I agree that good people and good conservatives can support repeal of DADT, just not so sure I agree that Powell is good people.

Even if Powell supported repeal of DADT, this would in no way make him a discredited military leader as she states.

Sorry, she doesn’t state that. She even injected a qualifying “If” – two times. No amount of claiming that present vs. past tense, a significant difference, is unimportant or Clintonian in English interpretation will alter that.

I say, fighting the bitch effectively starts with representing her comments fairly enough that even she would have to agree with what you’ve represented.

As for Powell being a conservative, Powell was always a liberal to moderate Republican and was on the sh@tlist of the Religious Right for this.

The problem the GOP faces is that independents and liberal/moderate Republicans don’t see a place for themselves in the party. That is a demographic doomsday scenario.

Younger voters are more socially liberal in general. With the U.S. seeing increased non-white, Latino and Asian, population growth, the standard GOP use of racism to get out the vote, as seen in this and previous campaigns, is becoming a turn off. Witness the flight of Latino voters from the GOP after the Tancredo wing of the party took off.

Again, she uses the present tense – *is*.

OMG, are we really going to cover such Clintonian ground?!? Her meaning was clear enough and if such was not her intent than I suggest that she chooses her words more carefully in the future. FYI, the support for DADT that Donnelly incorrectly attributes to Powell has nothing to do with this so the sentence you quoted is irrelevant. She is free to claim that he has “let down” the men and women of the military, though God knoweth how she can given her complete ignorance of military service. Even if Powell supported repeal of DADT, this would in no way make him a discredited military leader as she states. He earned that through his sacrifice and service regardless of his views on DADT. She has no business making such a statement that maligns the man’s service.

This is the second part of her quote, that you might object to:

“Either way, General Powell is letting down the men and women of our military.”

Again, she uses the present tense – *is*. There is an implied sense of “now”, and a close tying of everything to DADT repeal / open gays. After giving great service to the nation, Powell *is now*, in her mistaken opinion, letting people down if he supports DADT repeal / open gays. That’s not beyond the pale; just horribly stupid. I don’t see any other way to read her remarks.

But, with the quote as you’ve given it, she in no way insults or discredits Powell’s military service (which happens to be past).

Yes, she does. It matters not what Powell’s view on DADT or Obama is, neither say anything about his service nor should someone who never even wore the uniform herself have even alluded to it. The support by Powell for repeal of DADT (I believe she’s incorrect with this claim) in no way discredits him as a military leader past, present or future. Donnelly clearly states that it does and that is out-of-bounds.

It was her attempt to discredit the man’s service as a military leader

Where has she done so? Where has she discredited Powell’s past service to the nation as a military leader?

Let’s look again at the Donnelly quote you kindly provided:

“If General Powell is not concerned about the consequences of repealing the law, he cannot be described as… the credible leader of the military that he used to be.”.

Clearly, in her opinion, Powell “used to be” a credible and valid leader of the military. Thus, she acknowledges his service. Please note that Powell is, in fact, not *currently* serving the military in any post. She asserts wrongly that he is also not serving the military if he now supports DADT repeal / open gays. That is her wrong, wrong, wrong opinion. But, with the quote as you’ve given it, she in no way insults or discredits Powell’s military service (which happens to be past).

By all means, defend DADT and lay into Obama all you like but leave the man’s service alone.