What did Colin Powell suggest ?
Democratic candidate John Kerry cited the rule during the first debate of the 2004 Presidential election on September 30 , 2004:Former Secretary of State Powell denies using the term " pottery barn rule " , but stated : " It is said that I used the “ Pottery Barn rule . ” I never did it ; Friedman did it … But what I did say … [ is that once you break it , you are going to own it , and we ’re going to be responsible for 26 million people standing there looking at us .