Illinois GOP picks Alan Keyes to run against Obama!

illinoisleader.com ^ | August 4, 2004

[tame]

It's official! Yahoo!

[dts32041]

Keyes against Osama Obama delicious, time to role out the supporters from 2000.

[LandOfLincolnGOP]

Look... you want him to turn it down for the sake of high minded principles and give Barack Obama the seat by default?

No, I want the state party and the national party to spend the money on a real Illinois candidate (of which there are a few to choose from) with an eye towards winning or, in the likely event of a loss, developing someone who can beat Durbin or Blagojavich in a few years.

[sharpink]

Is Keyes actually going to get support from the party and a organization? Keyes has everything a good cannidate and leader needs. With some grooming and support he would do great. He is already the underdog the better he can do the more he can establish himself as a good cannidate. It is better than having the Obama run unopposed.

[unspun]

Read all of what he said in context as opposed to one extracted line. Also, be a conservative -- support conservative candidates.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

...Keyes will inevitably insult the voters a few times, and the race will be over...

If FR was a Swift boat, Sinky, you'd be our Kerry.

[rdb3]

Now this will be interesting.

$710.96... The price of freedom
VII-XXIII-MMIV

[Inyokern]

For what its worth, Keyes has a lot of support in the Jewish community. He is an outspoken supporter of Israel.

Look for some prominent Chicago area Jews, normally Democrats, to come out in favor of Keyes.

[Slings and Arrows]

Well nail my *bleep* to a tree!

Go get 'em, Dr. Keyes!

[unspun]

Alan Keyes is our real Illinois candidate now.

[Gelato]

who, by the way, is likely to lose badly.

The seat was lost anyway. Obama is a rhetorical master.

Faced with that, the IL GOP had two choices: try to match a master with a master, or give up the ghost.

At least now they're breathing!!

[harrowup]

But it will be a great race to watch.

Keyes only plays well to himself and fourteen loons in the balcony. He is so self absorbed and pretentious he makes normal folks shudder.

Ryan was down what? 20 points before he imploded?

Two things will evolve.

First. Keyes will lose 70-20 and 10 nota.

Second. The State of Illinois will officially bar the Republican Party from all elective races until they can prove mental competency to walk unassisted on the sidewalk, let alone run.

[pogo101]

I think this is a huge liability for Keyes, i.e., the carpetbagger issue. Keyes, unlike Hillary! or RFK, doesn't have the advantage of being a spouse or brother of a president in surmounting that issue.

What's his argument that he's not a carpetbagger? I mean, was he at least raised in Illinois or something??

[LandOfLincolnGOP]

Keyes has been called to run because they need him.

We wouldn't have needed him if the state party and the national party had been willing to actually fund a candidate. The choice of Keyes has little to do with his politics, and everything to do with his ability to attract out of state money.

[Eva]

Well, I'm not sure that Keyes will exactly destroy Obama, but he will surely force him to take positions that will be clear and possibly not what the voters want to hear.

[outlawcam]

Are we prepared to take the same flak when Keyes runs in IL?

It is not the same thing in two respects: First, he was drafted by the Illinois GOP. He did not impose himself. Second, a carpetbagger is one who goes to run for office in a state in order to loot it...to steal its wealth and carry it back to his home state in carpetbags. Keyes will undoubtedly do just the opposite.

That said, I accept this as the exception, not the rule. These are extenuating circumstances, and I think Keyes will have the conservatives of the state behind him. I also believe that he will be able to win a few converts, if he is able to procure enough air time. Hastert came down on the side of Keyes, and that can only be good news.

[WhiteGuy]

I'll send a donation.

And I don't GIVE money to anyone.

[phxaz]

everyone has reasons.

[Once-Ler]

Thank you for that quote.

[sinkspur]

Read all of what he said in context as opposed to one extracted line.

I did. I also saw him on tape, as late as this afternoon, say that he is still bothered by the Federalist implications of him running in Illinois.

So, even Keyes himself recognizes he's backing down from a very strong previous stance.

Oh, I'd vote for him if I were in Illinois, but he won't come close to winning.

[twgiles]

Keyes is running to send a message to black Illinoisans that yes, there are Black Republicans, no, they're not Uncle Toms, and yes, you might want to reconsider your perennial vote for the Socialist party.

Keyes has zero chance of winning, but hopefully he will find ways to bring new voters into his party.