The politics of tokenism - Repubs made bad mistake with Alan Keyes

[HuckleB]

The politics of tokenism - The Republicans have made a bad mistake in pitting Alan Keyes against Barack Obama

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3084427

"THREE weeks ago in Boston, the Democrats witnessed the birth of a new black star in Barack Obama, their candidate for the open Senate seat in Illinois. Now the Republicans have conjured up a black star of their own to do battle with the self-described skinny guy with an odd name. Alan Keyes, talk-show host, holy-roller social conservative, Maryland resident and sometime presidential candidate, will take Mr Obama on.

The thinking behind this is beguiling in its simplicity: the Democrats have a black man who can give a rafter-raising speech, so we had better find a rafter-raising black man too. Beguiling, but stupid. Mr Keyes's Senate run will produce nothing but disaster—humiliation for Mr Keyes, more pie on the face of the already pie-covered Illinois Republican Party, and yet another setback for Republican efforts to woo minority voters.

Mr Keyes's problems start with his personality. The Republicans' new champion is the very opposite of cool. In 1996 he chained himself to the front door of a television station in Atlanta, Georgia, to protest against a decision to exclude him from a presidential debate (he was then mounting the first of his two bids for the presidency). His speeches can certainly be eloquent. But they can also be intemperate and plain weird, particularly on the subject of gays.

..."

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3084427

[qwlauren35]

1. Given that Republicans put up with Bush...

It sounds like they'll be happy with Keyes...

[tom_paine]

2. Great article!

[ColdWarZoomie]

3. I was Surprised

I thought the GOP was going to give up and let Obama run unopposed. To me, that would have been the best strategy since they could say he was basically "given" the senate seat and really didn't earn it fair and square. We would have then heard lines about how any Tom, Dick or Jane could get a senate seat unopposed and incessant questions about him really being a rising star.

Good thing they went the stupid route and now we can say without doubt that our guy TROUNCED Keyes fair and square.

[Rich Hunt]

4. a possibility

Maybe the 'moderate' Illinois GOP-ers just want to do away with right-wing designs on the state & its GOP.

Just a thought. They won't be sniffing around ever again after this embarrassment.

[hatrack]

5. This pretty much said it all for me:

"(Obama) is also a rising national star, with unrivalled support from the national party, while Mr Keyes is a serial failure."

That's it in a nutshell - so to speak.