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 ...
I think Keyes was angry because he has never gotten much support from the GOP --- but unlike Buchanan who also never did --- he stays inside the GOP party. Also Keyes being a Conservative does have some true differences with a Moderate. The stem cell debate for example --- that one certainly has Conservatives and Moderates divided quite sharply.
A whole lot of people on FR gave Arnold Schwarzenegger a zero chance to take California.
Most people I talked to outside the state predicted that, if he won, he'd be every bit as bad as what went before.
Arnie is doing quite well thank you.
Maybe more of us should use that lesson before claiming defeat.
On balance Keyes has supported Bush to a far greater extent than he's criticized him. Unless you define "nastiness" as anything less than 100% adherence to Bush's views, your argument is a nonstarter.
Not all --- but we also have to remember that in primary election campaigns, the candidates are running against each other --- criticisms of the others' positions are going to always be made.
David, Could you cite your sources, please?
You actually have to ask why the media might criticize a Republican and not criticize a Democrat?
Most probably won't agree with me but I think we all sort of fall in the 'you can be bought' class. Politicans are humans and as such have human failings..... One of which, imo, is most all of us have a price for which we'll do things. You, I and everyone else. When the price/offer/glory/recognition/ego satisfaction level reaches any of our acceptance thresholds we will buy into it most of the time. So often we will say things then rationlize the reverse at some point and people wonder why?
FYI, David knows what he is talking about. His sources are impeccable. He couldnt have nailed it more exactly than he did.
Maybe Keyes can get around the media --- all Republicans have to do that and he's no different.
You should take your own advice: Arnold.
Great point. He will.
That may be true, but because of the scrutiny it won't be enough t say it's true. Better to have sources/links provided to help put it to rest. It would be helpful to all of us.
Then people on Keyes' side also need to stop the hyperbole, and stop accusing people who don't idolize Keyes, or think he's being hypocritical by running in a state he doesn't live in, of being liberals, baby-killers, and Obama-supporters. They aren't going to win any converts that way.
I disagree. You have elevated questions of process to the level of morality, while ignoring the gross hypocrisy of his critics. The place reeks of it, now more than ever.
The point is, Keyes' entire platform is based on a higher moral standard and bedrock principles. You can't say he stands for higher standards except when such standards are applied for him. You can't say his principles are immutable except when they stand in his way. If that's the case, he stands for nothing.
Does he owe it to you? If not, it is none of your business.
If he owes taxes, yes, he owes money to other taxpayers and citizens. In any case, if he allows his debts to go unpaid, that speaks to his character.
Now you're back to downright lying....He has been a staunch supporter of the President...
EV, accusing me of lying is very low, and lowers your credibility severely when there are still articles such as "I am not a Bush Republican!" out there on the web for everyone to read.
You are tweaking history. Your version isn't true. The Keyes organization was working hard for the President through the November election in 2000.
No, if you'll think back, after the primaries it took Keyes a little while to decide whether or not he was going to support GWB or whether he was going to support a third party. Do I need to find a link for you on that?
The Campaign dollars should/could have been cleaned up with proper accounting entries and 'releases' signed by the individuals owed of any further obligations.... Or it seems it could be done that way... Maybe not. All that could have been taken care of and not let this mess become a side issue which it has.
Arnold is a pro-abort. I don't support pro-aborts.
Having said that, you haven't seen me criticize him since his election, have you?
And when he does something laudable, I laud him.
You ought to try that approach.
I don't need a link. I was there, working with Karl Rove to bring the Keyes organiation in behind our current President.
Then don't be so offended when others have their own viewpoints about your candidate.
Links won't help you. FEC reporting for presidential campaigns makes the income tax code look simple.
He's the GOP's candidate. You keep forgetting that.
The problem I have with Mr. Keyes running in IL is the same problem I had with Hilary running in New York. They are not from those states and thus should not be running in them.
To state otherwise is hypocritical imo...la
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