Why WE must support Alan Keyes:
1) Barack Obama has been annointed by the media and the Democrats as a "future star" in the Democrat party.
2) Keyes OPPOSES income taxes for ALL Americans.
3) The national GOP will be watching to see if party activists and voters will support a "unabashed pro-life candidate."
4) If Alan Keyes does better than expected, we will get more Conservative, Pro-Life, Pro-Constitution candidates in the future.
5) If Alan Keyes does worse than expected, we will get more pro-choice, "liberal" Arlen Specter-type candidates.
6) Obama voted to defend "live-birth abortion" (Allowing babies born alive during botched abortions to die from lack of care.) Hillary and Ted Kennedy wouldn't even vote for this. If this is not a winning issue, the GOP can take "pro-life" off the table as an issue.
7) The national media will be waiting for the opportunity to claim that Republicans are racist and will not vote for a black man.
8) The media knocked Jack Ryan out of the race. A bigger victory for Obama over Keyes than would have happened versus Ryan will reward them and encourage more of the same against other GOP candidates. An improved showing in IL by the GOP will punish the media for trashing Ryan. If Ryan was your man, avenge him by supporting Keyes.
9) Supporting Keyes in IL will help Bush win IL.
10) It will indicate that the GOP is made up of people who can intelligently debate ideas (slavery, reparations, tax cuts, freedom) and support someone who makes an attempt to debate ideas. If Keyes is shunned for being willing to debate ideas, we will only be rewarded with more bland, packaged candidated who spout platitudes.
11) Obama or Keyes? Who do you want voting on the next several Supreme Court nominees?
12) Everything you don't like about Keyes, you'll get more of from Obama. One of these two men WILL be the next Senator from Illinois.
13) At stake is not only a much-needed U.S. Senate seat but the future ability of the Republican Party to attract and keep black candidates and voters. That is unlikely to happen if black candidates simply get sent out on suicide missions. --Thanks to Thomas Sowell...
14) Many people have stated that they will support Keyes "once he reaches a certain percentage in the polls." Your vote may be worth several if it convinces other people that the GOP can win this race.
15) As Kerry implodes (officially began 2 weeks ago), this race will become more competitive.
16) Once Obama gets into a Senate seat, it will be VERY difficult to get him out. Incumbency rules!
All the more reason for conservatives to be upset with Keyes for running a campaign of amateurish clumsiness.
You might find 'why' some posters dislike Keyes, 'within' your 16 points. They may not be pro-life, or God-fearers thus they aren't concerned about electing pro life judges etc.