CNN

Yeah, he's kinda of a joke here, when he ran for govenor he lost by a landslide, We hate him in Ohio

As a resident of Ohio I can tell you that Mr. Blackwell will certainly not "broaden the appeal of the GOP" When he was Secretary of State in Ohio he was an incredibly polarizing figure and lost badly when he recently ran for Governer – this in a state that is very moderate to conservative. If he can't win in Ohio against a liberal congresman he is certainly not going to broaden the appeal of the GOP to anyone. If the GOP is looking to increase there appeal to people of color perhaps they should chose someone that challenges the status quo and the comfort level of stallwart Republicans.

Those of us in Ohio know Ken Blackwell all too well. This is a terrible idea.

The illionis Governor a threat to Palin 2012 run. Say it ant so!

FORBES knows he can control blackwell. thats why he is backing him. blackwell will have to do what forbes says .he will be a puppet

he is an irritating whiner.

Mike from Ohio December 9th, 2008 6:32 pm ET
Ken Blackwell should be in jail for what he did in 2004. He is a disgrace and does not deserve the right to call himself an American.
DITTO!!!

Ohh, I see a Palin Blackwell duke-out for the Republican nomination in 2012! They'll be trying to one-up each other in the who-can-be-the-most conservative market(place of ideas).

Blackwell is a thug operative that helped cage votes for Bush. No mention of this corruption CNN? C'mon!

Let's remember: Forbes wasn't allowed to do much of anything, even at his father's magazine until his father died and he inherited it all.

It is amazing to listen to guys like this tell us all about how things should be. What a hypocrite!

The Republican Party just doesn't get it do they?

In the Post-Florida Supreme Court Coup Internet Age, election corruption is no longer acceptable – nor possible to cover up. Election Year 2008 proved it.

To put Blackwell at the head of the RNC after what he did to the Ohio vote in 2004 is beyond belief. Its right up there with Sarah Palin as VP, only its worse, its overtly rewarding criminal behavior. What's next, Karl Rove for President?

Instead of heralding Blackwell for his ability to win – how about revitalizing the party to lead with someone who embodies credibility , intelligence, moderation and humanity?

On second thought – please do put Blackwell in the RNC – it will ensure our governance by rational alternatives to the GOP...

Since when has Forbes ever been mainstream in any aspect of his politics? Forbes has the luxury of maintaining his idealogical purity because he can always return to the magazine his father grew, and not have to worry about really answering to anyone. Mr. Blackwell, by contrrast, has shown how limited his appeal is by adhering to positions that don't stand the test of an election. He only won his previous positions by running for offices that were so limited in power that his extremist views were not likely to annoy a significant portion of the electorate.

Forbes seems to forget that inheriting a job and a fortune do not qualifiy you to lead anymore than espousing extremist views make you broad-minded. In other words, give it up Steve, or accept reality and become a little more tolerant.

Just what the Republicans need! Another " How to get rich and stay that way at all cost" expert! What a bunch of LOST SOULS!!!!!

About "conservatives."

I was really taken aback when I heard that the Blackwater Five killers of innocent Iraqis surrendered in Utah this week.

The reason was that they expect a better outcome by Utah juries because Utah is a conservative state and pro-gun and thus the juries will not think the slaughter of 17 people and injury of scores of others is as big a deal as the charges against them.

As it is, these killers are getting charged only with manslaughter, not cold-blooded murder that they committed.

There was a sixth perp, and he confessed and is being sentenced. Wonder why HE confessed and the others say they were not involved at all.

I am glad I am not "conservative."

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Don't do it, trust me, I live in Ohio...kick this guy to the curb, Republicans! Send him out with the gays, and tell them ALL to keep walking once they leave!

I'm not a Republican, but I guarantee you if you put Blackwell in charge, you'll see the death of the party! DON'T DO IT!!!

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

He is a good republican. He rigged the election in Ohio for them. I am soooo glad we kicked him and his buddies out! We have our state and country back:)

not trust worthy.

