The Limits of Party Loyalty

Red State put a post soon after the conviction of Senator Ted Steven (R-Ak.) on corruption charges endorsing Democrats Mark Begitch for Senate and Ethan Berkowitz for House. The endorsement was later amended to be merely a non-endorsement of Senator Stevens and Congressman Don Young (which is probably more where I would lie, as I’m not about to “endorse” a pro-abortion Democrat.) The directors write:

We have no illusions that Begich will be a good Senator (although perhaps he can bring to DC some bipartisan oomph to theneed to exploit Alaska’s energy resources for the good of the nation), or Berkowitz a good Congressman. But Ted Stevens and Don Young have been a pox on the Republican house for too long – too addicted to the pork barrel, too fast and loose with ethics. Stevens’ conviction in federal court today is the exclamation pointon an era in Republican politics in general and Alaska politics in particular that needs to end (and which Gov. Sarah Palin has been battling to clean up). Republicans need to clean our own house. Washington cannot too soon see the end of Stevens and Young.

In one way, it doesn’t matter much what Red State does, particularly in regards to the U.S. Senate race. Stevens’ goose is cooked. Voters had taken a more negative view of Begitch and with the tight polls, it was clear that they were taking a “wait and see” attitude. Senator Stevens will lose a week from today, as will Congressman Young.

Largely, the disastrous election that is upon us (I see Republicans losing at least 5 Senate seats, and probably 6 or 7) is because of the GOP failure to police our own. Had Republicans nominated David Cuddy for U.S. Senate and Sean Parnell for the House back in September, these seats could have been saved.

If not for the corruption of Foley, Cunningham, Ney, Stevens, and the rest, we would not be in the position we are today.  People vote vertically and if the candidates offered by a party are corrupt, they won’t trust that party and won’t support it. Some good people have been taken down in this process, and whoever wins the Presidency in 2012, it’ll be a steep climb back for conservatives in our nation.