Powell Defends GOP Credentials, Calls for More Inclusive Party

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell shoots down criticism from talk show host Rush Limbaugh and former Vice President Dick Cheney

FOXNews.com
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell touted his Republican credentials Sunday, shooting down pointed criticism from Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney that he had abandoned the GOP.
Limbaugh has called on Powell to join the Democrats, while Cheney has said he believes Powell already left his party.
"Rush will not get his wish and Mr. Cheney was misinformed. I am still a Republican," Powell said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
While standing by his loyalty to the Republicans, Powell defended his endorsement of President Obama last fall and continued to call on the Republican Party to be more moderate and expand its base.
"You can only do two things with a base. You can sit on it and watch the world go by, or you can build on it," Powell said. He said the party should be more inclusive.
This kind of advice has riled some conservatives, who warn that too much moderation will cause the Republican Party to merely mimic the Democrats. In calling for the party to be more moderate, Powell has also criticized conservatives like talk show host Limbaugh.
Powell's comments set off a nasty back-and-forth that has taken place on Limbaugh's radio show and the Sunday talk shows.
Limbaugh called on Powell to leave the Republican Party and said Powell, who is black, only endorsed Obama because of his race.
Two Sundays ago, Cheney sided with Limbaugh in the spat.
"I think my take on it was Colin had already left the party. I didn't know he was still a Republican," Cheney said on CBS' "Face the Nation." He said Limbaugh better stands for GOP values than Powell.
On Sunday, Powell called Limbaugh's remarks about race "unfortunate
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