Marco Rubio Rebukes Colin Powell Accusations of Republican Racism

In an interview today on the Andrea Tantaros Show, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., rebuked suggestions byretired four-star general and former U.S. secretary of state Colin Powell that there exists "a dark vein of intolerance in some parts of the [Republican] party."

"Idisagree with General Powells assessment of the Republican Party today, Rubio said. The Republican Party is the party that [has] placed two Hispanics in the U.S. Senate, and we have an African-American senator in the United States Senate.

Powell himself served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and secretary of state under Republican administrations, and in past years was even floated around as a possible candidate on the party's presidential ticket.