Posted on 08/07/2004 7:24:44 PM PDT by Graybeard58
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - At one point during last week's Republican leadership gathering in Chicago, the debate over conservative activist Alan Keyes grew so contentious that journalists standing outside the closed doors heard - and reported - the shouting.
The Illinois Republican State Central Committee later barred reporters from the entire floor where they were meeting to choose their party's new candidate for the U.S. Senate.
But with Keyes' candidacy likely to become official Sunday, it will be much tougher for Republican leaders to hide the internal strife in their divided party.
On Wednesday night the committee formally asked Keyes - a former United Nations ambassador and two-time presidential candidate who has never lived in Illinois - to run against Democratic candidate Barack Obama for Illinois' open Senate seat. All indications are that Keyes will accept, kicking off his campaign Sunday at a Chicago-area rally.
Keyes will replace Jack Ryan, whom Republicans nominated in the primaries for the Senate. Ryan bowed out of the race last month amid embarrassing sexual allegations.
While Keyes' candidacy solves one problem for the GOP, it generates another: His far-right views on most major issues will, once again, highlight the deep fissure in the Illinois GOP between moderates - like former Govs. Jim Edgar and James Thompson - and the more conservative wing, which has been trying for years to move the party rightward.
"The state party is divided in the same way the national party is divided. The difference in Illinois is that the more moderate branch tends to run the board," noted political scientist John S. Jackson of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. "The hard-right decided they wanted this ... but it will magnify the fault lines" with moderates.
Shouts and silence
The first rumblings of that fault line were heard through the cl
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
Is that an admission?
I had already said that I didn't care if he ran but I do not share your admiration of the man. Let him run.
We may be surprised at the black christian turnout. They have long had to stand alongside the homos, the abortionist, and now they will see a chance to vote for a real decent black man who IS Prolife and anti homo.
The Latino vote will also see someone who doesn't ask them to become metrosexual and doesn't ask their women to kill their babies.
Viva Keyes.
You know what?
I tried. I honestly did. I really wanted him to win. But if you're an example of a Keyes supporter - and my experience with many of them tells me that you are - then I want no part of any of you.
You're all rude as hell.
You will see Alan preach freedom to folks in inner city churches like you've never seen a man preach before. There's an answer to the soft-bigotry of low expectations and Alan's the man to become 'Senatorial' for the right job at the right time in service to America. We are elated...
I'd be interested in seeing that backed up - perhaps by EV or Richard.
I try to follow his opinons closely and i've never heard that he endorsed that notion.
I have a quibble or two with him in other places, but I'd remember something like that.
First, check your rude meter. You hit me first. Second, I'm not rude. I just ain't what you like. That's not my problem. See, I'm not working my fanny off to change RINOs into believers. I want the liberals who admit they are to confront some reality. For most RINOs, it really seems to late...
I sure hope so, I like everything else I have heard from him. I wonder if he could get Cosby to support him? Bill has been sounding pretty conservative lately.
Keyes is now deader than Pat Buchanan...and this fling is the final nail in his coffin
- another cheerleading attempt by OBAMAPARDONS, for the baby killing, homo loving democratic candidate.
It is sad when a democrat supports baby killers, but when a republican attacks those who protect the babies it is an act that deserves nopardons.
That is funny...
Yeah, right. You posted to me first, answering something that had nothing to do with you. Now it's all: Blah, blah, liberals, blah, blah, blah RINOs...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Don't bother with me. I sure won't with you.
Are you a prophet? You speak with the certitude of one.
If God and the voters of Illinois overule you, will that make you a false prophet?
I hate defeatism. I detest it.
If folks like y'all would have had their way 200 years ago, there wouldn't even be an American republic.
Before Alan, this race was lost, uncontested. At least now there is a chance, no matter how long. At least the RATs will have to defend Obama with their precious resources.
But you make a difficult situation even worse.
You're doing the Dems work for them, whether you realize it or will admit it or not.
I don't know as well as you FRiend, but I heard that Tim crucified himself but good...people forgive, but forget to forget...
Where are you? Check your FReepmail in 5...
I'd, his views are considered "far right" because his views are right, as in correct. Very Correct!
Viva Keyes!
If some GOPer from Ill.had run against Obama and lost,it isn't national news;not even if the that person is white.
Keys is an outsider,he's a black Conservative who has had a place,shallow though it has been,on the national stage.That will be be used during the election and after,by local Dems and talking heads/pundits on T.V. and in newspapers to "prove" that Conservatism/the GOP is 1) not good for blacks 2)not good for anybody 3)is an outmoded/dying philosophy.
Smear tactic?Yes.Incorrect?Yes,again.Dead wrong?You bet!
But this IS how this kind of thing works.
Look at the posts to those here,who aren't squealing with delight and proclaiming that Alan is not only going to win,but he's going to 1) use this win to be president 2)foment a mass conversion to Conservatism by all who hear him 3)change the course of Ill. politics forever,etc.They're vilified,called names,told that they're LIBERALS,working for Obama,and worse.This is just an internet site and those barking this garbage Are either not in politics or are small time hacks.Now,extrapolate that onto the real world and the smear teams of true professional experts.
You came to this thread lusting for blood, long before I ever posted. Are you saying I piled on and remarked at your petty posts?
I will certainly concede the possibility that you are correct, but at the same time one HAS to ask "Must it ever be thus?"
Is it not at least a noble goal to aspire to break that hammerlock? Would it not be better for both parties and most of all better for those blacks if, in fact, they were "in play" on every election cycle?
I don't have any illusions about knowing what goes on in Cook County - though I suspect I could get some handy "Cliffs Notes" by checking out nearby Memphis - and I don't profess to.
What I do know is that we can do better than just throwing our hands up and saying there's nothing to do about it. The sea-change HAS to start somewhere. Perhaps it will be here, perhaps not, but the attempt must be made.
Can't prove a negative. He made the claim, and then backed it up with vague references to something he thought he saw on TV a long time ago.
Alan doesn't support reparations.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.