After a week of watching the guys with the white hats, it's easy to don the mantle of over-confidence. After all, what can the old guy do or say next week to begin to rival the now united Democratic Party? One thing we do know is that beneath McCain and Party's black hats and even darker souls lies the ability to fix a close race. The ability, motivation and, yes, even the need to do so is there as meticulously evidenced by committed Ohio attorneys Cliff Arnebeck and Robert Fitrakis. (See http://www.velvetrevolution.us/
An August 26 press release reads: CCM Chairman Ken Blackwell Named Vice Chairman of RNC Platform Committee (http://www.politickerpa.com/...
Serving in his his role as Chairman for Coalition for a Conservative Majority, www.ccmajority.org. Blackwell is still a powerful man. He serves on the board of directors of the Club for Growth and the National Rifle Association and is also the Ronald Reagan Distinguished Fellow for Public Policy at the Buckeye Institute in Columbus, Ohio, a Senior Fellow for Family Empowerment at the Family Research Council in Washington and the American Civil Rights Union, and a contributing editor for the New York Sun and Townhall.com.
In other words, Mr. B, stealer of all things good and true that could/shoulda been in 2004, has never for one moment stepped away from power. We ignore his stealth dealings at great risk knowing his past "involvement" with election fraud, his continuing hard work and manipulation of the Religious Right, and his ever-growing agility which now has him intimately involved with the creation of the 2008 Republican Platform.
Take heed. Whatever the Religious Right needs in order to stay Republican, Ken Blackwell will give them, coded or not. It is up to us to call him on every plank, be it the hypothetical stoning of abortion providers or promises to save marriage from perdition. Ludicrous though his words may be, they are very real to American fundamentalists, each of whom has a vote and a pastor ready to help get out the vote.
Never forget, an active minority helping to create a close election equals almost certain election theft. So enjoy the glories of this convention week, but count on nothing. After all, this is today's America and Ken Blackwell and Karl Rove are lurking in the shadows.
