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You gotta be kidding me.

Alan Keyes’ calamitous U.S. Senate bid in 2004 became a focal point Thursday in the Republican race for lieutenant governor when two of the contenders argued over who was more responsible for importing the Maryland conservative.

During a forum before the Tribune’s editorial board, Steve Rauschenberger, one of the contenders for lieutenant governor, said GOP governor candidate Judy Baar Topinka was to blame for Keyes’ candidacy because she was head of the state Republican Party at the time. But Topinka’s running mate, Joseph Birkett, noted Rauschenberger was one of the first to push Keyes’ name as a candidate. […]

But Birkett, DuPage County’s state’s attorney, said Rauschenberger was instrumental in suggesting Keyes to his good friend and state central committee member, state Sen. Dave Syverson of Rockford. Rauschenberger later employed top Keyes’ campaign staff members for his now discarded bid for governor.

“To blame Judy for all the problems of the party is just unfair. It’s just unfair, Steve,” Birkett said. “And she is not to blame for Alan Keyes or a lot of the other problems with this party.”

Later, Rauschenberger attempted to distance himself from Keyes, saying he only suggested his name but had no involvement in the campaign. He acknowledged, however, that he donated $500 to Keyes’ campaign and publicly supported him.

This isn’t the first time that Rauschenberger has tried to put some distance between himself and the 27 percent solution.

Here is one from December.

You’d think he’d give up on this subject by now.

Shortly after Keyes was recruited by conservatives, the Tribune wrote:

Keyes’ entered the race only within the last few days as state Sen. Dave Syverson of Rockford and state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger of Elgin pushed for Keyes’ nomination.

And then there’s this question that George Stephanopoulos asked Keyes during ABC’s This Week program.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Here’s how one of the state senators who came to you described it. He said, “We”–the Republicans, and it’s State Senator Stephen Rauschenberger. He said, “We needed to find another Harvard-educated African American who had some experience on the national political scene. We need that because the Democrats have made an icon out of Barack Obama, and the only way to fight back is to find your own icon–and that is not an easy thing to do.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 5:45 am

Comments

From the Trib:

On other topics, Wegman, Kane County’s recorder, said she wanted to further literacy programs, but she said she hadn’t yet worked out specific proposals. The title bar of Wegman’s campaign Web site touts “Sandy Wegman for Luietenant Governor,” misspelling the post she is seeking.

Comment by Oh dear... Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 6:01 am
(Bias disclosed… I am a liberal D.) Supporting Keyes was an act of ethical suicide by Rauschy and many others. Keyes extremist nature was well know and easily uncovered by anyone who had google available. Sometimes ethical suicide is political suicide too.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 6:39 am
Sorry, i should have made clear… Rauschy is a good person who - with plenty of Repub party company - made a craven mistake in supporting Keyes. He ought to acknowledge his share of responsibility for it and move on.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 6:43 am
It’s sad what’s become of Rauschenberger’s career.

Comment by Krenzler Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 7:54 am
Heard the Trib edit board went after Rauschenberger hard. Can’t be good news for Gidwitz if he harbors any hope for an endorsement.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 8:38 am
You know, Steve should say “Judy was headof the party, and did nothing. We needed a candidate, so I took a calculated gamble. Didnt’ work, but at least I did something. Judy did nothing.”

Comment by Pat collins Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 8:50 am
If in fact Rauschenberger did recruit Keyes with those comments, everybody, including African Americans should be outraged. Does Rauschenberger really think we are that stupid.

I am not an Obama supporter but I must concede that it’s his obvious intelligence and Bill Clinton-like ability to articulate which makes him extremely attractive to voters, not the fact that he is black and went to Harvard.

Rauschenberger is a hick, unsophisticated, prejudiced, clearly not material for anything higher than the state legislature.

Gidwitz, who does have potential, has further
weakened his already weak cause by taking him on.

I do wish that they had picked Oberweis last time, though. He would have lost big time and hopefully would have stayed out this time.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 9:13 am
Need we relive this episode?

Topinka brought us the resume collection process that resulted in a final choice between “lewd and abusive behaviorâ€ or a Harvard educated former presidential candidate.

Keyes was a disaster but Judyâ€™s lack of leadership in the process she implemented to collect resumes of potential candidates was a joke.

For the record, did Judy prefer “lewd and abusive behavior,â€ wig guy, Andy Martin, or the nice one-armed man with an ankle length beard? How about Joe, who did he prefer?

Birkett & Topinka pointing fingers of blame over Keyes instead of talking about the problems of this state and Blagojevich is telling.

