Unlikely Heirs
It seems that a handful of conservatives are creating a stir in national politics, as well as, making history.
The "sudden appearance" of five big-name personalities all running for high office as African-American Republicans this year is shaking up the political landscape, according to Kathryn Jean Lopez, in a opinion piece she wrote for Sacramento Bee. She writes:
In Maryland, Michael Steele wants retiring Democrat Paul Sarbanes' Senate seat. Keith Butler is also running for Senate, from Michigan. Lynn Swann, the former Pittsburgh Steelers star, wants to be governor of the Keystone State. Randy Daniels would like to be governor of New York. And gunning for governor in a key presidential electoral state there is the great black hope for the Republican Party, Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.
Who wudda thunk it? Five black men picking up the mantle left by Ronald Reagan and running with it. The Liberals must be running around in circles trying to figure this one out.
Writing in the winter issue of City Journal, Steven Malanga calls Blackwell "Ronald Reagan's Unlikely Heir". Magala goes on to say, "Blackwell is a fiscal and cultural conservative ... who happens to be black with the proven power to attract votes from across a startlingly wide spectrum of the electorate."
Now the members of this small group are conservative both fiscally (i.e. lower taxes, smaller government) and culturally (strongly pro-life, support traditional marriage) giving them the power to attract votes from across a wide spectrum of voters (middle-class taxpayers, Christian conservatives, and minority voters). At least four also happen to be dedicated Christians (talk about really twisting the knife in Liberals!).
Keith Butler, is a minister of the 21,000-member mega church Word of Faith International Christian Center, outside Detroit, Michigan. He has :
"received an almost-giddy endorsement from Charisma Magazine, excited that Butler is the very embodiment of today's charismatic conservative -- pro-life, anti-gay marriage, a big backer of low taxes and the free market."
Then there’s Ken Blackwell, who once chastised by the ACLU for opeing a "meeting with state employees by asking them to pause for a moment of prayer and reflection". Also "leaders of several largely white Christian groups have lined up behind" him.
Blackwell has the best chance in getting elected "thanks to his deep electoral experience".
Whatever the outcome, this group " represents a new political calculus with the power to shake up American politics", continuing the Reagan revolution as wekk as bringing a much needed breath of fresh air to conservative politics.
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