Alan Keyes represents the base of ...

[carpe diem]

the neoconservative movement. He is in lockstep with George Bush on most issues. Yet he is getting pasted in unprecedented fashion by Obama in Illinois. I think the difference between what's happening in Illinois versus the presidential election is the difference between the national media and local media outlets.

The national media is so cowed by the administration and the right-wing attack machinery, that they will help them disseminate their lies and distortions, where as, local media outlets are more inclined to exposed the misrepresentations and reveal the truth rather that play the "views differ" game.

It also shows that a Democrat, even a liberal Democrat, can appeal to middle of the road and even conservative voters, if he has a sense of integrity and core values and sticks to them, rather than bending over backwards to accomodate the big, bad Republicans.

That is the lesson of what's happening to John Kerry. Instead of standing on his principals and what he knew to be true, he tried to make a political calculation on the IWR, thinking ahead to his presidential campaign and now they are using that very vote to kick his ass as a flip, flopper with no integrity or core values.

Check out the Chicagot Tribune article below. I hope that Obama will be a model for other Democrats and Liberal Democrats running for office. Giving in to the Republicans does not help your cause, they will use your very acquiescence to beat you over the head at election time. If you stand up to them, they will at least respect you.



http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/specials/elections/chi-0409260539sep26,1,5009474.story?coll=chi-news-hed


Reeling from scandal and election defeats, the Illinois GOP is locked in an ideological civil war the Republican right blames on a party leadership that has strayed from core beliefs and values.

But a Tribune/WGN-TV poll of Republican voters in the state suggests it may be the most conservative elements of the party who are out of step.

While the right wing is dismayed by the direction of the party under moderate state GOP Chairman Judy Baar Topinka, most Republican voters in the state are happy with her leadership, the survey found. In addition, the poll shows most Republicans are not consumed by the socially conservative causes championed by the party's right.

Although some on the GOP right insist party candidates should focus on issues such as abortion and gun-owners' rights, most Republicans surveyed rank those topics at the bottom of their list of concerns. In fact, when asked to list the traditional Republican issue that they cared most about, almost one-third said military defense--far more than for any other topic.

That disconnect between the moral crusade of the Republican right and the party's mainstream may be one key reason why the party's decision to import fiery conservative talk show host Alan Keyes as its U.S. Senate candidate appears headed toward electoral disaster.

Keyes, who has seized on a strategy of being deliberately provocative in promoting a religiously focused agenda, was trailing Democrat Barack Obama in a Tribune/WGN-TV poll last month by 41 percentage points. But Obama's already commanding lead has now grown to 51 points, according to another Tribune poll that surveyed a cross-section of all Illinois voters.

[chelsea0011]

1. Keyes is a "dog and poney" show. He is nothing to American politics.

[napi21]

3. I even heard a Pub yesterday say that they could lose local seats

because of Keys. I don't remember who this was, but he was talking about how much of shame it would be to lose good people (in the state legislature I think) because people are so upset with Keys.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

4. Doesn't it tell the repugs anything

When the GOT (new name for the GOP - hence forth I will refer to them as Gang of Thugs) says that Keyes is the BEST candidate they have for Illinois - and he is from Maryland? Keyes is their best? Lordy, lordy what on earth do they have that is the worst? BoyGeorge, of course.

[chelsea0011]

8. And that is the question

It says a lot that they would pick this clown to run. They know he has no chance and is even a pain in the ass in his own party, but he has that hard core Christian Coalition crowd behind him. It sounds like a bone for them to solidify the base.

[whistle]

2. Alan Keyes is a political hack who is being rewarded at the moment....

...by the neo-cons. When they get what they want, Keyes will be ejected and sent to the dish-room of the republican country clubs where he will learn his place. Too bad Keyes is so blind to the republican apartheid attitude and how it will affect him over time.

[mopinko]

5. i ALMOST feel sorry for the guy

i am sure he would not be taking the shellacing that he is if he were white. but he is sure enough reaping what his stupidity has sown.

[Radical Activist]

6. Keyes is an easier target than Bush

so the media isn't afraid to badmouth Keyes. Keyes can't get away with a lot of the BS that Bush gets a pass on.

You're completely right that conviction politics works. That was the Paul Simon/Paul Wellstone/Barak Obama path to success, even in close elections. Look at all the people supporting Bush just because they think he sticks to his guns. It isn't true but he acts like he does. Democrats would win more votes if they did that instead of trying to look safe and moderate.

[dogman]

7. Being a consumer of local media, I don't believe the comparison

holds water. Keyes is actually given a large amount of free publicity. The media would like the race to tighten to give them a story. The larger difference has been the corruption in state politics. The GOP has inflicted their will with such disdain for the people for so long, they have lost credibility. Their admitted reason for bringing in Keyes was the free publicity it would generate and the incitement of the fundy B$$$ base. There is also a rumored rift in the GOP to see who will dominate, the extreme RW or the moderate RW. It is my impression that the average GOPer feels their process has been hijacked and some seek revenge. They may vote Libertarian or not at all.