Sunday, July 12, 2009

Opinion

Sam Dealey

Ted Stevens's Convictions: Good News for Conservatives With Conviction

October 28, 2008 09:37 AM ET | Sam Dealey | Permanent Link | Print

There's been precious little good news for conservatives lately, but Monday brought a hint of sunshine. Sen. Ted Stevens, the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, was found guilty on all seven counts of corruption by a Washington, D.C., jury.

The longtime pol failed to disclose that he received things of value—notably, construction work on what he calls his "chalet"—from an Alaskan company to which he steered contracts, and for that, he is legally guilty. But in a broader sense, he is also morally guilty for turning the public coffers into a candy jar and corrupting his nominal party.

My old boss Robert Novak is fond of saying that there are three parties on Capitol Hill: the Republicans, the Democrats, and the Appropriators. And while Stevens's conviction will no doubt play to the GOP's disadvantage in the coming week, his exit can serve as a useful and necessary reminder to Republican lawmakers that, in the words of Barry Goldwater, they have worshiped false idols.

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Tags: politics | Republicans | Senate | Ted Stevens | courts

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Reader Comments

Learn how to read

Kalem is a moron. I don't see Obama mentioned in Dealey's article anywhere. Learn how to read before making a comment.

Bull crap response by Republicans

You Republicans just won't quit!! this article was about a corrupt Republican and what do you do? You continue to bash Obama!!! Is that all you have in your sinking ship to the win the White House? Try harder please!!!

Yes, Schaefer, and you're going to like blogging for the next four years. You can gripe about Obama---and you will.

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Sam Dealey is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and Reader's Digest. He has written for many publications, including Time, GQ, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

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