The Debate Debates

By vouchey in News on Aug 11, 2004 3:42PM

There is one reason why Alan Keyes was a great choice for U.S. Senate nominee by the Illinois Republican Party: The debates should be a lot of fun. Democratic Senate Nominee, Barack Obama is a thoughtful and excellent speaker, and Alan Keyes is a master of flourishing statements. But when Obama was matched up against the lesser speaker, former GOP nominee (and sex clubber) Jack Ryan, he called for six debates. Now, Obama only wants three.

And so the rhetoric heats up. From Keyes:

"When he's facing Jack Ryan, he was Abraham Lincoln," Keyes said. "When he was facing an empty chair, possibly he was Muhammad Ali.

"Well here I am, chosen by the state party. I step into the ring and what happens? Well, all of a sudden he is running out of the ring, looking for the ropes, sizing up the number of exits."

And from the other corner:

"He's coming off of two failed senate races in his own state, as well as two failed presidential races, so my understanding is that when Muhammad Ali was making some of his statements, he hadn't already lost four times."