GOP Senate candidates down to 2: Keyes, Barthwell (select parts)
8/3/2004 â€“ USA Today

CHICAGO (AP) â€” Illinois Republicans narrowed their search for a replacement U.S. Senate candidate on Tuesday to two black politicians, adding a twist to a campaign that has centered on rising Democratic star Barack Obama.
State party chairwoman Judy Baar Topinka said Republican leaders would interview two-time presidential candidate Alan Keyes and Andrea Grubb Barthwell, a former deputy drug czar in the Bush administration, on Wednesday and then choose one to take on Obama, a black state senator from Chicago.
â€¦.He [Syverson] said the committee spent more than three hours debating the strengths and weaknesses of more than a dozen candidates â€” most of whom appeared for face-to-face interviews Tuesday.
â€¦Party leaders failed to reel in a big-name candidate to run for the seat of retiring GOP Sen. Peter Fitzgerald â€” former governors, state senators, even Chicago Bears great Mike Ditka.
â€¦Barthwell said the committee asked her about allegations that she engaged in “lewd and abusive behavior” while serving in the White House drug policy office.
An internal inquiry found last year that Barthwell made repeated comments about the sexual orientation of a staff member and used a kaleidoscope to make sexually offensive gestures.
“It was a regrettable incident, and I took responsibility for it, and we resolved it to everyone’s satisfaction,” she said Tuesday.

Comment by Judy's Poor Leadership Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 9:18 am
Wow, great response for the Rauschenberger campaign,JPL.

Comment by Prior Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 9:25 am
If in fact Rauschenberger did recruit Keyes with those comments, everybody, including African Americans should be outraged

And of course, Judy’s wanting to see the Democrat’s black candidate and raise with a woman is just fine and dandy??

Yes, it WAS a joke, but at least Steve’s joke had a chance to pay off. Andrea B was Rich Williamson,part 2.

Comment by Pat collins Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 9:47 am
There were candidates who could have made a credible, though unsuccessful run, who were not even considered because they didn’t have any “star power.” What we ended up with was a complete DISASTER because of a TOTAL lack of leadership.

Anybody involved in the process, who cannot either (1) admit they made a really big mistake and explain how they will avoid doing it again or (2) point out their credible, documented opposition to the blunder does not deserve to be elected.

Comment by Hoosierdaddy Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 10:06 am
Rauschenberger lobbied for Keyes. So what?

He didn’t have a vote on the Keyes selection. Only the 19 members of the State Central Committee did. Topinka was Chair of that committee.

Topinka didn’t have a vote either, but the fact remains HER OWN COMMITTEE chose him.

Then Topinka spends nearly every day undermining the choice of her own committee. Simply unheard of.

Sure Keyes said some stupid things. So Judy hasn’t?

The real lesson of the 2004 Senate debacle is what happens when the voters’ real choice is allowed to be undermined and attacked by a few jealous members of his own party. Topinka led that effort to bring down Jack Ryan too.

Oh yes, “Jack lied.” So Judy never has? Pleeeeesssssse.

These are the facts and they are undisputed.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 10:33 am
Who is advising Rauchy? Wouldn’t it be wise of him to steer clear of the Keyes thing? This guy had so much promise two years ago.

Comment by takethehighroad Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 10:36 am
I sometimes wonder if Rauschenberger has a little Sampson syndrome. I think he lost his biggest strengths (quick wit, intelligence, and good decision skills) when he shaved the beard.

Comment by Jaded Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 10:53 am
You’re facts are wrong 10:33…try again please.

Comment by Moore Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 11:00 am
Why didn’t Gidwitz run in 2004 after Jack! dropped? He’s showing this year that he doesn’t mind spending his money on an unsuccessful campaign, so why wouldn’t he have been willing to do it then?

Comment by Larry Horse Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 11:30 am
Lots of you are willing to criticize Judy and Steve anonymously, but lack the courage to do so under your own name. I think that (and some of the ridiculous statements made in this particular thread) render your comments worthless; if you truly believed what you say, you wouldn’t be afraid to say it and defend it openly.

There is no doubt some of the very conservative Rs in the state wanted Keyes, and that Judy didn’t.

By the way, I support Judy but anyone who asserts that Steve R is a “hick, unsophisticated, and prejudiced” clearly doesn’t know him or what they are talking about. I concede that I have been somewhat taken aback by some of his behavior in this campaign.

