Gen Powell said nothing at all about Gov Palin that could possibly be construed as "hateful," a "smear," or even unfair.

He simply observed that he could not accept the idea that she was well-qualified to ascend to the highest office in the United States of America.

He prefaced his remarks by saying several nice things about her, which was not really necessary. Also, of course, he is hardly the first person to voice this very common (and very plausible) opinion.

Or is it that fact that he's African-American that leads you believe that he's not entitled to have an opinion about the qualifications of Sarah Palin?