Sam Bridges
The one reason I'm glad Alan Keyes is running
By Sam Bridges
The press and media have been filled lately with news and commentary about Alan Keyes being selected as the Republican candidate from Illinois for the U.S. Senate. The previous candidate, Jack Ryan, withdrew from the race in June after embarrassing allegations surfaced about his sex life. As far as I can tell, this race to fill the Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Senator Peter Fitzgerald (Rep.) is second only to the Presidential race in the attention it is receiving and how it acts as a lightning rod for political discussion and argument.
Alan Keyes is a Republican. I like that. Alan Keyes is a conservative. I like that, too. Alan Keyes strongly believes and tirelessly works to return the United States to her founding principles and constitutional roots, as evidenced by his organizations RenewAmerica and Declaration Foundation. I really like that. Alan Keyes is an evangelical Christian. I love that. Like every other Christian, he's not perfect, but he grounds his life and his life's work on the Word of God and his relationship with Jesus Christ.
So why on earth would I not be completely thrilled that Alan Keyes is now the Republican candidate from Illinois for the U.S. Senate?
I'm not particularly happy about Ambassador Keyes' candidacy in Illinois because it contradicts the whole concept of elected representatives being from the area they are representing and being intimately familiar with the concerns, issues, and beliefs of their constituency. Illinois state law apparently allows a candidate to become a citizen only by Election Day. Keyes himself criticized Hillary Clinton of doing something similar for a U.S. Senate seat for New York in 2000, even though the situation and the motivation are quite different. Ms. Clinton's "seat-shopping" (as Tony Snow of FOXNews calls it) appeared to be just that and nothing more. Alan Keyes is at least trying to replace a candidate who withdrew from the race and certainly he has higher and nobler motivations than merely "seat-shopping." But we will all suffer as media outlets incessantly play the sound bite where Keyes is quoted as saying, "I deeply resent the destruction of federalism represented by Hillary Rodham Clinton's willingness to go into a state she doesn't even live in and represent people there. So I certainly wouldn't imitate it." Ouch. That's gonna hurt.
According to the Daily Southtown, Keyes has apparently already decided where his Illinois residence will be. He has chosen Calumet City, a southeastern suburb of Chicago adjacent to the state line with Indiana. While his new neighbors are amused and befuddled by his choice of one of the poorest blocks in this economically-challenged suburb, they also express hope about his choice of a residence and respect him for it.
Dan Proft, a Keyes campaign aide, is quoted as saying, "We were looking for a place in a working-class community in a neighborhood that was racially diverse so that Alan could get a feel for some of the challenges facing regular working people in Illinois." Furthermore, Proft said, "With the south suburbs of Cook County facing unique challenges, maybe more acutely than other parts of the state, it seemed like a perfect place to go." Keyes also wanted to assimilate into a region with a strong religious affiliation. Alan Keyes is already making good, solid statements and choices on tough issues and decisions.
So why am I glad Alan Keyes is running for the U.S. Senate seat from Illinois? While Keyes has very little chance of defeating the heavily favored Obama, I am thrilled with his candidacy for one reason and one reason only. This reason far outweighs any complaints or problems I might otherwise have with his candidacy.
Because of his character and his passion, Alan Keyes will be able to bring critical constitutional, social, cultural, and spiritual issues to the forefront of this race and will force them into the minds of all Illinoisans. Alan Keyes is a brilliant author and speaker and his presence in this race will require these issues to be publicly discussed and debated not only by his opponent, but by the citizens of the state, as well. While Barack Obama will still likely succeed in this race, he will no longer have the easy, free ride to the U.S. Senate that Ryan's withdrawal potentially afforded him. I, for one, think the Democratic platform is a pitiful excuse for a platform. It is filled with flimsy assertions couched in painfully obvious double-speak and euphemism. And now Obama will no longer be able to peddle this Democratic "platform" free from dispute and confrontation. Ambassador Keyes will force explanation and reveal dangerous ambiguity for what it really is. He has already started.
This Senate race will be a difficult, uphill battle, at best. In some ways, Alan Keyes seems like the least likely candidate for this race. But in many other ways...matters of constitutional significance...and more importantly, matters with truly eternal substance...Alan Keyes seems to be the perfect candidate. For that, I am incredibly thankful he is the Republican candidate from Illinois.
For more information about or to support Alan Keyes' campaign, visit his campaign website.