Comment by steve schnorf Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 12:22 pm
Mr Keys is a wonderful man with solutions that are too plain and simple for the comman man. His theological background coupled with his diplomatic history complement his first class orator skills. If only ever government servant had his attitude. God Bless Alan Keys

Comment by Keys for President Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 12:24 pm
It is comical to watch Republican conservatives attempt to blame every problem since the Beginning of Time on Judy Baar Topinka. Judy causes rainy days, she causes traffic jams, she causes hangnails, everything!

Keyes was a CONSERVATIVE debacle, pure and simple. They got the man they wanted, and he was a disaster. This new blame game and historical whitewash stems from the fact that conservative politicos in Illinois have never made a mistake in their lives . . . just ask them.

Comment by Bubs Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 12:28 pm
How’s this schnorf? Rauschenberger is clearly not a likeable candidate…yet he’ll make any number of excuses why he can’t win…now he’s in the same class as Oberweis, Cox and Salvi.

Comment by Your Own Name Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 12:44 pm
The Tribune story says that Rauschenberger brought up Keyes and Birkett responded. I’d say Topinka and Birkett have the right to respond to attacks.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 1:00 pm
I’ve been wondering for about 10 years now if the “Flash Dance” approach we now have as the basis for electing public officials would have given us some of the great public servants of the past…people like Franklin Roosevelt, William Stratton to name just two (and of differing political stripes). Having watched Wednesday’s debate and knowing all the candidates personally, it’s frustrating that Gidwitz and Rauschenberger, who I think are the most intellectually credentialed candidates, are trailing behind candidates whose PR skills seem to be better.

It’s becoming depressing, but I guess if you can’t communicate it, you can’t pursuade anyone further than your reputation. To decide an endorsement for Lieutenant Governor in 2006 on what level of involvement one had in the 2004 Senate campaign just amazes me - Jack Ryan screwed up badly and Republicans reacted. I didn’t agree with the outcome, but come on folks, lets move on.

Comment by Common Sense in Illinois Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 1:02 pm
Keyes was a CONSERVATIVE debacle, pure and simple. Bubs, your argument would make more sense if JBT had been LEADING with HER alternative after Ryan bailed. I just wish Steve R would take the clintonesque approach “Yeah, I did that” - then ask the others what leadership THEY showed in that hard place.

I agree with the Sampson comment, Steve’s brain did seem to go with the beard….

Comment by Pat Collins Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 1:02 pm
I don’t believe Topinka even had a vote on the State Central Commitee.

I was at the Keyes announcement rally in Arlington Heights. Rauschenberger and Syverson were standing their like proud partners.

Topinka came in a side door, went up to the microphone and gave some remarks like she was making a hostage video, while Rauschenberger applauded warmly behind her.

She then concluded her remarks by saying something like, “And now, I give you the force behind the Keyes candidacy in Illinois, Dave Syverson.”

Then, as they shook hands, she said something like, “It’s all yours. Go for it” and then walked out of the building.

Comment by No Comment Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 1:23 pm
Oh, and at the same rally, Oberweis referred to Keyes as “a god.”

Comment by No Comment Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 1:24 pm
I don’t support Steve R. on the Gidwitz ticket either, but I agree the “hick..” comment shows a real lack of knowledge. If anything, Steve comes across as an oversophisticated wonk. Personally, having met him a few times, I like him because I think he says what’s on his mind, which is really quite a bit. I won’t be voting for the Gidwitz ticket, but I may vote for Steve for LG… even if he does drop out of the race.

Comment by Hoosierdaddy Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 1:37 pm
How can Judy say she had nothing to do with it. She did nothing to try and get the media off of Jack Ryan and even pressed for his withdrawal without a solution in mind. Regardless of Jack’s improprieties, he would have done better then Keyes.

Judy was the party leader, she faild to present a viable solution which summarizes her entire tenure as party leader. Her whole platform, is “I have never really messed up.”

The point we all should consider is the first two candidates should have been the runner ups in the primary. Oberweis and Rauschenberger and they disappeared. We need leaders who will lead even in tough situations. If you don’t think being a republican in the executive branch in springfield right now will be tough your nuts. Neither oberwies or Topinka have demonstrated they have the endurance to take the $20 million assault that will come to the winner of the primary. That is why we have to consider Brady. The others have had a chance to lead our party or win state wide elections and it has been one derailment after another. We cannot institute chance if we keep electing leaders from the same group of knuckleheads.

Comment by the Patriot Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 2:05 pm
See….here’s what’s wrong with our party….both moderates and now it seems the far right all agree that Keyes was a disaster….even when we agree on something, it’s still a fight.

Comment by Unity Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 2:23 pm
Alan Keys is a wise man.

