A few editorials in the Trib this morning. From
Clarence Page:
Marriage is for those seeking "procreation," Keyes said, not merely "pleasure." That automatically excludes homosexuals, he says, since they cannot procreate.
To which I responded with wonder, does this mean regular heterosexual marriages are no longer valid if they don't produce offspring?
How about a special waiver for adoption?
And, if adoption is OK, could marriage be allowed for the tens of thousands of gay and lesbian couples who, despite Keyes' personal horror, have successfully raised adopted children? Just asking.
And on the nature of the campaign:
There's a larger lesson here for President Bush's campaign. His chief political adviser Karl Rove is widely reported to have urged Bush to motivate the estimated 4 million evangelical voters who stayed home in 2000. Smart politicians always rally their base. But, as Keyes' misadventures illustrate, running too hard to your party's extreme wing can cost you plenty in the middle.
From
John Kass:
Mr. Keyes is not my cup of chai. He's always the smartest guy in the room and something in his nature compels him to prove it, with long-winded, reedy lectures. But his position opposing gay marriage, and the reasons for it, are held by many millions and grounded firmly in Judeo-Christian teaching. And I'm not willing to condemn millions of Roman Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, and Jews for their faith simply because his delivery is angry, caustic and selfish, causing him to forget something else in the Bible, that part spoken by a gentle and perfect spirit, about loving thy neighbor.
I am willing, though, to condemn him for something--he's a selfish loon.
And
one more:
If anything, the carpetbagger issue is the least of Keyes' worries. His bombastic statements, often revealing little local knowledge and no desire to learn, go to the heart of his candidacy.
Alan Keyes is not in the race to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate. He's in the race to represent himself, whether for a talk radio or television job or some high-paying speaking engagements once Nov. 3 rolls around.
