Colin Powell is giving conservatives fits.

The former Secretary of State's endorsement of Barack Obama even overshadowed the only big Republican event of the weekend, Sarah Palin's knee-slappin' appearance on Saturday Night Live.

No guffaws from Powell though, who noted that John McCain's selection of Palin as his running mate was one of the factors that prompted him to give Obama his support.

Of course conservatives immediately set out to minimize Powell's endorsement, using race as the key ingredient in their dismissal.

Buying into the Republican train of thought is to believe that Colin Powell had to give the nod to a fellow black man as a matter of form.

And so it is that one of the country's most respected Republicans is relegated by members of his own party to being nothing more than a political field hand.

How dismissive of Colin Powell.

How denigrating.

How racist.

How on par for Republicans who quickly clamor to use racial stereotyping as a way of throwing Colin Powell under the back of the bus.

I've long admired and respected Colin Powell.

That's true even more now that he's standing for what he believes is best for America, and in the process, giving Republicans fits.

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