In a flabbergasting revelation today, the Illinois GOP virtually assured that Illinois' vacant Senate seat would be occupied by a Black person. After an embarrasing stumble through wishful thinking (Mike Ditka), their choices have narrowed to Andrea Barthwell (a former deputy drug czar) and conservative talk show host Alan Keyes. Never mind that Keyes doesn't live in Illinois and hasn't even had the chance to meet with the GOP there. Apparently. his most compelling qualification is that he's Black.
I can't decide what's more insulting to Illinois voters: that they would prop up a candidate from another state or that they feel voters might confuse the two candidates on the basis of their color. Keyes is a fringe player. In all of his runs for state and national office, he has been marginalized by conservative candidates whose message is less strident and more centrist. He is a talented speaker, but how many voters share his extreme views? How many can depend on him to bend and represent THEIR interests as opposed to his hard right wing stance on nearly every social issue?
Dr. Andrea Barthwell is another matter. A highly respected physician, she served in the office of Drug Policy for the Bush administration. Of course, she was also called to the carpet for sexual harassment against a male co-worker after making "lewd and suggestive" remarks about his sexuality. Although the matter was resolved amicably, the report "almost uniformly stated their fear and discomfort with what they consider to be unusual behavior patterns and displays of temper."
Great... we have our choice of homophobes for the open seat. I lived in Illinois during my high school years and think that great state deserves better. That the GOP has resorted to base racial tactics speaks volumes about their brand of compasionate conservatism. Where's their vaunted "moral center" now.
I can't decide what's more insulting to Illinois voters: that they would prop up a candidate from another state or that they feel voters might confuse the two candidates on the basis of their color. Keyes is a fringe player. In all of his runs for state and national office, he has been marginalized by conservative candidates whose message is less strident and more centrist. He is a talented speaker, but how many voters share his extreme views? How many can depend on him to bend and represent THEIR interests as opposed to his hard right wing stance on nearly every social issue?
Dr. Andrea Barthwell is another matter. A highly respected physician, she served in the office of Drug Policy for the Bush administration. Of course, she was also called to the carpet for sexual harassment against a male co-worker after making "lewd and suggestive" remarks about his sexuality. Although the matter was resolved amicably, the report "almost uniformly stated their fear and discomfort with what they consider to be unusual behavior patterns and displays of temper."
Great... we have our choice of homophobes for the open seat. I lived in Illinois during my high school years and think that great state deserves better. That the GOP has resorted to base racial tactics speaks volumes about their brand of compasionate conservatism. Where's their vaunted "moral center" now.
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