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Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 483
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 10:26 am: | 
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GOP wooing Keyes to take on Obama
August 3, 2004
BY SCOTT FORNEK Political Reporter
Barack Obama might get a race, after all.
Former GOP presidential candidate Alan Keyes told Illinois Republicans Monday that he is ''open to the idea'' of taking on the Democrat in the U.S. Senate race -- a move that would pit two eloquent, nationally known African Americans against one another.
''It would be a classic race of conservative vs. liberal,'' said state Sen. Dave Syverson, a member of the panel looking for a candidate to go up against Obama. ''It would put this race on the map in this country -- just for excitement.''
Syverson spoke to Keyes several times Monday and said Keyes did not commit to making the run. The former State Department official and radio and television personality was unable to fly from his home in Maryland to Chicago for a meeting the Republican State Central Committee is holding today to interview potential candidates.
''But he certainly has an interest, and he said if the group is interested in meeting with him and speaking with him about his views that he would be happy to come out and meet [later]," said Syverson, a Rockford member of the committee.
ALAN KEYES
Age: 54
Residence: Maryland.
Career highlights: Ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, 1983-5; assistant secretary of state for international organizations, 1985-88; president of Citizens Against Waste, 1989-91; host of syndicated radio show in 1990s and television show on MSNBC in 2002; currently writing books and working as public speaker.
Political: Ran for U.S. Senate out of Maryland in 1988 and 1992, president in 1996 and 2000. Best known for opposition to abortion, homosexual rights and affirmative action.
Liabilities: Never actually elected. Has been criticized for paying self salary out of campaign funds in 1992 Senate race and dragging feet in filing some paperwork in 1996 presidential bid.
Personal: Married with three children.
Source: Keyes' Web site, news reports
MUST LIVE HERE BY NOV. 2
Under the U.S. Constitution, a Senate candidate does not have to live in the state where he's running until the date of the election. Candidates for the Senate must have been a U.S. citizen for nine years and must be at least 30 years old.
Here is the exact wording (Article I, Section 3): "No Person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen."
''He said that he was open to the idea. And he felt that Obama didn't really represent the views of the people of Illinois. So I think he was really just in the exploration stage."
It remains to be seen how Keyes would fare in Illinois. Four years ago, he came in third in the state's GOP presidential primary, winning only 9 percent of the vote. And in 1996, he placed fourth with less than 4 percent. And he lost U.S. Senate bids in Maryland in 1988 and 1992.
But some believe Keyes could be just the antidote to Obama.
''Wow!" said Ronald Smith, another member of state central committee. ''I'd love it. I'd love it. I tell you, in a debate, he would blow Obama out of the water. ... I heard him speak. He mesmerizes you, just his grasp of the issues.''
State Sen. Steve Rauschenberger is not a member of the state central committee, but he said his discussions with insiders lead him to believe it's a better than 50-50 chance Keyes will seek the nomination.
''It redefines the race," Rauschenberger said. ''Barack Obama would end up a much better candidate after a few months with Alan Keyes. Plus I think they are polar opposites.''
Keyes lives in Maryland, but Syverson argues that is not an insurmountable problem, pointing to Hillary Clinton's successful run for a New York Senate seat.
''It's not necessarily where you live as much as who you represent and the views you represent," Syverson said. "He believes that there is a void in Illinois and that Obama certainly does not represent Illinois. And he believes that he would be, if he were to run, much more representative of Illinois."
Not all members of the state central committee are sold on Keyes.
"He can talk -- that I know," said Barbara Peterson, a state central committeewoman from Will County. "I've been enthralled by his speeches, but I liked Obama's speech, too. So what does that say for me? Maybe I just like a good speech. I don't know at this point. Why would he want to do it?"
The central committee is scheduled to meet today to interview potential replacements for Jack Ryan, who dropped out of the race last month amid allegations he once took his wife to sex clubs.
Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman took herself out of the running Monday. Remaining potential candidates are radio personality Orion Samuelson, Aurora dairy owner Jim Oberweis, retired Air Force Major Gen. John Borling, Gold Coast businessman John Cox, Oak Brook entrepreneur Chirinjeev Kathuria and former deputy drug czar Andrea Grubb Barthwell.
Conversations with Keyes have been kept so close to the vest that not all of the 19-person central committee even knew about them.
"That's news to me," said Dennis Wiggins, a state central committeeman from Kane County. "I think he'd work fine, if he was willing to run. I mean where are you going to find anyone so polished and well-spoken?"
The first Obama heard of Keyes was when reporters asked him about the potential matchup at a stop in Downstate Bloomington.
"Does he live in Illinois?" Obama asked. "The Republicans need to just go ahead and make up their minds and when they do, we'll be happy to debate whoever they put in."
Contributing: Dave McKinney, Abdon M. Pallasch
Copyright © The Sun-Times Company
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 620
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 12:00 pm: |
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Chris,
I don’t know about you. But I truly hope that Alan Keyes joins the fray.
Keyes could prove a formidable opponent. He is keenly astute and quick-witted. He is as superb a debater, Republican or Democrat, as you will find. He may quite emphatically expose parts of Obama’s political platform that many (including Democrats) might find less than savory.
