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Stevens Cusses, Threatens and Belittles His Way Into the Hearts of Alaskan Voters

Embattled Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) took to Alaskan radio Tuesday, and to no one's surprise but his own, he was confronted by callers with questions about his recent indictment for lying on financial disclosure forms about favors he received from a campaign contributor.

Stevens' responses to his constituents inquiries ranged from general shock, to confusion, to denial, and even to John Wayne-like challenges.

As more and more people called in to the show asking questions about his upcoming trial and indictment, Stevens' patience seemed to wane. At about forty minutes into the show, host Steve Heimel stepped in to break up a shouting match between Stevens and a caller.

"Excuse me, Steve," the caller said, "but the senator is a big boy and can take care of himself. He's been in the game a long time."

"You're damned right I can take care of myself," Stevens responded. "Any time you want to come, friend."

When asked by Heimel what would happen to his campaign if he was convicted at his trial in September, Stevens had a simple, head-in-the-sand, response:

I don't think about that. I have faith that that is not going to happen. As a matter of fact, approaching this whole issue is a matter of faith Steve. And I am convinced I am innocent, so I, I must maintain my position that I have faith I will not be reaching that position that you just indicated. If that happens, we'll have to make some decisions, but I don't expect it.

We've compiled a highlight reel for your enjoyment.

Partial transcript after the jump.

Q: I have a question abuot how you're paying your legal bills. I think in the context of a corruption case, it's very important that the voters here, your constituents, know who is footing the bill for your legal expenses. So I'm curious who those contributors are and if you won't answer the question, I would like to know why you think it's ok to hide that from your constituents.
A: I'm not hiding it at all, I'm not paying it from my campaign. There are rules to apply to the legal defense fund, we will abide by those rules, they do not call for disclosure until a specific time, and when that specific time arrives, it will be disclosed.
Q: When is that specific time?
A: That specifics by law - I don't know that exact date. It hasn't come yet.

Q: Do the rules say that you can't disclose it right now, and if not, why not let people know right now?
A: I don't know myself. But besides that the answer is, you're just trying to make it a political question. It's not a political question, it's a legal question and it's in court. I am not going to take it into my campaign.
Q: You don't think who is paying for your campaign is relevant voters -or sorry your court case - is relevant to voters? Do you think that's completely irrelevant to whether or not you're qualified to represent us in the United States Senate?
A: I think it's a matter of judgment. I think I'm entitled to the same concept of innocent until proven guilty which you don't seem to share.

Q:Senator, what happens if you win the primary, the trial happens, and you're convicted at trial?
A: I don't think about that. I have faith that's not going to happen. As a matter of fact, personally this whole issue, it's a matter of faith. I'm convinced that I'm innocent, so I must maintain my position that I have faith I will not be reaching that position you just indicated. If that happens, we'll have to make some decisions.

Q: Senator my question is, and I know you've said you can't discuss the specifics of your case and that you say you feel you are innocent, but if you are convicted, would you take a presidential pardon or would you live with the court's verdict?
A: Why would I cross a bridge I haven't seen? I don't know. I don't know the answer to that question.
Q: Well sir I just think it's something the Alaskan public should know...
A: Why? Why? Why? You tell me why. They're not, they're not, I've been around the state, this morning I've had more questions about the case and what I would do if I lost it then I've had in the last month.
Q: Well this is only the second question about the case and I think it's a fair one.
A: That's the second one I've had statewide.

Q: Senator, regarding the criminal indictment, I understand-
A: Oh no, not again.
Q: Yeah, I'm sorry, well you have to be accountable to your constituents. You don't have to refuse to talk about these actions you took. You choose to to protect yourself. Don't you think you should be accountable to the people who elected you regardless of your legal predicament? Either you took expensive gifts from Allen and Pico or you didn't. Who would know better at whether you took a cabinet full of tools, a gas grill, or traded a 35 year old car for a $44,000 one. So did you or didn't you?
A: [host] I'm not sure we can get an answer on that.
Q: Well, how about letting the Senator answer.
A: [Stevens] Why don't you go talk to the FBI, ask them that question, will you please, thanks again. Goodbye.
Q: I think you should be accountable to us, sir.
A: Goodbye, goodbye.

Q: Excuse me, but the Senator is a big boy and can take care of himself. He's been in the game a long time.
A: You're damned right I can take care of myself any time you want to come, friend.
Q: Well I'm here right now and I would like to talk about why you aren't accountable to the people of the state of Alaska-
A: I am accountable, I will be accountable next Tuesday and I will be accountable on November 4.

