State Republicans on Keyes
I think it’s safe to say they’re definitely not lining up behind Keyes. In today’s Pantagraph (from Bloomington-Normal) was this report chock full o’ good quotes about what Republicans are saying about their candidate:
- “I’ve got some people who are not real happy that he is from out of state,” said state Sen. Dan Rutherford, a Chenoa Republican. “My response is that it’s done and that we have to move on.”
- “I know that there are those who are disturbed by the fact that he’s not from Illinois,” added McLean County Republican Party Chairman Mike O’Grady of Hudson. “He’s ultra-conservative. There’s not a lot of room for the moderates in there. That will be a struggle in some cases,” added O’Grady.
- State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, said, “Obviously the difficulty is that he is not a resident of Illinois.”
- “A lot of the mainline Republicans in our area would like to have seen somebody who isn’t so far right,” said state Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria. “We’re going to support Alan Keyes and hope for the best.”
- Former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Durkin, a Westchester Republican who lost to incumbent Democrat Dick Durbin in 2002: “I hope he listens more and talks about issues that are going to unite the party instead of divide the party.”
I’m submitting this in the hopes that the sheer quantity of quotes overwhelms Josh in his quest to find the weakest endorsement of Keyes by a state Republican.
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Comments
Overwhelming support for Keyes
Wait, did I say overwhelming? I meant, underwhelming. Don’t you love it when people from your own party say things like: “A lot of the mainline Republicans in our area would like to have seen somebody who isn’t so far…
“I’m the party chairman. What do you think I’m going to do? Vote vegetarian or something?” she said.“C’mon, get serious.”
Judy.
More Keyes, Ahem, Support
Rick has collected some of the more entertaining endorsements, which means I don’t have to. But I’ll ad this one “Alan Keyes will energize a certain base, which is good,” said Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Pontiac, who is laying the groundwork…
I think Keyes was just a convenient fill for the vacant campaign and someone thought he might help bring Republicans some more of the black vote in the Presidential election. I find it ironic when groups that are being exploited think they’re actually being helped. Obviously I’d like to see another seat filled with a Republican, but frankly he and his reparations talk scares the living hell out of me.
Barack seems to have the bearing of a man who could be President one day. I think the interviewer (sorry, can’t remember what show it was… maybe Lou Dobbs on CNN?) had it completely right when he asked Mr. Keyes, “Isn’t it true that you were thrown in the race to bloody Mr. Obama up a bit?” (quote not exactly right either, but you get the idea).
Mr. Obama is sane, straightforward, and clear. Mr. Keyes is insane, confusing, and inflamatory. It seems like the perfect matchup if your purpose is simply to confuse the public and sling some mud.
I would be highly surprised if Barack Obama didn’t run for President within the next 10 to 15 years… unless he’s got some nasty skeletons in the closet or something (then again, if he did then we’d have heard about it already… you can be sure the Republicans have been looking).
I thought that George Stephanopoulos did a very good narrative of the Obama/Keyes race in his “This Week” interviews of Aug 15, 2004. It’s well worth seeking out the video or transcripts from that show.
Jon writes “Mr. Obama is sane, straightforward, and clear. Mr. Keyes is insane, confusing, and inflamatory.” That’s a great sentiment! I agree 100%.
I guess it’s common to be predisposed that politicians must have skeletons in their closet. With Obama, I don’t think anyone should worry. Bill Finnegan (New Yorker, 5/31/04) covered his bio pretty well.
Certainly Keyes will find something that can resonate as a “skeleton” in Obama’s past. Isn’t Keye’s stated raison d’etre to combat Obama’s pro-choice position? If so, I’d look for something related to the abortion debate that Keyes will use to create the impression of impropriety in Obama.
What I think is so amazing is that it appears Keyes is antiethical to much of what conservatives claim to stand for. Keyes is running on race, he doesn’t even pretend to understand or address the needs of the consituents he wants to represent, he supports flat taxation and/or reparations. His arguments are based not on logic, but in emotion and faith.
I just don’t get it.
“I support John Kerry for president because he’s not Bush.” “Anybody but Bush.” “Even a monkey is better suited for President than Bush.”
I have a whole slew of quotes from young, college student liberals across the fruited plane of the Internet.
Democrats are not lining up behind John Kerry either. At least not emotionally. It’s still the ‘Anybody but Bush’ crowd out there in which Rick Klau posted up a message that ‘attacked Bush’ in my request of him to post up a message in ‘Favor of John Kerry.’
Speaker of the House REP. DENNIS HASTERT, (R-IL) on Meet the Press August 8, 2004
MR. RUSSERT: He has obviously a much different view on those issues. But it gives the impression that Barack Obama, a black state senator from Illinois, Democrat, you went to Maryland to find a black to run against the Democratic black.
REP. HASTERT: Well, I tell you what, I was out of town when that happened. That—sure. But I went five levels. I’ve been working for five weeks trying to find a candidate. Here we are.