Will Alaska's Top Porkers Ted Stevens and Don Young Get Roasted?
Alaska Senator Ted Stevens and Representative Don Young have combined to serve nearly 75 years in Congress. They've endured eight presidential administrations, flashed tempers worthy of… well, John McCain, and appropriated untold millions in pork projects to their home state.
But all that could be coming to an end on Tuesday…
The two men who once were considered unbeatable now face bruising fights in Tuesday's primary election that could put their once solidly Republican congressional seats up for grabs. Both have been caught up in a long-running federal investigation that has already seen three GOP state lawmakers, the former governor's chief of staff and three others convicted on corruption charges.
Stevens — visionary behind the infamous Bridge to Nowhere — has been indicted for failing to report gifts from an oil company that remodeled his home in exchange for political favors.
Young — who hasn't even bothered to limit his pork projects to Alaska — has spent over one million dollars in legal fees, in hopes of staving off an indictment in the very same investigation.
Of the two porkers, Young stands the greater chance of losing his primary on Tuesday. His opponent, Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, has been endorsed by Gov. Sarah Palin, and even national conservative groups have lined up to rip Young on TV.
Young, with his trademark grace, has embraced Parnell's candidacy ever since the Republican state convention in March…
"Sean, congratulations. I beat your dad and I'm going to beat you," Young said, referring to the 1980 race in which he trounced Pat Parnell, who ran as a Democrat.
Music to the ears of Democrat Ethan Berkowitz, who gets to take on the winner.
Send Don Young back to Alaska where he can reclaim his old job clubbing baby seals!
Mark Begich is running for the Senate against Ted Stevens – he's not running for Young's seat in the House.
The winner of the Young/Parnell primary election will face Democrats Ethan Berkowitz or Dianne Benson.