Posted on 08/13/2004 11:22:59 AM PDT by Aquinasfan
SPRINGFIELD - If Illinois voters elect Alan Keyes to the U.S. Senate, he'd prefer they not get another chance.
Keyes, a Maryland Republican who just moved to Calumet City for the campaign, supports returning to a system abolished nearly a century ago of letting state legislators pick U.S. senators rather than voters.
In fact, he's dubbed the constitutional amendment that switched to public election of senators one of the country's greatest mistakes, vowing in past campaigns to re-examine it if voters ever sent him to Washington, D.C.
"He does still support repeal of the 17th Amendment," Keyes campaign adviser Dan Proft said Thursday, but added it is "not near the top of his agenda."
"This is not to be a centerpiece item of his legislative agenda should he be elected," Proft added. He described it as an issue befitting debate in "the hallowed halls of academia" or a "PBS special."
Obama contends the switch to voters was good for democracy.
"I certainly trust the people of Illinois and other states to choose who they want to represent them in the U.S. Senate. That is the very basis of our democracy," Obama said. "I would hope that Alan Keyes would trust those voters too."
Before approval of the 17th Amendment in 1913, state lawmakers picked their U.S. senators. The amendment moved that power to the people. Illinois supported the switch.
Although his aides say it is not a top issue now, Keyes highlighted the topic in the past. During a discussion with a caller on the Feb. 19, 1999, episode of Keyes' radio program, he said the change ignored the fundamental difference the nation's founding fathers wanted between the U.S. House and Senate. Originally, the House represented the people, while the Senate was considered to represent state governments.
"And we changed that, disregarded that, and I think it's hurt us deeply," Keyes said, according to a program transcript.
The push in the late 1800s and early 1900s to publicly elect senators was provoked by lingering impasses at the state level to name senators and questionable appointments.
During one of his presidential bids, Keyes named the switch to public voting for senators as one of the federal government's biggest mistakes along with income taxes and the Federal Reserve Bank. A news account in the Riverside Press-Enterprise from a 1995 fund-raiser in California includes Keyes promising to re-examine those topics if elected.
Asked about the irony of the situation, Proft replied: "You run under the system that's in place."
Of course, if the old system was in place Keyes would be a political underdog. Democrats control the Illinois House and Senate.
Personally, I don't know who the bigger idiots are in my own state of New Jersey - our politicians or the voters who put them into office - so its really a moot point from where I sit.
He may be our greatest orator. And he's immune to the race card.
*Ahem*
I heartily concur with Keyes.
That's what I said, you idiot.
Ditto.
That's my point. He didn't bring it up. The sense I get from the article is that the reporter is referring to an old radio appearance and some old campaign appearances. It's a real reach.
Suffice it to say, the same reporter isn't looking as deeply into Obama's past statements that demonstrate his political extremism.
That is the way it worked orignally. Reps were elected by the popular vote and Senators by appointment from the state government.
I like the idea.
If Keyes wants to win an election of the general population, he will have to learn to stay on target.
The reporter cited Keyes answer to a radio callers question in 1999!
Keyes did not bring it up as part of his current campaign.The reporter is just fishing for controversy.
While it certainly was important, the War Between the States has to be at the top of the list.
ML/NJ
If Hastert isn't already regretting the choice of Keyes, he is now.
Yeah, this is an issue'll that play well in rural areas.
"Uh, yeah, I know your local manufacturing plant just closed down, but I want to talk to you all about natural law and repealing the 17th amendment!"
Sheesh.
Uh, no it isn't...
Senators no longer represent "state" interests, and states have become pretty much irrelevant admistrative districts. Senators now represent their own interests for election. It's a question of Republican government rather than democracy. The Founders had it right.
Are you really that daft?
I'm saying that the change to direct election of senators marked the beginning of the decline of the Republic.
What's your malfunction?
(1) As I've said in these parts before concerning Constitutional amendments and state legislatures, given the anti-smoking legislation alone foisted on states like the People's Republic of NY in which I currently reside, not to mention other issues, I'm not all that keen on letting them choose my Senators even if it's hard to imagine how they could do worse than Chuckie Cheese Schumer and Hitlery Rotten Klintoon.
(2) Any issue like this that focuses on the Constitution from a constructionist point of view is a positive. We need to get that debate back on our terms, and Keyes can do it.
The 17th amendment has been a disaster for the states.
Prior to its passage, the Senators were the representatives of State Government in Washington.
One consequence of the amendment has been the Federal Government's ability to burden the states with unfunded mandates
Sadly, the wisdom of the founders of this country is being rapidly discarded.
Robert Byrd, Senator (D) from West Virgina, has expressed the sentiment that repeal of the 17th amendment would be a good thing.
Off the Kuff <-- Link
I haven't found "pure source" support for the article, but repeal of the 17th is a subject worthy of serious debate. I personally think repeal would be a good thing, but don't expect to see it.
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