KOA's "Gunny" Bob on Powell's Obama endorsement: "Does skin color come into play here? Of course it does!"

Discussing former Secretary of State Colin Powell's endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for president, Newsradio 850 KOA host "Gunny" Bob Newman on his October 21 broadcast asked his listeners, "Should we be surprised he's endorsed the most leftist, unaccomplished, inexperienced senator in the U.S. Senate? Does skin color come into play here? Of course it does!"

Later in the broadcast, Newman read his "poll question" of the day: "Colin Powell, who was not recommended for promotion, endorsed Obama because, a) Obama's black too; or b) Obama has vast executive and military experience to be America's chief executive and commander in chief during time of war."

As Media Matters for America has noted, other right-wing radio hosts have made similar remarks about Powell's endorsement, including Michael Savage's October 20 comment: "Do you think Colin Powell came out for BO [Obama] because of his race? Duh." Savage later added: "[F]orgive me for being so blunt -- but it seems to Michael Savage that the only people who don't seem to vote based on race are white people of European origin."

From the October 21 broadcast of Newsradio 850 KOA's The Gunny Bob Show:

NEWMAN: It's not according to me, [caller]. It's according to Colonel David Hackworth. [Major General] John Hudachek said Powell should not be promoted -- but yet, he was. Again, this isn't my opinion; this is Colonel David Hackworth's opinion -- the late Colonel Hackworth. Wrote a very interesting book called About Face. You might want to read that book. And some of his writings after that book, [caller]. 303-713-8585.

Colin Powell was not recommended for promotion. He got it anyway. Why? Because of the affirmative-action style race quota program. The military had it then. There are vestiges of it to this very day. I personally saw it time and again over a 20-year career in the military. It's out there. Hopefully they're getting control of it now. 303-713-8585. Now, if Powell was so bad of an officer, should we be surprised that he stunk as Secretary of Defense? Should we be surprised of his failures as National Security Adviser? Should we be surprised he's endorsed the most leftist, unaccomplished, inexperienced senator in the U.S. Senate? Does skin color come into play here? Of course it does!

[...]

NEWMAN: Today's poll question on "Gunny" Bob on 850 KOA: Colin Powell, who was not recommended for promotion, endorsed Obama because, a) Obama's black too; or b) Obama has vast executive and military experience to be America's chief executive and commander in chief during time of war.

—C.K.