Powell on GOP 'Dark Vein of Intolerance'

By: Jenée Desmond-Harris | Posted: January 14, 2013 at 11:06 AM

Colin Powell (Ben Sklar/Getty Images News)

First of all, this is coming from someone who's still a card-carrying member of the GOP. "I'm a moderate, but I'm still a Republican," Colin Powell, who was the first African American to serve as secretary of state, was quick to point out in an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press this weekend. But he minced no words calling out what he labeled a "dark vein of intolerance in some parts of the party," clarifying in plain language: "What I mean by that is they still sort of look down on minorities."

Is this a powerful revelation by an African-American insider, or a statement that will be brushed aside because of the very bigotry Powell referenced in his interview?

Watch it here:

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Read more at the Huffington Post.

Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.