THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 18, 1995 TAG: 9505180750
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
DATELINE: ASHEVILLE LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Elimination of abortion and a return to ``marriage-based, two-parent families'' should be America's top priorities, Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes said here Tuesday.
Keyes, a former Reagan-administration appointee who now has a syndicated radio talk show, spoke to an overflow crowd of 300 people at the French Broad Golf Center near the Asheville Regional Airport during a day-long campaign across the state. He announced his candidacy in March.
``Why is it that we spend so much money on welfare and illegitimacy? Why is it that we spend so much money on crime and violence in our streets? Why is it that we spend so much money dealing with the problems of irresponsible behavior that contribute to the decline of the health of this nation?'' Keyes asked the audience, which responded with cries of ``Amen!''
Keyes, 44, served as United States ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNESCO) under Reagan and later served as assistant secretary of state for international organizations.
Keyes, the only black candidate who has announced for the GOP presidential nomination, has twice run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in Maryland.
KEYWORDS: CANDIDATE by CNB