He's got a lot of company in this fiasco. Everybody's got an axe to grind.
This is something that is very delicate to explain and I may not do it properly or in the proper amount of delicate handling, but I will try.
Have you ever noticed that many black conservatives have something that troubles you when you hear them or see them. For example, Alan Keyes often relies on some sort of racism comment when he's excluded from some event such as debates among serious contenders. The gentleman who is the "Black Avenger" radio host relies on the fact that he's not really a great radio host, but he's black and generally conservative so he's something of an anomolly, and that's the basis of his show. Armstrong Williams uses black radio show host who is conservative and christian. It's not because they are good, it's because they are different that they get the attention they receive.
Blackwell uses the same tactics (and he's more of a libertarian than a conservative). He was also Steve Forbes point man in Ohio.
I live in Ohio. A few years ago, he championed something that sounded fishy and opportunist. I'm sorry I don't remember what it is, but it just didn't seem right. I held a lot of respect for Blackwell before that incident. No longer.
He often seems to be lot's of talk, opportunist talk, but little action.