Q: I've been following the news lately and they were mentioning that you supported an ethics bill in 1989 that Congress had passed, it was an amended ethics and government bill that said that members of Congress needed to disclose their financial reports, anything exceeding $200, and now your defense team is saying that's unconstitutional, and I'm just wondering if you can talk to us Alaskans about how that's unconstitutional in 2008 but in 1989 that was satisfactory.
A: As I've said before, I haven't seen that pleading, it was filed by my lawyers in Washington, they've been hired to do it-
Q: OK well why don't you give us your opinion, aside from what your lawyers are saying-
A: I'm sorry I'm not going to give my opinion about what my lawyers have done that I haven't read. So thank you very much, I don't know who gave you that amendment, that question, but whoever gave you that question ask them.


20 Comments

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God told me to do it. I am innocent. I have convinced myself of it. And oh, i'm republican.

And further caller, i know the judge, i approved his appiontment, and if that is not good enough, pardon me.

What a fool Stevens is. Goes on public radio to get a little free advertising for his campaign and then proceeds to get hammered by the public.

As someone who worked and lived in Alaska, it's hard to believe that the people of Alaska would be asking Ted Stevens these questions. They indicate that he is in trouble politically which is unthinkable to him. The reasons are beyond him. He expresses “faith” that all of these problems will go away and his reelection to the Senate will remain just a formality.

These questions from his constituency however are indications that his reelection is not guaranteed and is dependent on being accountable to them and incidentally being found innocent of the charges he is facing.

News Flash Ted - About that faith you have, you won't be convicted? I just heard God has been in a cone of silence and was not receiving any of your prayers. Maybe you should have started building that bridge to truthyness a little sooner!

Seems to me that this a test of the moral integrity of the people of Alaska. If he polls above 35% (gotta allow for the "corrupt Republican is better than an integrous Democratic" crowd) in November, we will know the state is essentially corrupt. Stevens has been buying his seat for decades. Do the people of Alaska has the gonads to say, enough is enough. I doubt they do. He's created an Alaskian culture where corruption, where screw-the-country is the status quo.

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Merlot, you suggest that sourdoughs haven't a set of standards for Ted to live up to. They do. He must keep all of his shenanigans under the table. He's blown it.
Barryw10a got it right. The fact that numbers of his constituents are questioning his ability to continue to represent them is the "tell" that he won't be getting rah-rahs from his peeps at large. Very few bothered to ask before this debacle.

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Listen here, you gall-durned whipper-snappers! If you think for one minute that I'm gonna put up with this kinda shenanigans, you've got another thing coming! Back in my day, young people treated their elders with RESPECT! Dagnabbit! Why I oughta whip the tar outta the whole lotta ya! You're just lucky I can't find my walker or I'd tan your backsides, y'dang brats! ... MOTHER! BRING ME MY PRUNE JUICE!!!

Driven into dementia.

Thanks a bunch for putting this up. I work in public radio in Fairbanks, and when I heard this interview, I just knew the fine folks at TPM would want to hear it for themselves.

I'll almost miss Uncle Ted, for his comedic value of course.

Ah Ted, we'll always have the Tubes...

In response to Merlot's comment, Alaskans very much so have an Us Versus Them xenophobic attitude towards what they refer to as "the lower 48". But I want to say that not all of us up here share that attitude. I hope there are enough of us to overthrow Stevens, Young, and eventually Murkowski too.

I agree with the Us vs. Them meme, but sending this guy to Washington is beyond the pale. The King of Earmarks needs some frontier justice.

Gee I am all broken up about it! :) tee he tee he!

ah, the good old repuglitard "accountability moment"

I am accountable, I will be accountable next Tuesday and I will be accountable on November 4.

cept you ain't supposed to mention that the election is the "accountability moment" before the election

it kinda sounds like your constituents are looking forward to that "accountability moment" this year

I don't think you're gonna make it to november, dude

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Guy still looks like serial cannibal to me.

He is delusional if he thinks 'we Alaskans' all think he is innocent -- because he 'said so'.


Punish him at the polls. Republicans got dibs.

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I like how he says "I am convinced I am innocent". Wouldn't he "know" if he were innocent? And who "convinced" him?

TPM may have missed this rather interesting statement (threat?) from Sen. Stevens in the final minute of the broadcast.

Steve Heimel:
“What are your plans between now and the primary?”

Stevens (sputtering removed):
“I’m going to continue to go throughout the state. You know, it’s an interesting thing on your program. I’ve traveled the state now, for almost a month. This is the first program I’ve ever been asked those questions about the investigation or the court case. I think that’s a very interesting thing. I’m going to have to think about why, on this program in one hour, I’ve had more questions than I’ve had in a month. Thank you.”

Maybe it's a true observation (hey, maybe he's only been among friends for a solid month). But it cleary came across as a threat. Heimel seemed to take the hint, judging by his uneasy response.

Two points: where the transcription reads: "Either you took expensive gifts from Allen and Pico or you didn't", it should read "...Allen and Veco..." Veco is the oil services company run by Allen.

Second, the shouting was done by Stevens, not the callers, who were consistently restrained and polite, if insistent.

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