Colin Powell smacks down the wingnut faction of the GOP

It wasn't just his reassessment of DADT that has Colin Powell on a roll. He blasted the politics of the McCain Mobs in his endorsement of Barack Obama, and now he's taking a torch to the GOP for its inability to see its enthusiastic bigot appeal is limited. He said the party as it exists cannot sustain itself by turning a blind eye to the browning of America. He reserves special disdain for Hillbilly Heroin devotee Rush Limbaugh. (CNN Politicker):

"I think the party has to take a hard look at itself," Powell said in the interview, which was taped Wednesday. "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. In another 20 years, the majority in this country will be the minority."

Powell, who crossed party lines and endorsed President-elect Barack Obama just weeks before the election, said the GOP must see what is in the "hearts and minds" of African-American, Hispanic and Asian voters "and not just try to influence them by… the principles and dogma."

"I think the party has to stop shouting at the world and at the country,"Powell said. "I think that the party has to take a hard look at itself, and I've talked to a number of leaders in recent weeks and they understand that." Powell, who says he still considers himself a Republican, said his party should also stop listening to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

"Can we continue to listen to Rush Limbaugh?" Powell asked. "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?"

I can only hope that this is a signal that the moderates in the party are ready to rise up to overthrow the theocratic white power faction of the party.

They have all the ammunition they need -- just play back the videotapes of the RNC and the McCain/Palin rallies to get a look at the future of the GOP unless something serious is done about it. (Hey Ken Blackwell, are you up to the challenge?)