This week, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright sandbagged his own former congregant, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, at a time when he needed it the least. Wright's comments prompted Obama to respond with outrage.

Now, more than ever, a dream ticket is needed in American politics and if ever there were a person to provide the balance that John McCain and this nation needs, it is former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

There will no doubt be those in the media who place blame at his feet for the "false information" he provided to the United Nations in 2003, which led to his resignation in 2004. In point of fact, those allegations are unfounded and most people know it. Consider the resumé that put him in the State Department in the first place. He ascended the ranks of the military and the Republican party the old fashioned way: hard work, grit and determination. He is the anti-Bush: a respected paleoconservative of high moral standing.

As an African American, Powell's race would undoubtedly help to galvanize Americans of all colors, classes and creeds, but it isn't the main reason I'm advocating him as a running mate for McCain. I was a fan of Colin Powell's long before race became the issue it is today. He's a man of unquestionable character, proven leadership and political shrewdness, all of which make him an ideal candidate for the Oval Office.

That said, Powell has often expressed distaste for a presidential candidacy, but perhaps the recent events dominating headlines on the Democratic side of this year's campaign will lead him to consider a run for vice-president. Powell's presence on the ballot (as well as the campaign trail) would undoubtedly have a calming effect on the nation and show America how blacks and whites can work together without demarcation or distraction.

If the invitation is extended -- and Powell accepts it -- he and McCain would sail into the White House in November and usher in a golden era of conservative politics, the likes of which American citizens have only read about in history books.