Sybert Gets Letter of Support, $250 From Powell

Retired Gen. Colin Powell sent an encouraging note and $250 to Republican congressional candidate Rich Sybert this week in response to an opponent’s unrelenting accusations that Sybert was lying about Powell’s political support.

“Best of luck as you enter the closing days of the campaign,” Powell wrote in a hand-written note attached to a personal check. “I am enclosing a contribution to assist in your final push to get over the top.”

Sybert was elated Friday, not so much over the money, but about Powell’s gesture of support. He said Powell’s message should put to rest the issue that has bedeviled him since Powell disavowed endorsing Sybert last month.

“Gen. Powell and I are friends,” Sybert said. “I made him aware of how [Democratic rival] Brad Sherman was using this. And this was his response.”

Sherman has repeatedly accused Sybert of lying in his political brochures that urge voters to “Join General Colin Powell and these Republican leaders in strongly supporting Rich Sybert for Congress.” The statement is followed by a list of GOP officials.

“I think it is outrageous to accuse me of lying about my friend and the nation’s greatest hero,” Sybert said. “What you are seeing here is a series of desperation tactics because he is losing.”

Sybert and Sherman are locked in a tight race to replace retiring Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills) in the 24th Congressional District that stretches from Thousand Oaks to Malibu and Van Nuys.

In recent weeks of the heated battle, the two candidates have swapped charges and countercharges, many of them leveled in a flurry of political junk mail blanketing the district.

When Powell’s office publicly disclaimed any endorsement of Sybert on Oct. 11, Sherman began pummeling Sybert for mailing brochures that claimed Powell’s backing. The fliers also featured a picture of Sybert shaking hands with the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“What kind of person would lie about being endorsed by the most popular leader in America . . . and think he could get away with it?” Sherman asked more than 100,000 voters in a political mailer.

He offered his own answer: “If Rich Sybert will lie to you about General Powell, he will lie to you about anything.”

Sherman said he stands by the accusation.

“I never said that Mr. Powell might not someday say something nice about Richard Sybert,” Sherman said. “If a weatherman announced it was raining when he saw the sun shining, he doesn’t cease to be liar because a month later the rain comes down.”

Sherman said he was not surprised that Powell would weigh in as a loyal Republican at the last minute, “when the Sybert campaign was in desperate shape.” He said Powell’s encouraging words still fell short of an endorsement.

Powell could not be reached for comment Friday.

But his spokesman, Bill Smullen, reaffirmed Powell’s decision not to endorse any candidate outside Virginia except for the Republican presidential ticket of Bob Dole and Jack Kemp. Powell, Smullen said, has been overwhelmed with requests from candidates this year.

“For a limited number of candidates, the general has provided a note of encouragement and a financial contribution,” Smullen said. “These are people who share his moderate views, but not necessarily on every subject. Such is the case with Mr. Sybert.”

Sybert said he met Powell in 1985 while he was on a yearlong White House Fellowship assigned to work for then-Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger. At the time, Powell was Weinberger’s senior military assistant.

“He [Powell] personally recommended me for an officer’s commission in the Naval Reserve,” Sybert said. “I have socialized with his family and we have maintained correspondence through the years.”

Speaking through Smullen, Powell declined to characterize his relationship with Sybert other than confirm they had “professional contact” at the Pentagon and have occasionally corresponded since then.

In his brief note to Sybert from McLean, Va., dated Oct. 29, Powell concluded with the words: “I applaud your championing of many moderate conservative positions. Keep it up! Sincerely, Colin.”