© Sam Bridges
The press and media have been filled lately with news and commentary about Alan Keyes being selected as the Republican candidate from Illinois for the U.S. Senate. The previous candidate, Jack Ryan, withdrew from the race in June after embarrassing allegations surfaced about his sex life. As far as I can tell, this race to fill the Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Senator Peter Fitzgerald (Rep.) is second only to the Presidential race in the attention it is receiving and how it acts as a lightning rod for political discussion and argument.
Alan Keyes is a Republican. I like that. Alan Keyes is a conservative. I like that, too. Alan Keyes strongly believes and tirelessly works to return the United States to her founding principles and constitutional roots, as evidenced by his organizations RenewAmerica and Declaration Foundation. I really like that. Alan Keyes is an evangelical Christian. I love that. Like every other Christian, he's not perfect, but he grounds his life and his life's work on the Word of God and his relationship with Jesus Christ.
So why on earth would I not be completely thrilled that Alan Keyes is now the Republican candidate from Illinois for the U.S. Senate?
I'm not particularly happy about Ambassador Keyes' candidacy in Illinois because it contradicts the whole concept of elected representatives being from the area they are representing and being intimately familiar with the concerns, issues, and beliefs of their constituency. Illinois state law apparently allows a candidate to become a citizen only by Election Day. Keyes himself criticized Hillary Clinton of doing something similar for a U.S. Senate seat for New York in 2000, even though the situation and the motivation are quite different. Ms. Clinton's "seat-shopping" (as Tony Snow of FOXNews calls it) appeared to be just that and nothing more. Alan Keyes is at least trying to replace a candidate who withdrew from the race and certainly he has higher and nobler motivations than merely "seat-shopping." But we will all suffer as media outlets incessantly play the sound bite where Keyes is quoted as saying, "I deeply resent the destruction of federalism represented by Hillary Rodham Clinton's willingness to go into a state she doesn't even live in and represent people there. So I certainly wouldn't imitate it." Ouch. That's gonna hurt.
According to the Daily Southtown, Keyes has apparently already decided where his Illinois residence will be. He has chosen Calumet City, a southeastern suburb of Chicago adjacent to the state line with Indiana. While his new neighbors are amused and befuddled by his choice of one of the poorest blocks in this economically-challenged suburb, they also express hope about his choice of a residence and respect him for it.
Dan Proft, a Keyes campaign aide, is quoted as saying, "We were looking for a place in a working-class community in a neighborhood that was racially diverse so that Alan could get a feel for some of the challenges facing regular working people in Illinois." Furthermore, Proft said, "With the south suburbs of Cook County facing unique challenges, maybe more acutely than other parts of the state, it seemed like a perfect place to go." Keyes also wanted to assimilate into a region with a strong religious affiliation. Alan Keyes is already making good, solid statements and choices on tough issues and decisions.
So why am I glad Alan Keyes is running for the U.S. Senate seat from Illinois? While Keyes has very little chance of defeating the heavily favored Obama, I am thrilled with his candidacy for one reason and one reason only. This reason far outweighs any complaints or problems I might otherwise have with his candidacy.
Because of his character and his passion, Alan Keyes will be able to bring critical constitutional, social, cultural, and spiritual issues to the forefront of this race and will force them into the minds of all Illinoisans. Alan Keyes is a brilliant author and speaker and his presence in this race will require these issues to be publicly discussed and debated not only by his opponent, but by the citizens of the state, as well. While Barack Obama will still likely succeed in this race, he will no longer have the easy, free ride to the U.S. Senate that Ryan's withdrawal potentially afforded him. I, for one, think the Democratic platform is a pitiful excuse for a platform. It is filled with flimsy assertions couched in painfully obvious double-speak and euphemism. And now Obama will no longer be able to peddle this Democratic "platform" free from dispute and confrontation. Ambassador Keyes will force explanation and reveal dangerous ambiguity for what it really is. He has already started.
This Senate race will be a difficult, uphill battle, at best. In some ways, Alan Keyes seems like the least likely candidate for this race. But in many other ways...matters of constitutional significance...and more importantly, matters with truly eternal substance...Alan Keyes seems to be the perfect candidate. For that, I am incredibly thankful he is the Republican candidate from Illinois.
For more information about or to support Alan Keyes' campaign, visit his campaign website.
© Sam Bridges
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
