Powell: "Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh?"

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell issues a wake-up call to the Republican Party.

Published December 12, 2008 4:35PM (EST)

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has some good advice for the Republican Party -- the question is whether anyone will listen.

In an interview with Fareed Zakaria to be broadcast on CNN Sunday, Powell says the party is in trouble and that attempts to use polarization to its political advantage, as in this most recent election, backfired.

"I think the party has to take a hard look at itself," Powell said. "There is nothing wrong with being conservative. There is nothing wrong with having socially conservative views -- I don't object to that. But if the party wants to have a future in this country, it has to face some realities... I think the party has to stop shouting at the world and at the country... Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh? Is this really the kind of party that we want to be when these kinds of spokespersons seem to appeal to our lesser instincts rather than our better instincts?"

Can't wait to hear what Limbaugh has to say about that.


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

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