While former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama last week in a fairly straightforward (and diplomatic) manner, the reactions from the media and blogosphere have been not so subtle.

From Rush Limbaugh’s radio rant saying that Powell’s support was based on race, to political experts suggesting that his decision will undoubtedly sway the independent voters, it seems like the Republican’s mavericky endorsement means different things for different people.

For Charles Claudio Simpkins, a 23-year-old black Republican who supports John McCain, Powell’s support for Obama was a “very calculated move.” To the Harvard law student, it wasn’t just about the decision itself, it was about where and when he made it. Here’s what he had to say.

What do you think about Colin Powell’s support for Obama?

General Powell’s endorsement didn’t come as much of a surprise to me.  I seem to recall him having a great deal of respect and admiration for Senator Obama for quite some time.

But the endorsement, coming when it did and on “Meet the Press,” is typical David Axelrod— selling Black candidates to white voters by securing respected third-party endorsements. Not sure it’ll have much impact at this juncture in the race, but certainly a very calculated move.

The reasons General Powell gave on “Meet the Press” have more to do with McCain’s campaign style than the substance of the two men.

Sure, General Powell cites Senator Obama’s “intellectual vigor,” but aside from that he counts Senator McCain’s mixed message on the economy, the selection of Governor Palin, and the Ayers line of attack as reasons for his endorsement. My problem with that logic is that it speaks little to the either man’s actual preparedness to lead this country through difficult times.

Simpkins, a “moderate-to-conservative Republican,” said that he still has “a great deal of respect for Powell” and has “looked up to him for years now.” After all, both are alumni at the City College of New York. Though Simpkins disagrees on Powell’s reasoning, it looks like there’s no tainting of Powell’s rep with Simpkins.

Tags: Barack Obama, black republicans, Colin Powell, John McCain, presidential election, race and politics, race factor in the elections, Rush Limbaugh