Update (8/5/04): Illinois Republicans pick Keyes.
Things are getting curiouser and curiouser, Alice.
The U.S. Senate race in Illinois is taking on intriguing possibilities. The Democrats’ new “weapon” is Barack Obama, who some people seem to believe is different from all the other liberals, will be facing either Alan Keyes or Andrea Barthwell, both of whom are black and Republican. According to Keyes’s web site, the Illinois GOP’s vote is going to be a close one.
Barthwell is the former Deputy Director for Demand Reduction in the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Most people have probably heard of Alan Keyes, who I think is the better choice. Barnwell has a brewing scandal to deal with at the moment.
In front of her staff, Andrea Grubb Barthwell made repeated comments about the sexual orientation of a staff member and used a kaleidoscope to make sexually offensive gestures, according to the findings of a March 19, 2003, “hostile workplace memorandum” prepared by drug policy office staff. The Associated Press obtained the memorandum.
We don’t need that right now.
So far, there have been four black U.S. senators: three Republicans and one Democrat. Will Republicans continue leading the way, or will Democrats soon get their male counterpart to Carol Moseley Braun? We’ll see. In the meantime, complete your history lesson:
Republicans
Hiram Rhodes Revels (in the photo — he looks so dignified, doesn’t it?)
Democrat
