The latest political news — Alan Keyes possibly running as the Republican Senate candidate in Illinois — has almost incalculable consequences for American politics.
The latest political news — Alan Keyes possibly running as the Republican Senate candidate in Illinois — has almost incalculable consequences for American politics. There are few times when everyone conservative in America has a legitimate, absolute and compelling interest to act, and to act now, but this is just such a case.
Black conservatives are treated abominably by the Left. Dr. Thomas Sowell is the most brilliant social thinker and one of the best writers alive today. Where are his Nobel prizes? Where are the accolades that an intellectual giant of his stature merits?
Alan Keyes is the most brilliant public speaker in American politics today. Anyone who has listened to him debate an issue or argue a point can only honestly compare his eloquence to President Reagan, who elevated Keyes to national prominence. There is no political candidate in America today who could hold his own with Alan Keyes in a debate.
Alan Keyes is also a man with no skeletons in his closets. Twenty years of picking, probing and pummeling have left his reputation untarnished and his head unbowed. His religious faith, like that of former Congressman J.C. Watts, is sincere and very clear. Expect his candidacy in Illinois to bring celebrities like Reggie White, Mike Ditka and J.C. Watts to help him win the black vote.
His candidacy would also focus attention on Illinois, a state which is the most likely to give Democrats a Senate pickup and which is indispensable to a Democrat presidential victory. If Keyes beats Barack Obama, as he would in a debate, then it would not only preserve a Republican Senate seat, but it could easily put Illinois in play.
Would simply being a modern Cicero be enough to elect Keyes? Possibly. Keyes has run before in more liberal and more Democrat Maryland and lost, but Illinois has a strong Republican half — it is much more evenly divided than Maryland — and his very selection would insure a number of talk show appearances during which he could only shine.
Moreover, nominating a black Republican would make Democrat fear-mongering in south Chicago and other predominately black areas of Illinois look silly. Even more importantly, suburban moderates who prefer to have a black Senator, but who found Senator Fitzgerald's predecessor or the Democrat nominee morally repugnant, could be giving the appealing choice of electing a black man who is brilliant, honorable and respectable.
An Alan Keyes victory would also devastate the odious Jackson machine in Chicago and weaken the Daley organization. Disheartened by a bad Republican governor two years ago and then a Senate candidate tainted with scandal, Keyes could enable Republicans to regain the moral high ground in Illinois.
Keyes could also be worked into the Republican Convention — as was Barack Obama — and Americans would be given an opportunity to compare the two. His selection as the Republican nominee would add spice to a Republican Convention that already promises to have much more diversity — Schwarzenegger, Miller, Giuliani — than the Democrat Convention.
If Keyes won, he could be one of the biggest stars in a big Republican All-American team. Four years from now, Republicans will be looking for both a presidential and a vice presidential candidate. Senator Keyes, particularly if he was genuinely popular in his home state of Illinois, would be an almost irresistible candidate for the ticket.
He might be able to deliver Illinois in the election; he would be the first black American to be nominated by a major political party; and he would vivisect his opponent in the presidential or, more likely, vice presidential debate.
Still, Alan Keyes may well say no. Why? Because he, understandably, feels slighted by fellow conservatives. Here is an opportunity to both show our thanks to Ambassador Keyes and to dramatically help our common cause against Leftism. Let a national groundswell of support come from conservatives for Keyes. Let him know how much we want him and we need him.
bwalker2004@cox.net
http://www.amazon.com/Sinisterism-Secular-Religion-Revised-Updated/dp/1432705466
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