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August 03, 2004
The Republicans Curious Understanding of Race
News that Alan Keyes is interested in getting in the Illinois GOP race and that Illiniois Republicans even want him is kind of curious. You've got a state that's trending Democratic at the statewide and federal level pretty heavily, and the Democrats have an impressive candidate who is now practically a national figure (who just happens to be black) and the GOP seems to think their ticket to national prominence is to get their own black candidate, even though the candidate they ditched had a pretty impressive record sans his sexual troubles.
A similar thing is going on in Georgia's 8th district, as national party figures line up behind a candidate (Dylan Glenn) whose only accomplishments seem to be that he has managed to work for President Bush and Gov. Perdue in the past 2 years. He seems ambitious, and having worked for both figures in a period of 2 years makes you think that it was more for a resume' pad than a desire to actually stay at either job and achieve anything notable. In fact, since he's been running for Congress unsuccessfully for most of his adult life you have to wonder exactly what achievements he's been able to rack up.
And then welcome to the Georgia (and national) GOP. If you're black and decide you are a Republican, that is an achievement in itself. To many Republicans, more so than taking a chance and running for office in a state that was once solidly Democratic, winning, working to build a sizable minority in the state House, and if you're Lynn Westmoreland (who I'm describing) more or less controlling that same state House in 2003 with a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats.
It's funny, but Repubicans have long talked about how conservative white men are under attack, simply for being white men -- and if you're Lynn Westmoreland, you've got to be feeling that at this moment. The ironic thing for Westmoreland is that he probably never expected who'd be leading that attack. Other conservative white men, who see the demographic changes underway and know the only way they can stay in charge is by stepping on their own every once in a while.
It's a good year to be Dylan Glenn. In one week he may be on his way to the US Congress despite having no significant achievements under his belt. And even if that doesn't work out next Tuesday, it's hard to imagine that the next time he decides to run for something (maybe Congress again, maybe Lt. Governor) the playing field won't be cleared in advance.
Posted by Chris at August 3, 2004 11:43 AM
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