Guilty Ted Stevens Confirms Widespread Republican "Culture of Corruption"
Christian Church
October 27, 2008
Republican Senator Ted Stevens has been found guilty on all seven counts in a federal corruption trial in Alaska. The unanimous verdicts come just eight days before the November election and on the heals of Democrats successfully painting the GOP as the party of greed and corruption. Democrats are counting on voter anger at Republicans this election cycle and are capitalizing on the enormous unpopularity of President Bush and GOP policies, which most Americans blame for the global economic crisis.
Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in Congress, was found guilty of "knowingly and willfully" scheming to conceal over $250,000 in home renovations and gifts from VECO Corp., an oil industry contractor in his home state of Alaska.
Stevens´ conviction follows the demise of many other Republican leaders who have been found guilty of crimes or who have practiced lapses in ethical behavior, including the following:
>> Republican Congressman Tom DeLay was indicted on charges of money laundering.
>> Republican Congressman Bob Ney plead guilty to accepting bribes.
>> Republican Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham was convicted of accepting $1.3 million in bribes.
>> Republican Scooter Libby, Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted of perjury, obstruction of justice, and lying to the FBI.
>> J. Steven Griles, former Deputy Secretary for the Dept. of the Interior, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice.
>> GOP Congressman Mark Foley resigned after a sex scandal involving a 16-year-old male page in the U.S. House of Representatives.
>> Republican Senator Bill Frist was reported to have maintained additional stock holdings outside of his blind trust, creating a conflict of interest.
>> Republican Congressman Curt Weldon was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on charges of trading political influence for lobbying contracts for his daughter. Weldon did not resign, but in his 2006 re-election campaign, the Washington Post reported that the Republican Party had "all but abandoned" him.
>> Former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert covered up warnings about inappropriate conduct by Mark Foley, and from taking contributions from Jack Abramoff to the tune of over $100,000.
>> Republican Senator Larry Craig plead guilty to soliciting sex from an undercover male police officer in a public restroom at an airport in Minnesota.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain has been trying to distance himself from President Bush and the GOP leadership by describing himself as a "maverick" and by selecting Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Palin – also described as a "maverick" – ran and won against an incumbent Republican governor. Palin campaigned on the need for "clean government" as the primary reason to elect her. However, Palin was recently and widely criticized for accepting over $150,000 in clothes and accessories from the Republican National Committee, which were purchased at upscale stores such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.
As a consequence of these many scandals, guilty convictions, and failed policies, voters are expressing their overwhelming displeasure with the Republican Party. Since President Bush took office in 2000, the number of registered Democrats in the country has more than doubled while the number of registered Republicans has significantly declined, with many Republicans jumping ship to the American Independent Party or by registering "decline to state." Both Democratic Party candidates Al Gore and John Kerry won the nation´s popular vote by large margins, but did not win the Electoral College. Since that time, about 10 formally Republican states have turned Democratic in their registrations. These states and many formally Republican Congressional districts in other states are expected to vote Democratic this year.
Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in Congress, was found guilty of "knowingly and willfully" scheming to conceal over $250,000 in home renovations and gifts from VECO Corp., an oil industry contractor in his home state of Alaska.
Stevens´ conviction follows the demise of many other Republican leaders who have been found guilty of crimes or who have practiced lapses in ethical behavior, including the following:
>> Republican Congressman Tom DeLay was indicted on charges of money laundering.
>> Republican Congressman Bob Ney plead guilty to accepting bribes.
>> Republican Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham was convicted of accepting $1.3 million in bribes.
>> Republican Scooter Libby, Chief of Staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was convicted of perjury, obstruction of justice, and lying to the FBI.
>> J. Steven Griles, former Deputy Secretary for the Dept. of the Interior, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice.
>> GOP Congressman Mark Foley resigned after a sex scandal involving a 16-year-old male page in the U.S. House of Representatives.
>> Republican Senator Bill Frist was reported to have maintained additional stock holdings outside of his blind trust, creating a conflict of interest.
>> Republican Congressman Curt Weldon was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on charges of trading political influence for lobbying contracts for his daughter. Weldon did not resign, but in his 2006 re-election campaign, the Washington Post reported that the Republican Party had "all but abandoned" him.
>> Former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert covered up warnings about inappropriate conduct by Mark Foley, and from taking contributions from Jack Abramoff to the tune of over $100,000.
>> Republican Senator Larry Craig plead guilty to soliciting sex from an undercover male police officer in a public restroom at an airport in Minnesota.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain has been trying to distance himself from President Bush and the GOP leadership by describing himself as a "maverick" and by selecting Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate. Palin – also described as a "maverick" – ran and won against an incumbent Republican governor. Palin campaigned on the need for "clean government" as the primary reason to elect her. However, Palin was recently and widely criticized for accepting over $150,000 in clothes and accessories from the Republican National Committee, which were purchased at upscale stores such as Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.
As a consequence of these many scandals, guilty convictions, and failed policies, voters are expressing their overwhelming displeasure with the Republican Party. Since President Bush took office in 2000, the number of registered Democrats in the country has more than doubled while the number of registered Republicans has significantly declined, with many Republicans jumping ship to the American Independent Party or by registering "decline to state." Both Democratic Party candidates Al Gore and John Kerry won the nation´s popular vote by large margins, but did not win the Electoral College. Since that time, about 10 formally Republican states have turned Democratic in their registrations. These states and many formally Republican Congressional districts in other states are expected to vote Democratic this year.