Why Am I Not Surprised?

The New York Times reports that the Alaska GOP is still pushing to re-elect Sen. Ted Stevens.

More...

The [Alaska Republican] party is pushing for the re-election of Senator Ted Stevens, who was convicted on Monday of seven felony counts but continues his campaign for a seventh full term, in the hope that his re-election will allow Republicans to hold onto his seat even if Mr. Stevens eventually resigns.

Under that chain of events, a special election would be held later to replace Mr. Stevens, giving the party the chance to find a new candidate and keep the seat out of Democratic hands.

“That’s the reality,” said McHugh Pierre, a party spokesman. “Unfortunately, the situation’s the situation.”

Okay, I get it. It's all politics. Holding the seat for Republicans is more important than distancing the party from a convicted felon. Wouldn't it be nice if the Alaska party would, instead, take its lumps and come back with a less corrupt candidate next time? I thought Republicans were supposed to be "tough on crime".

(Just in case you're wondering, I don't think the Dems should support the re-election of William Jefferson either.)