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Keyes' candidacy will expose rift within GOP
St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 08/07/2004 | Kevin McDermott

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 ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: alan; alankeyes; carpetbagger; grifter; hehasfaithingod; heisprogun; heisprolife; hypocricy; keyes; sameashillary; saveamerica; stophillary
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To: technochick99
I have no idea. Why are you arguing the point anyway? The die is cast. Your words and typing are meaningless and a waste of time for you. I am hoping to dissuade others bothering. Over and out!

Just wondered why you were wasting your time.

361 posted on 08/08/2004 10:30:32 AM PDT by Amelia
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To: NittanyLion
Hypocrisy bothers me a bit, though.

“I deeply resent the destruction of federalism represented by Hillary Clinton's willingness to go into a state she doesn't even live in and pretend to represent people there, so I certainly wouldn't imitate it."
Alan Keyes, 2000

362 posted on 08/08/2004 10:32:32 AM PDT by Amelia
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To: NittanyLion
Hypocrisy bothers me a bit, though. Hence the reason I'm pointing yours out...

Then you should be nagging at others on this thread besides me; including the ones who are pushing the "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes" with regard to Keyes' remarks on Hillary Clinton.

363 posted on 08/08/2004 10:33:48 AM PDT by Howlin (Saving Private Hamster)
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To: Amelia

Yep, Keyes was either overly hyperbolic in his criticism of Hillary or he's since changed his mind. A pretty minor issue regardless of which explanation is accurate.


364 posted on 08/08/2004 10:34:01 AM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: EternalVigilance

I'm not arguing with any of that; in fact, I agree with some of it.

Unfortuately, you'll never get to that until Keyes makes a statement explaining why he's decided to go back on his own words.


365 posted on 08/08/2004 10:35:07 AM PDT by Howlin (Saving Private Hamster)
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To: Howlin
Then you should be nagging at others on this thread besides me; including the ones who are pushing the "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes" with regard to Keyes' remarks on Hillary Clinton.

Hey, the man isn't perfect. But by your own logic, we must support the Republican candidate without criticism. Anything less is working against the future of our country. Right?

366 posted on 08/08/2004 10:35:40 AM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: NittanyLion

I've never said without criticism; those are your words.

Just because I don't criticize Bush for every single thing I don't agree with him about doesn't mean I'm a lockstepper.

He's my candidate; I've never made any bones about it; he's not perfect, but I did not expect him to be.

I'm not a one issue voter; I'm more pragmatic than that; or as you would probably say "in the mushy middle."

I just find it hiliarous that those who defended Keyes when he called Bush evil and bragged about not being a Bush Republican now are up on their high horses believing their candidate should get a pass.


367 posted on 08/08/2004 10:41:41 AM PDT by Howlin (Saving Private Hamster)
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To: NittanyLion; Howlin; Amelia
This is just my opinion.

I say let by gones be by gones. The most important thing is to remember who the real political adversary is, Obama.

Alan Keyes will bring national attention to this race and will not let Obama skirt to a coronation as being portrayed as a moderate. Obama will have to show his true political self.

368 posted on 08/08/2004 10:42:07 AM PDT by Dane (Trial lawyers are the tapeworms to wealth creating society)
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To: Howlin
Maybe there will be some statements made today about 2PM or so

RALLY FOR KEYES
Come out this Sunday as Amb. Alan Keyes holds an official rally in Arlington Heights.

For those who want to come out and show their support, the rally will begin at 2:00 p.m. and will be held at the Wellington restaurant located at 2121 S. Arlington Heights Rd.

See you there!

369 posted on 08/08/2004 10:43:36 AM PDT by deport (Please Flush the Johns......)
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To: Howlin
Unfortuately, you'll never get to that until Keyes makes a statement ...

We already are 'to that'. You just haven't realized it yet.

370 posted on 08/08/2004 10:44:22 AM PDT by EternalVigilance ('Impossible' is the favorite word of cowards...nothing is impossible with God...)
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To: Dane
The most important thing is to remember who the real political adversary is, Obama.

I agree 100 percent; although I've been called a Obama supporter because I question Keyes.

I sure hope that these same RULES will apply to everything George Bush does from now to the election.

Somehow I doubt it.

371 posted on 08/08/2004 10:44:55 AM PDT by Howlin (Saving Private Hamster)
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To: EternalVigilance

Really?

What did Keyes say?


372 posted on 08/08/2004 10:45:18 AM PDT by Howlin (Saving Private Hamster)
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To: EternalVigilance

You going to the rally this afternoon?


373 posted on 08/08/2004 10:46:00 AM PDT by deport (Please Flush the Johns......)
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To: Dane

Well said.


374 posted on 08/08/2004 10:46:23 AM PDT by EternalVigilance ('Impossible' is the favorite word of cowards...nothing is impossible with God...)
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To: Engraved-on-His-hands

Wonderful assessment!!


375 posted on 08/08/2004 10:46:43 AM PDT by loveliberty2
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To: deport

Yep. Crossed three states since this thread started. ;-)


376 posted on 08/08/2004 10:47:46 AM PDT by EternalVigilance ('Impossible' is the favorite word of cowards...nothing is impossible with God...)
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To: Dane; Howlin; Amelia
I say let by gones be by gones.

Fair enough. I agree...

I do have one question though. Howlin, regarding your other post: Did Keyes really call Bush "evil"?

377 posted on 08/08/2004 10:47:58 AM PDT by NittanyLion
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To: Howlin

I just hope the RULES apply to Alan. I don't particularly appreciate being held to a higher standard than he has been.


378 posted on 08/08/2004 10:48:00 AM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet (Some of my best friends are white, middle-class males.)
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To: Graybeard58

At least, the Party has diverse opinions and can be divided!!

What a contrast to the other Party which has squelched the voices of all but the most Radical Left and organized its entire effort around the PHILOSOPHY OF HATE for the current President!


379 posted on 08/08/2004 10:48:53 AM PDT by loveliberty2
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To: DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet

I'm sitting here wonder what the rules will be regarding what we are permitted to say when Keyes bashes Bush.

Because he will.


380 posted on 08/08/2004 10:49:24 AM PDT by Howlin (Saving Private Hamster)
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