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

[pleasethinkwomen]

She's the protege of Stevens - I bet he holds a good bit of her dirty laundry.

[Palmz]

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

WTF was that?

[AtticusinPa]

That was the maverick blinking in the face of disaster.

[BikerJim]

I think the Palin plan is to wait and see if Uncle Ted gets reelected. Then he can resign since he is now guilty, or if the Senate kicks him out, and she can appoint herself to the seat.... That way she can keep the seat in GOP hands and also keep the new clothes the RNC bought her.....

[INDYBIGT]

When given the chance to show leadership and do the right thing she wimps out every time. She does not have what it takes to be sheriff, let alone VP.

[iChoose]

If she is reluctant to call on a convited felon, how is she going to do the clean up she is talking about? That woman is fake.

[independentwoman]

I think you are all celebrating prematurely. Stevens will run for reelection and will win. If he loses his appeal and is forced to step down, Sarah Palin, as governor, will appoint his successor. She will appoint herself. She will then be in Washington plotting her resurrection for the 2012 election and she will have gained some Washington experience in the meantime. There will be no getting rid of her. Better she go back to Alaska and fade into oblivion, but I'm afraid that will not happen.

[dswansoniceman]

nah.. this is the nail in his legislative career's coffin. i'm sure there will be a poll out by friday that shows reaction to this verdict. he's already behind. he's toast.

[Norak]

What a horrible scenario. Palin has proved herself a duplicitous schemer who's all out for Sarah and she shows no shame or embarrassment whatever lie she's caught in. I was repulsed when she tried to change "Troopergate" to "Tasergate" in an interview in a lame effort to influence the perception of events surrounding that scandal.

[Alaskan99577]

That's a very good point and even a likey scenario. I suspect he could win this election, even thought Begich was up a couple of percentage points right before the conviction.
When Murkowski left his seat to become our governor, he appointed his daughter to replace him in Congress. There was a lot of protest about that but she stayed and was elected in the next election. Could Palin appoint herself???? Anybody know?

[AtticusinPa]

The law regarding filling a vacant senate seat is state law, and it varies. It might be that she can fill the void, but it might also be that a special election must be held. Any Alaska lawyers out there who would like to answer this??

[AtticusinPa]

No. After Murkowsky, the law was changed. She can appoint someone for up to 90 days, but then has to call a special election. The voters decide.

[tm68]

Can she do that? Appoint herself? That seems to me to be a conflict of interest.

[jmw2006]

Rotten party from inside out

[SunFresh]

She is certainly not mavericky. Not quite a reformer. Not tough on crime.

[mamala4]

She won't say anything because it hits too close to home....I bet she's looking over her shoulder just about now....

[access2narnia]

That was exactly what I thought ---I'll bet she's seriously rethinking the seriousness of the sworn Depositions she just gave in the on-going Troopergate investigation.

[boing007]

She won't say anything because it hits too close to home....I bet she's looking over her shoulder just about now....

Bullwinkle the Moose is on the loose.

[mebble]

Ted Stevens owns Alaska and owns Palin. Standing up to her party's corruption in Alaska? This will be her real acid test, and she's already failed it. If she was clean she'd have taken this opportunity to topple Stevens, but she didn't. And she's up to her neck in Troopergate. Alaska. A huge under-populated banana republic 'sans bananes'.

[PennLawyer]

I've read that some of the same contractors involved in Stevens' unreported donations of labor and materials for his house in Alaska were also involved as Todd's "philanthropic" friends/contractors on the Palins' new house.

[fiberoptimist]

Imagine if Stevens was a black, Muslim environmentalist. She'd be calling for his execution by now.

[Mor-a-Les]

As another blogger put it best, "Guv Palin and Sen. Stevens have cracked the ice in Alaska are just two of many ice-holes in Alaska . . . maybe it's global warming ?"

[Garrett123]

Stevens will bring her with him.
HAHAHAHA

[WFV]

Let's not give Barbie too much credit here. There is NO WAY she wrote the statement she delivered.

[access2narnia]

Actually it sounded to me as if she did---and is still waiting for her speechwriters to tell her what to say so she can parrot a stand.