Thread: Powell 'concerned' Obama's agenda may be too ambitious, too costly

Ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell 'concerned' Obama's agenda may be too ambitious, too costly

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell says President Obama's agenda may be too ambitious, and costly.
"One of the challenges that President Obama has now is that he's got so many things on the table, and these are issues that the American people find important, health care and so many other issues," said Powell in an interview slated to air Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union with John King."

"But I think one of the cautions that has to be given to the president -- and I've talked to some of his people about this -- is that you can't have so many things on the table that you can't absorb it all. And we can't pay for it all," Powell said.

Powell - who broke ranks with the Republican Party to endorse Democrat Obama in last year's election - said he's particularly concerned about the behemoth national debt burden being placed on the country's children and grandchildren.

"So, I think the president, as he moves forward with his initiatives has to start really taking a very, very hard look at what the cost of all this is," he said.
"And, how much additional bureaucracy and will it be effective bureaucracy be needed to make all of this happen?"

Powell hesitated to say he was "worried" about Obama's busy agenda, but he conceded he's "concerned."
"I'm concerned at the number of programs that are being presented, the bills associated with these programs and the additional government that will be needed to execute them," he said.

Asked if he talks with Obama much, Powell replied, "I have met with him not too long ago."
"I don't insert myself," Powell said. "But, we stay in touch."
He said his relationship with the White House is "very good."


Ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell 'concerned' Obama's agenda may be too ambitious, too costly

Powell is pulling a straight CYA