Comment by Keys for President Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 2:34 pm
I love the IL GOP. Like a bunch of children pointing fingers. He did it. Did not, she did it. Did not. Yes you did, no I didn’t.

Keep picking at the scab kids. We don’t want it to heal.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 3:22 pm
You know them all PERSONALLY?

Comment by Anon Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 3:35 pm
Rauschenberger was among those who invited Keyes to Illinois. If I was Steve Rauschenberger, I would simply say, “Mr. Keyes sold us a package of goods that we mistakenly bought into. We screwed up. We are all sorry. It shouldn’t have happened but it did. We were desparate at the time and acted in a knee jerk fashion.”
Rauschenberger is a good guy who seems to have gotten a bit flustered of late for some reason. The fact is that he is the Republican who has the greatest grasp for fixing things with the state’s financial quagmire. Don’t crucify the guy for being human and making a poor decision in going along with the group in bringing Alan Keyes to Illinois. Keyes refused to listen to anybody within this Illinois contigent that invited him. Instead, Keyes brought his Maryland staffers with him and they were a law unto themselves. They just did whatever they wanted. Many of the Illinois staffers that stayed on with Keyes (when his lunacy started to show) did so only because they had given their word to stay on with him when he first agreed to come to Illinois. They felt honor bound to honor their word, no matter how distastful it was becoming.
And as for Judy, “The buck stops here” would seem to be the appropriate phrase with her role in the Alan Keyes fiasco. Maybe she could have stopped the central committee members from bringing Keyes, maybe she couldn’t. My guess is that she also got snookered by Keyes initially. She also bears responsibility to some degree but the one thing that I have noticed about Judy whether it be her failure to speak out against George Ryan when she was Treasurer, her failure to help Jack Ryan from self-destructing, or her failure to admit accountability for allowing crazy Keyes to run in Jack Ryan’s place instead of Oberweis, Judy is always first and foremost going to look out to cover Judy’s butt. Then, and only then, will she worry about the Illinois GOP and the others. Her political career comes first in the order of her priorities.
Nobody was going to beat Barack Obamma back then. He is a class guy regardless of whether he is a Democrat or not. The only guy who could have beat him (perhaps) back then was Mike Ditka or Michael Jordan.

Comment by Beowulf Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 4:10 pm
Big Hat Tip to BrickHeadJoe for keeping all the GOPs(as is MOPEs) busy all day rehashing the Alan Keyes campaign. Did not notice, but did the Brick keep the Trib away from the efforts to execute innocent folks or his new push for concealed carry?

Comment by Reddbyrd Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 7:36 pm
So much for Judy’s Harry Trumanesque statement these days.
__________________________

Published: October 16, 2004
Rockford Star
COLUMNIST: Aaron Chambers
GOP chair: I’ll take heat for Keyes debacle

When Judy Baar Topinka steps down as chairman of the Illinois Republican Party after the Nov. 2 election, she will leave a party painfully divided over its future.
The tension was planted before Topinka became state GOP chairman in November 2002. That month, the party was steamrolled at the polls by scandal associated with former Gov. George Ryan, his pals and other party leaders. Topinka, the state treasurer, was the only remaining Republican statewide officeholder.
But over the past year, she presided over back-to-back election ordeals that highlighted the party’s lack of a farm team as well as internal debate about whether to emphasize moderate or conservative social positions — or not highlight social issues at all.
“I have to accept the entire responsibility for the simple reason the buck ends with me,” Topinka told me Wednesday when I asked what level of responsibility she assumes for the Alan Keyes debacle.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 7:52 pm
Reddbyrd has trouble with reading comprehension. Rauschenberger brought up Keyes. Birkett responded. We can go a little slower for him next time.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 9:43 pm
Pat Collins, as usual, with conservatives JBT is damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t. Such as:

1. You say Judy didn’t lead with “her alternative”, so we got Keyes. this assumes it had nothing to do with Steve, Syverson, and conservative commentators. Nothing, nothing at all. [And just who was that “alternative,” by the way? Can’t wait to hear, as I recall that prospect after prospect, from Edgar, to Ditka, to the local high school janitor declined to run.]

2. Others say Judy actually led the whole thing, and actually WANTED Keyes, beacuse she knew he was too conservative for Illinois and would fail miserably. Under this scenario, it was all a gastly plot. There’s not a shred of proof of that, but why bother with facts when there is plenty of mud to sling?

3. Some say Judy had no leadership control over the State Committee to give support to JACK!, which was her fault, and others say she rigged the whole JACK! thing at the State Committee level, which was her fault.

