THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 10, 1995 TAG: 9511100605
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Guy Friddell
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
The ease, intelligence, and eloquence with which Gen. Colin Powell commanded Wednesday's news conference made his decision not to run for president all the more regrettable.
It also renders all the more incomprehensible the Republican Party's failure to welcome Powell with hosannas and proclaim him its nominee.
Simply let the other candidates depart with a hearty handshake and, with Powell at the helm, set about preparing to defeat Bill Clinton next year for the presidency.
But that cannot be, thanks to the right wing that - no, no, that's not fair - a fringe of the right wing determined to stamp its own image on the entire GOP through three or four litmus test issues.
GOP Chairman Haley Barbour - that sounds like a character on an Old Maid card, doesn't it? - earnestly assures us, chewing the words out of the corners of his mouth, that his is the party of the Big Tent.
To which the Democrats' Christopher Dodd replies, it's the party of the pup tent - a scant handkerchief of canvas so cramped for space that the mud-gummed boots of the few occupants stick out of the front flap into the rain.
If anything is more confining of vision than a pup tent of fringe extremists, it is hard to imagine.
The leaders of the Grand Old Party ought to be ashamed of permitting a handful of pigmy-minded mahouts to make off with the elephant.
Powell's performance Wednesday also allayed fears that he might be nothing more than a stuffed tunic. He is well equipped to take care of himself in the cut and thrust of political dialogue.
One pigmy, Payl Weyrich of lthe Free Congress Foundation, said last week that Powell had risen to the top of the military like the Gilbert and Sullivan figure who became ``ruler of the Queen's navy by polsihing the handles on the jbig brass front door.''
``I can't get excited,'' Powell retorted, ``when somebody who never served in the military jumps up and attacks me for my 35 years of service.''
The Powells' daughters, daughter-in-law, and son were on the front row. With Powell at the mike was his wife Alma.
The two, side by side, were the oppoosite of Grant Wood's portrait, ``American Gothic,'' a mid-west farmer and wife, lean, thin-mouthed, with work-eroded faces.
In happy contrast, Mrs. Powell is an elegant, serene women. As she answered a few questions, he, a tower of strength, watched with proud, fond eyes.
Someone asked if she would like to be First Lady.
That was flattering, she replied, but it wasn't in her sight.
Too bad, the nation will be the poorer for not having the two of them at the head of the family table.. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Colin Powell...
by CNB