GOP wooing Keyes to take on Obama

[Walt Starr]

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

<snip>

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-sen03.html

Unfortunately, Illinois law controls who can and cannot get onto a ballot and when they must file by. Under Illinois law, any candidate on the ballot for Senator must be a registered Illinois voter. The deadline for filing is August 26. To register to vote in Illinois, you need to be a resident for thirty days.

Keyes cannot get his name on the ballot because he is past the deadline.

[w13rd0]

1. Well, this is the GOP we're talking about...

...they'll try anything. The "law" isn't a barrier to those that live above it.

[hatrack]

2. ROFLMAO!!!!

Just when you thought they couldn't get any more desperate than Dit-KUH! Alan Keyes?!?!? :wtf:

[Walt Starr]

5. I know

If they keep up this stupidity, the GOP will become a third party in Illinois!

[pmbryant]

7. Well, he is used to losing, at least

:shrug:

Peter

[SoCalDem]

51. Well he is an "acceptable" black person, to them...

BUT it's too late , you LOSERS !!!!

[Beetwasher]

3. Do You Think Keyes Is That Much of a Masochist?

Obama would make mincemeat out of him....

[madrchsod]

4. saw obama yesterday

the republicans don`t have a chance in hell....they should have stuck with ryan

[Walt Starr]

6. At least with Ryan

they could have fixed the blame on a flawed candidate instead of it being obvious the Illinois GOP is a trainwreck.

[Kolesar]

8. I hope they have debates that are televised nationally

This would be a good way of getting real issues in front of the American people. Keyes lives in this religious fantasy world.

[Walt Starr]

9. this could backfire on the GOP on a national level

I actually HOPE they put up Keyes. It would gain national attention because regardless of the outcome, Illinois would be sending up an African-American Senator.

On top of that, it would make Obama even more formidable because he will have beaten a former GOP presidential candidate!

[customerserviceguy]

54. Well, Keyes isn't much of a Presidential candidate

it would be like Arnold Schwartzenegger running against Dennis Kucinich, beating him, and then saying it showed what he could do!

But you're right about one thing, the GOP would do well to let Obama take the IL Senate seat, their hypocracy on sexual matters has already given it to him. But if they don't run anybody serious, they can brand Obama as "untested".

Either way, Obama's going to the Senate, either it will look like a cakewalk, or look like a real victory. If the Repubs are smart, they'll go for the cakewalk scenario, but I wouldn't bet the farm on that.

[IndianaGreen]

10. Alan Keyes is a great powerful speaker

It is the message that Keyes gives that is troublesome:

Abortion is murder. The pro-life agenda is the moral equivalent of being against slavery. Homosexuality is an abomination.

Keyes was too extreme for the GOP in 2000.

[PCIntern]

11. What a great script for a comedy show...

candidates in search of venues. You could have all these character actors who had trouble making the A-List going around, almost like the old TV show Route 66. They would play candidates wh are needed in various parts of the county.

Wotta laff.

[underpants]

12. My demographic fresh hell- I got tons of calls from Keyes in Md.

When I live in Maryland and back in Va. I got tons of calls from the Keyes campaign to volunteer and contribute-I have no idea how they matched up with me.

[LibDemAlways]

13. The repukes are looking

pretty desperate. They'd be better off quietly letting Obama run unopposed.

[Connie_Corleone]

14. Keyes' views are too extreme, even for republicans...

Obama will win in a landslide.

[Walt Starr]

15. If they put Keyes up

I figure Obama will do better than if they let him run unopposed.

Even UberAlles the milkman wwould do better!

[Khephra]

16. Will Keyes wear his sweater again?

:evilgrin:

[HuckleB]

17. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Keyes is no conservative. He's an outright ivory tower extremist.

He's looking for publicity again. And the GOP is goofy enough to give it to him.

Oh me, oh my.

[displacedtexan]

20. I was about to post the same reply, HuckleB!

You beat me to it!

[0rganism]

18. They'd have better luck with Ditka, methinks

So what if Ditka's views are directly comparable to Mussolini's? At least he'd have the name recognition and "leadership resume" that would appeal to fans of Da Bears. And he's legal.

