WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former Secretary of State Colin Powell told reporters Friday that he enjoys his private life, and that he does not want a job with the incoming administration.
Powell, who crossed party lines weeks before the general election to endorse Obama, has said before that he is not interested in working for the soon-to-be president. Powell is currently an honorary co-chair of Obama’s Presidential Inaugural Committee.
“I am very happy in private life, thank you very much, and I'm trying to be as helpful as I can to the president-elect and the vice president-elect,” Powell told reporters Friday. “I look forward to assisting in anyway that I can, but I have not been offered a job, and I've kind of made it clear that I am not looking for a position.”
Powell also praised incoming Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and called her “the most distinguished public servant.”
“I am a very close friend of hers, and I congratulate her selection and appointment as Secretary of State,” Powell said. “I think she'll do a very, very - a very, very fine job.”
Powell spoke at a Washington event Friday unveiling an Obama community service program and the web site USAservice.org, an online tool to publicize available service projects and connect volunteers with non-profit organizations.
From CNN Politics
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Even though they tried to ridicule you Mr. Powell-YOU came out strong. Many were jealous of your endorsement. Keep tight to your convictions and stay out of this administration. That would only make you a hypocrite. If you are a true republican and I think you are-you are doing the right thing.
Powell is damaged goods.
He prostituted himself for Bush and got a political STD for his efforts.
Let him stay in private practice of whatever it is he does these days.
I suspect that Gen. Powell would not have been appointed "honorary co-chair" if he had given his support to McCain. Partisan handouts are not exclusive to the Republicans.
I would love to see Colin Powell in the Obama administration. He has a lot to offer.
It is good he is not seeking, they think is a a Bush Republican.
Why would he be looking for a job?
He already served our Nation. Another waste of ink.
Colin Powell is a Honorable Man
We NEED Gen. Collin in this Administration. He's got the military and political saavy that we need. He's cool as a cucumber, like someone else we know and he's very, VERY smooth and charismatic.
a good amn and a great leader it is a shame that we cannot use him in this administration we need all the help we can get to clean up after the bushes
idiots
Hmm he is a close friend of Hillary? who would have thought that. I mean during the primaries Hillary and Bill were villified as racists wonder why her very good friend didn't speak up for her or did I miss when he spoke up about that.
Powell is an honourable man!!
I was hoping Colin Powell would be considered for the CIA position but I understand sometime you need someone from the outside to see things with a fresh eye. I think Leon Pinneta will do a great job.
Obama will do the right thing for this country. I wish folks would step back and take a deep breath then they would see he has the smarts to navigate through the muck.
damaged goods, indeed. he shouldn't have presented something that he was uncertain of. especially of that magnitude. he could've refused. caused a stink. stepped down, whatever. think about it. if he did and things played out the way they have, we might be saying president elect powell, but no. his gamble. his loss. also, isn't this the 3rd or 4th time he's said he's not looking for an administration job. yeah. i believe that.
I doubt that Powell would be interested in public life again. After the Bush fiasco, I am sure he is rather sick of political service!
If he did, would probably do a good job. I admire him for getting out of the Bush Administration once he discovered that they wrong on every issue and lying period!
He was screwed by the Bush admin and has had enough.
GO AWAY
GOOD! At this point he is NOBODY in the scheme of things - could have been, but blew it !!!!!!!!!!!
America still needs your wisdom!
Powell will go any way the winds blow in his favor. Another washtonian RINO!
I think Powell would have been an awesome Sec. of State under the Obama Administration. I know he did it once before for one of the Bush's but am sure he would do better under the far more solid leadership that PE Obama will provide.
Who cares.
Gen. Powell has too much staure in the world to be simply sitting on the sidelines while the U.S. is in such a mess. Yes; he lost some credibility for his support of Bush policies officially; but if you read between the lines he was the only one trying to stop Rumsfeld and Cheney from even more idiotic actions. You cannot allow a man with his intelligence to just fade away. Colin Powell; as a good soldier I hope and pray you will continue to serve your nation as well as you did in the legendary "Desert Storm" campaign. That kind of leadership does not come along every day.
Who?
Nobody believes you collie boy! Proven Fact!
were all the war criminal spots taken in the administration.
The man lied before the UN to get us into Iraq, why is he still in the public eye, he should be haning his head in shame.