Did I hear that Senator McCain has just asked Senator Ted Stevens to step down after he was convicted of a wrong doing while he was serving his term as Senator to Alaska. Did I hear that right?
Senator Stevens was convicted on seven counts of trying to hide more that $250,000.00 worth of home renovations and gifts from his friend, a wealthy oil contractor, just yesterday. The fault was not in receiving the gifts, but not reporting the gifts that he received. Senator Steven’s claims that it was an oversight by someone on his staff who did not file the proper paperwork. He also says that he was not aware of everything that his friend, the contractor, had placed in the house that he was building for Senator Stevens because his “friend” was using the house more than he did. Senator Stevens spent the better part of the year in Washington DC.
Now I am not going to spend this time discussing the merits of Senator Steven appeal. Nor am I going to point out what I have said in earlier articles about our associations. Even though it is known that in these times, anyone in the oil business usually amounts to be a terrible bedfellow. What I am going to take umbrage with is the fact that Senator McCain’s running mate, Governor Sarah Palin (also from the great state of Alaska), was just recently found guilty of also abusing her power in office. And yet Senator McCain had nothing to say except wonderful things about his running mate and how the investigation into her abuse of power was no more than a witch hunt by the Democrats seeking office.
Is it just a true hypocrisy held by Senator McCain, or is it the importance of being right? Is he just too far along to admit he made a mistake when he chose Governor Palin as his running mate? Or maybe it’s the double-standard that seems to prevail when it comes to his running mate. Why is Governor Palin placed above the law and Senator Stevens’ not? Senator Stevens was indicted and tried in a court of law. Governor Palin, her staff, and even her husband had to appear only before a committee. And even though both parties are appealing their rulings, Governor Palin is still on McCain’s ticket, while Senator McCain has asked Senator Stevens to remove himself from his campaign for re-election. Doesn’t anyone see the hypocrisy here?
As time goes on, Governor Palin is starting to seem more and more like the “good old boys” that Senator McCain ( and even Governor Palin, herself) have pledged to rid the US Government of. Even Governor Palin couldn’t bring herself to lighting the match to the kindling that was being placed under Senator Stevens by his own party. I guess she is just too close to the fire.