3. Some say Judy refused to support JACK! because he was a . . . wait a minute, wait a minute! Has anyone here ever heard of “Dennis Hastert”? I seem to recall a loudly trumpeted unanimous vote by the Illinois Republican Congressional delegation, and a very upset Speaker of the House. When I heard of that vote on the car radio, I knew in an instant JACK! was finished. When the Speaker of the House from your own state loudly says “sit down,” it’s time to look for a chair. But wait, that’s off-fantasy, I keep forgetting the mantra that it was all “Judy, Judy, and only Judy.”

Don’t you see, Pat, that this entire rehash of JACK! and Keyes is just another trumped-up hack job on JBT, as whatever scenario a conservative chooses, it all boils down to a mindless “Just Blame Judy”? I’m sick of it, and conservatives do themselves no credit.

Comment by Bubs Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 9:54 pm
I agree mostly with Beowolf on Judy and Steve. Some things that I remember if we are going to be forced to rehash this stupid thing are that when the stuff about Jack Ryan came out Judy’s comments were not helpful. She said that Jack lied to her. I don’t think he Lied. I just don’t think since he was new to politics he understood politics well enough to know how much it would hurt him. But Judy’s comments (and others) didn’t help so he dropped out. Then the fight started and we got Keyes. Steve was involved but I think after the decision his support for Keyes while Keyes was hard to handle was to the GOP candidate. Most of us who want to see the party do well help people who may not be perfect. So we can help move the ball forward. My comments will not change some minds but we need to keep things moving forward and stay together to hopefully come out better as a party then when we started. When the primary is over there is this guy name Blagojevich who needs to stay home days too.

Comment by Anon Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 9:58 pm
Both Syverson and Rauschenberger were responsible for the Keyes selection. Yes, in hindsight, it was a poor decision. Whether or not they should be held responsible is up for debate.

At the Keyes announcement in Arlington Heights, everyone was all smiles. Beforehand, Syverson held his own private meeting with Keyes and party big wigs. During the announcement, Syverson and Rauschenberger didn’t leave Alan’s side.

The sad thing is, when the Keyes candidacy went south, they couldn’t distance themselves fast enough. These two even went so far to deny they had anything to do with the Keyes selection and blamed the whole debacle on their Fab Five collegue, Peter Fitzgerald (who had nothing to do with it).

If you make a mistake, admit it and move on. Don’t blame it on someone else. This is probably why these two never moved up. They have zero leadership ability.

Comment by Loudon Downey Friday, Jan 27, 06 @ 11:10 pm
I’m sorry, but anybody who perceives a need for
a minority candidate to run against another minority candidate, regardless of qualifications,
is a hick in the sphere of diversity politics.
It’s a diverse world out there. Yes, there are racial voting blocs, especially, in Cook County, the black voting block, but they aren’t necessarily attracted by same-race candidates.
They’ve voted for Daley, for example. Like most
voting blocs, they vote for the people they think can give them what they believe they need
in the way of power and resources.

Comment by Cassandra Saturday, Jan 28, 06 @ 9:13 am
Bubs, your blind faithfulness to “Judy-ism” is showing, particularly with your lame straw-man arguments. “Judy’s Poor Leadership”, Pat Collins, and Beowulf have it right and have the facts…Judy simply demonstrated “zero” leadership skills while Party Chairman. The Jack!-to-Keyes debacle, however you spin it, is merely once instance; there were numerous others. Like inability to get President Bush on the Illinois ballot without conceding to a legislative bargain giving the Democrats the store. Like working feverishly to purge conservatives, and other women, from Republican Party leadership, e.g. Maureen Murphy. Like immediately castigating her predecessor McDougal, who was simply a compromise chairman choice due to gubenatorial candidate Jim Ryan’s preferences, instead of honoring his party commitment and inviting him in. Topinka’s failure as a Chairman was capped by the embarrassing election night panel interview of her on election night 2004 on Channel 5, when Dick Kaye and the others uncontrollably laughed at Judy during her then-pathetic rehash of her transparent propaganda line.

The charade continues as Judy leans on party hacks to change their own township endorsement rules midstream to procure township party “endorsements”. Beowulf said it best: it has always been Judy first, whether the conflict has been conservative-liberal, old boy-glass ceiling, Republican-Democrat. Bubs, your government job may depend on Judy-ism prevailing in 2006, but the rest of us have had it.

Comment by Judy Is Wrong Monday, Jan 30, 06 @ 7:27 pm