Yeah, try harder GOP. You may get 44% in 2016.

I suppose this is his reward for throwing the race for Bush in 2004.

Hey, a ridiculous rich guy endorsing Republicans....

Whoa.... that's new, eh?

Blackwell the guy who could not stop bad mouthing Obama on CNN.....Looser!

Isn't Ken Blackwell the same guy who was Sec'y of State in Ohio in 2004?
And wasn't it the Sec'y of State in Ohio who "allowed" some very fishy things to take place wherein President Bush ended up winning Ohio to get reelected?
Sounds like a perfect guy to run the RNC.
Especially if you want to have another run of the Bush legacy.

no, Old white dude's time is over!

Thus speaketh the male neocon version of Oprah.

GOP you are still shooting yourself in the foot and you can not walk already when will this end stop it. Blackwell is one of the most hated man in the state of Ohio. People don't forget not to long ago he gave Bush Ohio something we Buckeyes do not forget also we ran he wife out of the Ohio school system. Please go away and go away fast no we do not want to recycle you all.

Ken Blackwell should be in jail for what he did in 2004. He is a disgrace and does not deserve the right to call himself an American.

Marcus: If Blackwell is also a great social conservative let's please count him out. I'm all for a smaller government – however that includes keeping it out of my personal life! I do not want, nor need, Big Brother forcing me to go along with someone else's religious beliefs. That sense of "social conservatism" is what is helping the GOP to tank.

The only thing reliable about Mr. Blackwell is his ability to cheat and corrupt.

This is big – Steve Forbes is a great endorsement! Most importantly, Steve Forbes' stamp of approval means that he trusts Blackwell on fiscal conservative issues. There aren't many more conservatives whose names are synonymous with 'fiscal conservative,' but Steve Forbes is one of them. Further, we all know Ken Blackwell is a great social conservative. He's very active with the Heritage Foundation, NRA and townhall.com. He's also been working with the Club for Growth and National Taxpayers Union, so he's well-versed in the national conservative issues. I think Ken Blackwell would be a great choice to lead the RNC into the 21st century, and he would so by returning to the party's true roots.

Did you say Ken Blackwell?
I am sorry but he has been involved in too many controvercial coverups. If you look into his past you will see a man short of temper, quick to anger, and as corrupt as a certain Governor from Illinios.
Does the GOP really want a man as dirty and shameful as Ken Blackwell running the RNC?
I dont think that Steve Forbes is thinking clearly.
Ken Blackwell was in charge of elections for Ohio back in 2004.
Back during the horrendous blunder that rocked Callahouga county and many others Ken Blackwell was at its epicenter. Ken Blackwell has enough dirt under his nails to plant a garden. Steve Forbes, you can't be serious!

As someone who nearly single-handedly stole the Ohio election for George Bush in 2004, Ken Blackwell is an ideal candidate for RNC chairman. He embodies all the rotten, dishonest qualities every good Republican needs for the job.

Good choice, Forbes!

Forbes is so wrong, it's almost laughable. When Ken Blackwell ran for Ohio governor in 2006, he actually collapsed support for the GOP in our state by moving so far to the right that many deep red counties opted for Democrat Ted Strickland. I also fail to grasp the meaning of Forbes' attributed importance to Blackwell being elected as a Republican in Ohio. In the three elections which Blackwell won statewide - 1994, 1998, and 2002 - ALL of the members of the statewide GOP ticket won. They did so by having moderates, not red-meat conservatives, at the top of the ticket for governor.

Look, if the GOP wants to elect Blackwell, then be my guest. It just means that the Republican Party will spend many more years in the wilderness so long as he (and more important - his far-right ideology s) is at the helm.

"He has ruggedly maintained his anti-establishment views and reform agenda."

This is rich! Steve Forbes doesn't recognize that he and Ken Blackwell are both part of the establishment, especially Forbes himself.

