The ‘them’ in this context, Powell explained, is a Republican party that has moved too far to the right. 

‘I think the party has shifted much further right than where the country is and it should be obvious to party leaders that they cannot keep saying the things that they are saying and doing the things that they were doing and hope to be successful in national level elections in the future, not just 2016,’ Colin said at today’s Washington Ideas Forum taking place in downtown D.C.

‘So I want to continue to be a Republican because it annoys them,’ he said, grinning.