And he apparently is mentally/emotionally impervious to losing, and losing big, as he has in the 2 or 3 Republican presidential primaries in which he has participated. So no matter how thoroughly he is trounced by Barak, he’ll likely just quite nonchalantly go back to his ‘thinktank’ duties and $30K/pop speaking engagements.
But Obama asks a most potent question: "Does he live in Illinois?"
Many Illinoisans will resent that Keyes' color, as much as his talents, are the reason why he has been inserted into a campaign that he had no prior involvement in. Moreover, his opponents will (smartly) label him a political interloper and relentlessly recount such to the media and public. And that could do even more harm to an already damaged IL GOP.
I personally would look forward to Keyes’ candidacy because his intellect and insight will help to crystallize who Obama really is. And the 2 of them together could enliven the political landscape in a way unlike any other political opponents, as both their politics and persons would make for a transfixing bit socio-political insight and irony.
Cynique,
These are your stomping grounds. What do you think about a "Keyes for US Senate" candidacy in Illinois? |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 484
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 12:12 pm: |
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Abm:
You have been reading too many high school civics books. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 623
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 12:15 pm: |
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Chris,
HAHA!
Perhaps I have.  |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 937
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 12:17 pm: |
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I think Keyes would be regarded as an unwelcomed Carpetbagger! The average person in Illinois has never heard of Keyes and would not be interested in having him represent our state. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 625
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 12:29 pm: |
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Cynique,
I know. Still, I like seeing 2 smart, eloquent speakers go at it. And we get too little of that these days.
For example, how often is Bush directly made to defend his positions against his opponents. Almost NEVER.
Therefore, I hope that you Illinoisans would forgive Keyes' intrusion just long enuff to so that the rest of us can enjoy those 2 brothas mix it up. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 938
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 01:15 pm: |
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Keyes is at his best when debating a rabid Liberal. Obama is very middle of the roadish, which is why he enjoys across the board support. There are probably many issues upon which they'd agree. Alan Keyes has always reminded me of one of those jockey ornaments left over from Civil war days, fixtures that have be re-located on the lawns of white-owned mansions. |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 628
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 01:52 pm: |
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Cynique,
Hmmmm.
It is interesting you say that Obama is "middle of the roadish". Actually, I have heard/seen very little of his actual voting record. Thus I wonder how you have reached that conclusion about him.
Do you base your views upon his actual political record, or upon his smooth appearance and delivery? Regardless, I am not sure that Obama will not be able to use either to shirk a political bulldog like Keyes.
Moreover, I think the strident Keyes relishes the opportunity to toss mud upon the shiny face of the Dems newly minted fair-haired boy.
And I am not sure they agree on many issues. The article above says Keyes is staunchly opposed to Affirmative Action, Abortion and Gay Rights. I don’t know very much about him. Still, I can’t imagine that Obama could win ANY Democratic nomination with THAT combination of political views.
In fact, I have already heard the GOP attempt to use his IL congressional record to cast him as this "rabid Liberal", in albeit a mild and sleek countenance. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 939
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 03, 2004 - 03:01 pm: |
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I reached the conclusion that Obama was a moderate from his keynote speech. There was nothing radical in it. I assume this will be the tone of his campaign. It will have to be for him to secure his constituency. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 487
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 10:12 am: |
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Overnight I see the strategy in this--Keyes is a crazed, unstable loose cannon who will do or say anything. They can use him to run a kamikaze campaign to dirty Obama up or wound him so he limps into the Senate seat and is fair game in 6 years or is turned out of office due to some scandal.
If this bozo is made a candidate and challeneges him to a debate he will have to accept--Keyes is liable to grab him and start wrasslin' |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 945
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 11:29 am: |
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Well, Keyes and a black woman made the final cut in the Repubican selections. The black woman is an attorney and a liberal with a checkered past, and, like Teresa Heinz shoots from the mouth. The conservative branch of the Illinois Republicans rammed Keyes through, and the party is in an uproar. Well, if nothing else, it will be interesting! |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 637
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 04, 2004 - 11:31 am: |
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Chris,
I suspect your views of the purpose of a prospective Keyes' campaign are on point. But Obama appears to be a pretty cool cat. So I don't think Keyes will be able to bait him into showing his proverbial @$$.
Cynique,
These days, labeling one a liberal is now tantamount to calling him Satan. Therefore, Obama very wisely avoided reciting anything that the GOP can easily train their reactionary spiel upon.
Obama's actual politics maybe something else altogether.
As I said before, I would enjoy a face-off between Obama and Keyes, although, if Barak focuses on issues/concerns that are specific to IL, he should prevail over Keyes incendiary rhetoric.
But I hear the IL GOP is also considering running a sistah against Baraka? I hear she's a physician. I also hear she made some gay-bashing jokes at an office party.
Is any of that true?
Man. You kids in IL are just plain kooky!
PS: Your comparing Keyes to a lawn jockey amusing. Are you saying he LOOKS like such? |
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