Senate GOP morale goes down the 'tubes' RAW STORY

Published: Wednesday July 30, 2008





Print This Email This Things had been looking up for the Senate GOP. During an election year where their brand is less-than-popular, Republicans in the Senate were upbeat earlier in the week, as their message promoting offshore oil drilling seemed to be catching on. Then, on Tuesday, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) was indicted for allegedly making false statements in his financial disclosures, leaving the GOP brass "speechless and saddened," reports Roll Call. Stevens, 84, accused of making seven false statements related to over $250,000 in gifts from an oil services company, is one of the most senior GOP Senators in Congress. "'I've known Ted Stevens for 28 years and Ive always found him to be impeccably honest,' Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) said," wrote John Stanton. "'I think he has shown tremendous leadership in the Senate. ... We all have unexpected moments in our careers,' Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) offered. 'We have to work through them. I wish him the best.'" Even some Democratic Senators were left grasping to Stevens' innocence, said Stanton, reporting a "somber reaction" during a Democratic luncheon on Tuesday.Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) in particular espoused his belief his GOP colleague is innocent, while others, such as Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), said the Senate is more like a family than anything, and that he would never "wish ill to Sen. Stevens or his family." Even while declaring his innocence, Sen. Stevens was forced by GOP rules to give up his ranking member status on the Science and Transportation, Commerce Committee and Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. During a Tuesday press conference, at which Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) were expected to discuss the Republicans' energy initiatives, McConnell instead spent less than a minute at the microphone. "'Let me just say that the Republican Conference, like you, just learned of this news,'" said Roll Call. "We'll no doubt have more to say about it later. But for the moment, Im going to be joining [Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)] and see if we can move forward on the energy package that we may be voting on later today,' McConnell said before walking off without taking questions." Excerpts from article: # GOP Senators believed they were gaining momentum with their message on energy, one of the few bright spots in an election year that portends bruising losses for the minority party. But then the bombshell hit  that Stevens had been indicted on seven counts for not reporting more than $250,000 he received in gifts from an oil services company. That news trumped their improving fortunes as it swept through the Senate, leaving lawmakers speechless and saddened. ... Alexander canceled an afternoon press conference with House Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (Fla.) that was intended to accuse Democratic leaders of shielding their presumptive presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), from casting politically difficult votes on drilling for more oil. Asked whether the Republicans had been knocked off their game, Alexander morosely stated, We have our jobs to do, and well keep doing it. ... News of Stevens legal troubles hit Republicans during their weekly Tuesday luncheon where they had planned to discuss whether to accept Reids offer on amendments. They left lunch only to be greeted by a barrage of questions about Stevens future, not energy policy. READ THE REST