
Many white conservatives say they have no problem with putting their stamp of approval on someone of color, as long as it's someone that they admire and believe in. In the past any black person whom they've endorsed has either forgotten that he's black or didn't know he was black in the first place. If you think otherwise, just ask Clarence Thomas.
JASPER SHORT JR.
Portsmouth, Sept. 8, 1995 by CNB