Illinois: Keyes v. Obama

The Senate race in Illinois has taken a startling turn with the Republicans putting up Alan Keyes as their guy. (GOP leader Dennis Hastert denies being involved in the selection of an out-of-state Black candidate to go up against the popular Barak Obama. Hastert claims he was "out of town" when that decision was made).

Keyes is a self-described conservative. He ran and lost--twice--for Senate in his state of Maryland and for the presidential nomination. Now he's moving to Illinois to see if he can win there. Even after he criticized Hillary Clinton for moving to New York to run for Senate in 2000. Despite the appearance of hypocrisy, Keyes says that he's not running for personal ambition like Hillary.

Today, Keyes accused Obama, who is also black, of taking a "slaveholder's position" regarding abortion. Keyes' simplified argument is that because Obama voted for allowing abortions in the state of Illinois, Obama defies the Declaration of Independence because he doesn't give any value to the inalienable rights of the fetus.

Obama replied (as quoted by USA Today), Keyes "should look to members of his own party to see if that's appropriate if he's going to use that kind of language."

The irony of Obama's reply is that he subtly jabs Keyes for being mastered by Republican leaders. Whether intended or not, Obama's response was politically brilliant. He has time and again taken the high road in lieu of mud-slinging. He welcomed Keyes to the race and asked him to make the contest issue-oriented, not based on personal attacks.

What's clear in this: Keyes will attack Obama much like he has done on Day 1 of the campaign when he implied Obama a slave for supporting a woman's right to choose. Meanwhile, Keyes undoubtedly has been called an Uncle Tom for his positions and willingness to do the Republicans' bidding as a token black candidate.

But beyond the potential for ugliness in politics with Keyes levying insults and making personal attacks, there is some good to come of this.

By putting ultra-conservative, out-of-the-mainstream Keyes into the race, Illinois will elect Barack Obama to the US Senate in November.