In D.C., War Hero Becomes Politician Colin Powell Besieged By Protesters, Promoters

The Gulf War General’s great book-signing honeymoon is over.

Colin Powell came to a Capitol Hill bookstore on Monday - only the third stop on his 26-city tour promoting his autobiography, “An American Journey,” and was besieged by abortion protesters and news coverage befitting a presidential candidate.

Photographers elbowed for the perfect picture. Grass-roots supporters handed out huge red campaign buttons declaring “Colin Powell for President.” Opponents of abortion rights waved signs like that of 22-year-old Astrid Bohm of Akron, Ohio, beseeching: “Our country needs heroes not cowards! Stand up for the children!”

Powell may argue he is simply promoting his book while pondering a presidential run.

But here he was just blocks from Congress. On Pennsylvania Avenue, home of the White House. Shaking hands inside and signing books while volunteers of the Exploratory Draft Powell Committee collected signatures on a petition urging him to run.

Security guards prevented protesters from bringing placards in the store - as they banned each of the 2,100 people who paid $25.95 for the book from bringing packages inside.

“The Gulf War hero is now being a politician,” declared the Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition as he waved a sign proclaiming: “Abortion is Murder.”

“And Colin Powell will find dealing with Saddam Hussein is a lot easier than dealing with politics in the ‘90s - particularly when it comes to discussing the issues of abortion, affirmative action and gun control,” Mahoney said.

What’s the flap all about?

After months of speculation about his political ambitions and positions, Powell finally started revealing his views on key issues during an interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters.

In the interview, which aired Friday night as part of his book-promotion tour, Powell defended a woman’s right to decide on the question of abortion. The former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also staked out more-centrist views on the issues of affirmative action and gun control than some conservative supporters had expected.

“I’m very proud of him. He thinks; he doesn’t just talk,” said financial adviser Rita Ferrall, 40, who was clutching two copies of the book. “This book tour is giving him time to meet people rather than just jump in. He even acknowledged that he’s not going to please everybody - and that’s why I respect him.”

As for the abortion controversy, she said: “This is 1995, and people have a choice on whether they have a child or not. I think that’s ridiculous.”

Powell put it a bit more diplomatically: “We had some people who came by to express their views to me,” the retired general said. “And I thought it was their role to do so.”Mahoney vowed a nationwide mobilization to dog Powell’s entire book tour.