Palin Reserved In Reaction To Stevens' Verdict

WASHINGTON — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has crafted a corruption-busting image as part of her Republican vice presidential campaign, wasn't talking tough Monday after Sen. Ted Stevens was convicted in a corruption case.

Palin did not call on Stevens to resign or drop out of his tight re-election race.

"I'm confident Senator Stevens will do what's right for the people of Alaska," Palin said in a statement.

Just weeks ago, when John McCain tapped her to be his running mate, Republicans trumpeted her ability to stand up to her own party. They said that proved she could stand up in the face of crisis.

"If you can take on Ted Stevens and that crowd in Alaska, you can handle the Russians," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, told ABC News.

But Monday, Palin wasn't taking on Stevens. She said it was a sad day for Alaska and said it highlighted the corrupting influence of Big Oil in Alaska.

Stevens was convicted of seven counts of lying about $250,000 in home improvements and other gifts from oil contractor Bill Allen.

"I will carefully monitor this situation and take any appropriate action as needed," Palin said. "In the meantime, I ask the people of Alaska to join me in respecting the workings of our judicial system."

Stevens has not said what he plans to do and Palin's reluctance to call on him to step down may reflect just how powerful the Alaska senator remains. He is still popular and could win re-election.

Comments

[OurKoan]

Perhaps the reason she is "reserved" is that the trail of VECO might just lead to her own front door:

http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-10-08/news/the-book-of-sarah/5

Love the part about being able to forgo building permits, so there is no obvious trail of just who First Dude's "buddies" that helped build the house were. Hazard some guesses.....?

[Hedonist88]

Palin is more corrupt and scandal ridden that Stevens.

[PhantomAviator]

..

No, she isn't

.

[frantaylor]

snappy comeback there

[CalifroniaMark]

Uh, Yes She is. Your denial doesn't make it not so. You obviously have a computer so do some googling and educate yourself on Palin and her B.S.!!!

[InspiredbyObama]

I agree, there are alot of cases involving her that should be investigated!

[MadJeffersonian]

"In the meantime, I ask the people of Alaska to join me in respecting the workings of our judicial system."

Bwahahahahahahaha! Yeah, when it doesn't involve her or her family.

[ghenry]

Respect the workings of our judicial system?? Sarah, did you say that?

[DavidBlackburn]

Governor Palin 'trusts' Senator Stevens to do the right thing?
NOW THAT IS A REAL REFORMER!!!

[evgolightly]

She's tip-toeing around the issue because hers is the next head to roll. The Anchorage Daily News provided great cover to go after Miss Wasilla.

Waiting for the results of Troopergate part II

And looking forward to "Wasillagate - just who built Palin's house".

She's gonna make Stevens look like Mother Theresa.

[OurKoan]

"I can see Russia from my brand new deck that I, uh, lost, uh, the bill for. Yah, you Betcha!"

[PT6]

Clearly Palin can NOT set a High Standard for Staying in Office!

Then she would also have to step down!

[dana123]

Palin's $1,200 tanning expense filled with FEC:

To the list of luxuries Sarah Palin got from RNC, you might want to add a $1,200 tanning expense. Look under Tracy Thorp (a tanning/spray "artist"):

http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00003418/373483/sf/

Can't she just pay by from her own pocket for such a thing and not use RNC money ?

[spell]

She's a train wreck. End of story. Welcome to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, President Obama!

[paulf40]

If you can't take on a convicted felon - exactly what do you expect to "clean up" in washington?

[repubsrbad]

Great point.

[birchtree3]

So what's going on with the ongoing Troopergate investigation? Remember, Palin was FOUND GUILTY of abuse of power just a couple of weeks ago. Maybe she and Stevens are cut of the same cloth and she knows it.

BTW. The Anchorage Daily News (the biggest newspaper in Alaska) endorsed Obama for president this weekend. Check out adn.com for the article. It's always interesting reading what is going on in the gov's home state.

[ShamusNYC]

Palin was part of Stevens' 527

She just replaced corruption & power abuse that wasn't benefiting her with corruption & power abuse that would benefit her

[Jezreel]

She was chairperson of his 527.

[bmwracer]

Man, Palin is totally spineless.

Aside from her obsessive diatribe of trying to tear down Obama, nothing else comes out of her pie hole.

[Rapid Ray]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nTX-oJUCaU

Ted Stevens endorses Sarah Palin for Alaska's Governor

[meede]

Stevens having been found guilty of corruption, yet Palin does not call for his resignation, indicates further that the platform McCain/Palin running on of reform and "Cleaning up Washington" is hogwash. Also gives the feeling of too many skeletons in the closet for Palin that Stevens can leak out.

The fact is that Stevens was Palin's mentor in Alaska, thereby her learning from the best!! Troopergate where she had violated ethics. Troopergate the Sequel investigation is still ongoing.

There also arises the issue of the Palin home, which was built by First Dude's statement "build by him & his contractor buddies", who just happened to be the same contractors that provided the renovations to the Stevens home, & coincidentally the same contractors that won the contract to build the sports complex in Wasilla, a short distance from the Palin home.

What a web they weave.

[jmw2006]

Absolutely right