[gratuitous]

19. Funnier and funnier

I hope the GOP feels compelled to pour money into Illinois in a desperate attempt to stop Obama. Every nickel spent in Illinois on a doomed Senate race is another nickel they don't have to spend where it might make a difference.

[jakefrep]

21. Remember,

this is coming from the same GOP that screamed 10 kinds of bloody murder when Hillary Clinton ran for Senate from New York.

[David__77]

22. This lifted my spirits!

Ha! Alan Keyes! How funny! I think it would be a good party-building exercise for the Democrats in Illinois though. Many of the "moderates" would have to cross over.

[Ediacara]

23. Of COURSE he's open to the idea...

....now that the residency deadline has passed and he has no real chance of actually running against Obama and losing....

[leeman67]

24. this just shows how superficial the GOP is...

They only see Obama as a "black candidate", therefore what better way to try and defeat him than to run another black candidate - albeit a far right-wing conservative one - against him. What morons. Say what you will about Democrats taking African American votes for granted. The GOP just thinks they're stupid and will vote based on skin color.

Beware the debates. Keyes is a complete crackpot with extremist views, but he's a very powerful speaker and able debater (sort of a right wing Al Sharpton). Obama should do fine, but he may have to shout above the din.

[Ediacara]

25. Reminds me of "O, Brother, Where Art Thou"

When the O'Danniels campaign thinks about getting a midget to prop up their polling numbers.....

[AlCzervik]

26. Obama will look even better next to Keyes

He's just nasty never mind the fact that he makes no sense at all. Bring him on!

[Cadfael]

27. Here's a scary thing...

I have neighbors that still have "Keyes for President" bumperstickers on their vehicles...and I live in Illinois...
:scared:

[brooklynite]

28. Wasn't Bush also ineligible for the Illinois ballot...

because the Republican Convention is after the Aug 27th deadline? Did the Legislature cave on changing the law?

[yellowcanine]

29. Heh Heh. Does he have ANY connection to Illinois? He has run for Senate

TWICE from Maryland. Yeah, Hillary ran in New York - but at least she had a connection there AND she established residence there and campaigned all over the state in the primary and the general election - not as a last minute add-on. The Illinois Republican Party is the laughingstock of the country. Isn't there ONE Illinois Republican willing to "take a hit" for the party? I hope they try this. I really do. I am laughing my ass off in Maryland.

[yellowcanine]

30. Heh Heh. Does he have ANY connection to Illinois? He has run for Senate

TWICE from Maryland. Yeah, Hillary ran in New York - but at least she had a connection there AND she established residence there and campaigned all over the state in the primary and the general election - not as a last minute add-on. The Illinois Republican Party is the laughingstock of the country. Isn't there ONE Illinois Republican willing to "take a hit" for the party? I hope they try this. I really do. I am laughing my ass off in Maryland.

[CPops57]

31. Keyes is a very strong challenger.....

I wouldn't expect Alan Keyes to beat Obama because the carpet-bagger charge would ultimately harm him, but if Keyes does run I think it will become a fairly tight race.

Like Obama, Keyes is going to receive a lot of support from around the country and I think he'll be able to raise a lot of money. Keyes's rhetoric on equating abortion with murder is the type of red meat stuff a lot of conservatives want to hear. Keyes's speaking style turns off a lot of people, but it also energizes a lot of people.

Even though I disagree with Keyes on a lot of issues, I respect the man as he is consistent with his views and is a helluva good speaker. (even though I disagree with him on a ton of things)

If Keyes does run, the Illinois Senate race will get a lot of national exposure. I like it if Keyes runs. Obama needs to beat a somebody, not a nobody, to become a force in the future.


PS: I really don't think Keyes is chosen simply as a "token black republican". Whatever you think of him, Keyes is one of the stars of the grassroots of the Republican Party as he is a very articulate speaker and very consistent in his conservative views. Its highly unlikely in my mind that they're picking him because of his skin color.

[THX1138]

33. Please

The guys a headcase. A star? What was he elected to again?

[CPops57]

36. I sometimes go and visit some hardcore right wing nutty sites.....

....and those types all seem to love Alan Keyes.

