Bill O'Reilly asked Colin Powell a question during a recent interview that appeared to offend the former Secretary of State.
On Tuesday night, O'Reilly described Powell as "a staunch Republican" until he voted for Barack Obama twice, and noted that he has also recently been critical of the GOP.
He asked Powell to explain why he voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012. Powell said that he did not agree with the economic policies put forward by other candidates. "In the last several years, I have been troubled by the right shift of the Republican party too far to the right," he added.
"Here's what perplexes me," O'Reilly began. "President Obama's economic plan hasn't worked among African-Americans."
"Why do you only see me as an African-American, Bill?" Powell responded. "That troubles me. I'm an American."
O'Reilly defended his question, noting Powell's criticism of the Republican party over minority voters. (Powell recently alleged that Republicans "look down on minorities," and went after the party's efforts to institute voter ID laws.)
Powell said that the economy has improved, but not enough. "Not for African-Americans, not for minorities," O'Reilly remarked. Powell went on to say that the economic situation of minorities would improve with the country's overall recovery.
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