For conservatives like these, 'reform' means re-forming a lost golden age that never actually existed, although I guess the Robber Baron era is a pretty good model for them.

LOOSERS.

Somehow I can't see how "standing up for our conservative principles" and "broadening the appeal of the Republican Party" belong together in a list of prerequisites. It is perhaps time for the Republican Party to reengage their brains and do some hard soul-searching about what their conservative principles have wrought on the American people. I think a redefinition of the those principles are in order...

THE PARTY FIRST NEEDS FIX THE WAY THEY THINK ABOUT THE NORMAL POPULATION. EVERY TIME A REPUBLICAN GETS TO THE PRESIDENCY . THE ECONOMY STALLS . IT SEEMS THEY JUST WANT GET MORE MONEY FOR THE RICH FROM THE BACKS AND SWEAT OF THE POOR.

Bullcrap. This party needs new blood and focus. Michael Steele is MORE than qualfied for this job, and represents the future. Blackwell is the past!

blackwell lost by the largest margin in history in a governor's election in our state,,,if the gop wants him,,,,please,please give him the job

I'll preface my remarks by stating that I am most certainly not a republican, and have no concern whatsoever for who leads the republican party (until they repudiate entirely the direction they took the country for the last 8 years).

But isn't Forbes the guy that got a total of ~1% of the vote when he ran? Seriously, is THIS the guy that you want to advise you of "who can broaden the appeal of the party"?

I personally don't care. The republicans aren't likely to appeal to ME anytime soon... but this would be similar to Kucinich explaining to the democratic party how to broaden their appeal... The republicans need to consider the source of the advice here.
*shrug*

"In this capacity, and as a Republican voter from the state of New Jersey, I humbly ask you to vote for Ken Blackwell for Chairman."

Simple answer for me, no!!

Just because he's talking about the same thing over and over doesn't mean is gonna be all better.

You can talk the talk but you need to walk the walk for starters.

Forbes himself might be better. Not the solution, mind you. The GOP has MUCH more work to do before it can call itself conservative. But Forbes would be a step in the right direction.

Chicago: Rod Blagojevich – Obama – Sezko – Corruption – Lies....it is the Audacity of Hoax

"5) Someone who is an articulate and experienced spokesperson;"

That would appear to disqualify what's her face...

Blackwell is a person who steals elections. I wouldn't vote for a dog catcher backed by the RNC headed by that man.

Blackwell only wins elections because he helps rig them. I mean the diebold machines. This is a known fact. Now there's a story really deserves more air time. Next, these guys are ultra right wing churchy conservatives with that fascist agenda. Yeah, I know you won't post this because you can't stand it when people send in true stuff they got from other news organizations and I don't mean Al Jezzerra.

It will interesting to see who ends up on Mr.Blackwells"GOP best and worst dressed".

WOW!! FOR WHAT GOOD IT IS GOING TO DO. AS LONG AS THE REPUBS. HAVE PALIN'S AND HUCKABERRY'S IDEOLOGY RUNNING IN THEIR BLOOD, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO LEADS THEM. FORBES IS THE SAME OLD SAME OLD.

Ken Blackwell will broaden the Republican Party appeal?
WOW! He will be about as broad as his poll numbers for Ohio ' Governor's race were high.

Maybe he will finally leave Ohio!

So what? Here's the thing: despite being a crazy leftist liberal, I still can't stand Oprah because I don't think having money, fame, a tv show, a magazine and/or a book club, etc., makes your opinion important and publishable in spite of you being an idiot. Forbes is just a male neocon Oprah.

Blackwell is more of the same old crap.

Steve Forbes and Ken Blackwell...

Man... that CANT be good.

Blackwell got beaten by a substantial margin in the last Ohio governor's race, and is largely responsible for Ohio turning blue.

If the RNC make him their head, they might as well go ahead and nominate Sarah Palin for 2012 and get ready for a serious beating.