I don't think its incorrect for me to state that Keyes is one of the stars of the grassroots of the Republican party. Keyes might never win an election, but the support by the grassroots is there.

And yes, Keyes views on a lot of issues are abhorrent, but I don't disrespect the man because I find him to be very consistent with his beliefs. I respect his passion on a lot of issues, even though I disagree with him on so many issues.

[Francine Frensky]

46. He's their Al Sharpton, or Jesse Jackson (unelected candidate)

To the GOP, it's all about race. They'd like to see the blacks split.

Obama is more centrist and mainstream than Keyes.

[gasperc]

43. he has to file by august 26th AND be a resident of IL for 30 days

so Keyes credentials for being a super class one A asshole will be bumped up a notch if he and the GOP force a way to change IL law so that this Maryland resident can become IL rep in the Senate. I'm sure Keyes really understands what the residents of IL need. At least Hillary was in New York over a year before the election getting to know voters IN EVERY COUNTY.

[Junkdrawer]

53. [unlikely ] "they're picking him because of his skin color."

In a pigs eye. That's exactly why they're picking him.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

32. Now who is playing the race card? Putting a carpetbagger on the ballot.

[Trajan]

34. Offhand question ...

Who's seat is Obama vying for ?? ... who was the incumbent ? ...

[Walt Starr]

35. Pete Fitzgerald

Retiring REpublican incumbent.

He pissed off the IL GOP leadership so he had no more backing.

[Trajan]

37. So: We have picked up at least ONE Senate seat ? ....

Kewl freekin beans ....

[apnu]

45. yes, welcome to the most exciting election, second only to the president

Obama rocks!

http://www.obamaforillinois.com/ <-- check it out!

[oasis]

39. Fitz should have made more of a stink during the Enron hearings since

the GOP dumped him anyway. In hindsight of course. :shrug:

[0007]

38. Alan Keyes is a great speaker, but a piss poor debater

John Hagee is a good speaker and a man that can think on his feet, but what does he say that hasn't been said before and what can he say without offending the listener.

Allen Keyes affects most folks with a strong feeling of moral aversion.

[CPops57]

41. If I remember correctly, most of the polls from the 2000 GOP debates.....

...said that Keyes won just about every one of them.

Keyes, I'm pretty certain, is a good debater.

He's a solid challenger for Obama.

[0007]

40. Alan Keyes is a great speaker, but a piss poor debater

John Hagee is a good speaker and a man that can think on his feet, but what does he say that hasn't been said before and what can he say without offending the listener.

Allen Keyes affects most folks with a strong feeling of moral aversion.

[0007]

42. Alan Keyes is a great speaker, but a piss poor debater

John Hagee is a good speaker and a man that can think on his feet, but what does he say that hasn't been said before and what can he say without offending the listener.

Allen Keyes affects most folks with a strong feeling of moral aversion.

[0007]

44. Alan Keyes is a great speaker, but a piss poor debater

John Hagee is a good speaker and a man that can think on his feet, but what does he say that hasn't been said before and what can he say without offending the listener.

Allen Keyes affects most folks with a strong feeling of moral aversion.

[Yavin4]

47. Doesn't Alan Keyes Live in Maryland?

How can you move to Ill in Sept. and expect to be elected Senator there. Okay, look at Hillary, but Hillary lived in NY for an entire year before she ran. Moreover, she went on a listening tour of New York before she ran.

[Walt Starr]

48. If he moves to Illinois by September 5

he gets to vote for himself

That's the law.

[demgrrrll]

49. Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall at those meetings? This just

reeks of desperation. They have given up on any moderate candidate and realize the only way to even hope for a turnout of their base is to focus on wedge issues.
Sometimes it is smarter to acknowledge a loss and move on.

[Jack from Charlotte]

55. He ran for office in Md before....

for Senate, If I recall. The GOP would not give him money in support because he took a big salary as a candidate from his own campaign. Something like $300 thousand.

I'd never heard of someone running for office and taking funds as a salary.

[TrogL]

50. Here's how they would do it

Keyes would be "discovered" to have owned property or rented an apartment before the deadline date. The documentation would, of course, be forged.

[Democat]

52. Then the Democrats would need to make sure that Keyes was exposed

As a liar and a cheat.