April 3, 2009

Palin's Call for Special Election Doesn't Square with Earlier Call for Stevens to "Do the Right Thing"

From a Bob Poe press release:

Today Bob Poe, Democratic Candidate for Governor, joined other Alaskans in their support for Senator Mark Begich and in opposition of Governor Palin's call for a special election.

"I share with many Alaskans relief that Senator Ted Stevens will not spend the remainder of his life under the cloud of seven felony convictions. He has contributed much to Alaska . It is also heartening to know that it was under President Obama's Administration, a Democrat, that the Justice Department chose to drop their pursuit of a badly flawed prosecution begun under President Bush.", Poe said.

"Governor Palin's call for Senator Mark Begich to step down and to stand for special election is not only flawed in its logic, but it flies in the face of her earlier call for Senator Stevens "to do the right thing" on the day of his conviction last October. Let's remember it was Senator Stevens who requested an earlier trial date which placed the trial in the middle of his campaign for reelection. Senator Begich entered the race for senator long before Ted Stevens was indicted." added Poe.

"Attorney General Holder's decision this week to no longer pursue the Justice Department's prosecution took into consideration Senator Stevens' advanced age and the fact that he was no longer a United States Senator. Clearly the Justice Department prosecutors failed our country's legal system in the way they conducted themselves, but this failure does not clear Senator Stevens of any wrongdoing." said Poe.

"Alaskan voters knew what they were doing when they elected Senator Begich - he was a strong mayor for Anchorage and he is already doing a great job for Alaska . I look forward to his service in the U.S. Senate for many years to come." Poe concluded.

Bob Poe announced on January 8, 2009 he was seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor. He has had a 28-year career in Alaska 's public and private sectors serving four Alaska Governors during his career.

He has been critically involved in a variety of economic development efforts including leading Alaska 's marketing and negotiating teams to attract the FedEx and UPS cargo hubs to Anchorage .