ALAN KEYES, MR. RADIOACTIVE

Realclearpolitics.com ^ | 10-11-04

[SJackson]

Monday, October 11 2004
ALAN KEYES, MR. RADIOACTIVE: Just how bad is Alan Keyes doing in the Illinois Senate race? Let's just say it's hard to imagine him doing any worse. In the three latest polls taken during the past week, Keyes is drawing between 20-24% of the vote while Obama is pushing close to 70%.

To be fair, this was never really about Alan Keyes beating Barack Obama. The minute Jack Ryan dropped out of the race the GOP strategy shifted from winning to trying to field a credible challenger who could do two things: 1) keep Obama occupied and 2) run strong throughout the state to protect down-ballot Republicans from getting swamped. Keyes is failing miserably at both.

Today's Washington Post reports that Obama is so unconcerned with the threat being posed by Alan Keyes that he's now touring the country raising money and campaigning on behalf of John Kerry and other Democrats:

In the past week, Obama has mailed checks totaling $260,000 to Senate candidates in 13 states, including $53,000 to the do-or-die campaign of Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (S.D.). He donated $100,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and $150,000 to party organizations in key states, including Florida, Wisconsin and Colorado.

Carrying his verbal assault on President Bush beyond state lines, Obama will fly to Los Angeles this week for a Democratic fundraiser and address rallies in Colorado and Nevada for John F. Kerry. In a close presidential race where turnout could prove decisive, Obama said in an interview that he is talking with Kerry advisers about where he can be most effective in the campaign's final days.

"Turnout is huge," Obama said after a Saturday morning rally in the hard-fought presidential battleground of Wisconsin. "If there are selective things that we can do that can be helpful, then we want to do them. The Kerry people are still making determinations as to what states remain in play. Safe to say we will probably have a couple more travel days this month."

Back in Illinois, Keyes is operating in complete isolation. He's alienated almost all of the Republican party operatives throughout the state, starting with his wild-eyed rhetoric about Barack Obama's pro-abortion stance (the "slaveholders'" position, similar to a terrorist, etc) and his attack on Dick Cheney's gay daughter (Keyes called Mary Cheney a "selfish hedonist").

Many members of the Illinois delegation, including the Chairperson of the Party, Judy Baar Topinka, condemned Keyes remarks as "idiotic" and called on him to apologize. (To make matters worse, rumors have been swirling about the sexual preference of Keyes' own daughter for a couple of weeks now. Keyes has refused to comment)

This is how bad it has become: the other night at a GOP fund raising dinner Keyes caused a stir by showing up unannounced - but more importantly, I was told, uninvited. At the dinner a sitting member Congress, speaking semi-privately to the guests at one of the tables, jokingly referred to Keyes as a "lunatic." Everyone at the table laughed and shook their heads in agreement.

The damage Keyes is doing to the GOP in Illinois, however, is no laughing matter. He will be lucky to win 25% of the vote in November and he's become not only a drag on the ballot for Republicans but a weapon for Democrats.

I'll give you a quick example. Beth Coulson is the State Senator from my district. She's a moderate Republican in a moderate to left-leaning district and always a top target of the Democrats. Here's a copy of the latest flier from the Illinois Democratic Party:

Keyes may very well cost Beth Coulson her seat, and perhaps a few others as well. And on November 3rd Alan Keyes will be sitting comfortably on a plane back to Maryland and the Illinois GOP will be in a bigger hole than they were in before Keyes arrived to help dig.

MOTHER TERESA: Can't resist this blurb on Teresa Heinz Kerry from Friday's Tucson Citizen:

In the middle of her [Heinz Kerry's] speech, Bush supporters chimed in with a chant of "four more years." Kerry supporters countered with "four more weeks."

Heinz Kerry told the Bush supporters, "I respect your positions, but you must have manners."

Adele Conover, 54, a science writer and Kerry supporter who had backed Howard Dean, described Heinz Kerry's talk as "sensational."

"She treated them like they were children," she said of how Heinz Kerry talked to the Bush supporters.

Those Bush supporters are just so uncouth, aren't they Teresa?

[SJackson]

I can't disagree with anything you've said. Of course by stating the obvious, that Alan Keyes is a HORRIBLE candidate, you're now a "girlie guy" per some of his supporters. Soon Alan and the folk will be back in Maryland whining about the "girlie guy" RINOs in Illinois who just couldn't understand greatness. He'll run again, kind of like Harold Stassen, without any political victories to his credit of course.

[OHelix]

I remember that. From what I remember, it was not necessarily "illeagal", but was strongly frowned upon and will arguably be a huge black eye on any subsequent campaign... although I haven't heard much about it this time around. I'm sure he wishes he had never done it.

[Endeavor]

I'm voting for Keyes only because I cannot, in good conscience, not vote, period - I don't think it's right to look the other way. I can't just pass even though I find Keyes an amazingly inferior candidate. I will fight to the end. After all, I'm a Texan.

Remember The Alamo!

[pete anderson]

I wonder when President Bush will be jetting to Chicago for a joint appearance with Amb. Keyes?

[Endeavor]

Actually, I'm a "girlie-girl" and I don't care what the Keyes supporters say.

[SJackson]

Actually, I'm a "girlie-girl" and I don't care what the Keyes supporters say.

Best kind :>)

[EternalVigilance]

He takes money for running his mouth at a campaign event.

Another lie.

[EternalVigilance]

President Bush has a JOB.

So did Ambassador Keyes, which is what you originally criticized him for...calling him 'on the dole' during that service.

Newbie trolls do have trouble keeping track of what they write from post to post...

[mountaineer]

Harold Stassen - you may be on to something! LOL

[outlawcam]

For defaming the vice president's daughter and being a general nuisance to the entire country.

Your premises are faulty. He did not defame the vice president's daughter, and I doubt very seriously he is a "nuisance" to anyone except maybe the landlord that won't fix the hot water.

Of course, you and I would probably disagree about whether or not being a hedonist is a defamation. Being a libertarian, I presume you've read more about philosophy than most people, so you should know this. Were you aware that Keyes didn't even invoke Mary Cheney's name, in the quote that is most often ascribed to him?

Also, were you aware that Keyes does not favor sodomy laws or laws that require that law enforcement officials violate the Constitution in the WOD, like the current WOD does?

[quidnunc]

Illinois no longer has straight-ticket voting; each candidate must be voted for individually.

This will depress Keyes' total even further.

A number of Republicans of my acquaintence are going to write in either Jim Oberweiss or Steve Rauschenberger.

[SJackson]

Illinois no longer has straight-ticket voting; each candidate must be voted for individually.

Thank you for reminding me of that. He could do that poorly.

[SJackson]

Win or lose, there is an internal political bloodbath on its way within our party. Count on it.

Our party? Does that mean Alan is staying in Illinois if he loses?

How about you? Staying, or are happy trails calling?

[EternalVigilance]

What do you care? Looking for more ammo to attack conservatives?

[EternalVigilance]

A number of Republicans of my acquaintence are going to write in either Jim Oberweiss or Steve Rauschenberger.

Have you tried to dissuade them from such foolishness?

[quidnunc]

EternalVigilance wrote: (A number of Republicans of my acquaintence are going to write in either Jim Oberweiss or Steve Rauschenberger.) Have you tried to dissuade them from such foolishness?

Nope.

[EternalVigilance]

Unreal.

Hard to understand how so many could act in such a juvenile and suicidal fashion.

[SJackson]

What do you care? Looking for more ammo to attack conservatives?

Right, that's it.

[EternalVigilance]

Yeah, I figured.