A Wishy-Washy Vote Against Stevens

Amanda Carpenter | November 13, 2008 2:04 PM

Count Senator Mel Martinez as another GOP-er willing to kick Ted Stevens out of the Senate.

He isn't exactly championing the cause, but will do it if he has to. Sadly, he sounds like he just hopes Stevens loses so the GOP doesn't have to deal with him at all.

From Roll Call:

“I’m hopeful that the election [in Alaska] will resolve this, perhaps, and we won’t have to deal with it,” Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) said today. Stevens currently trails Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) as vote-counting continues in Alaska.
Martinez added that he had not made a decision on how he would vote on Tuesday if a motion is made to kick Stevens out of the GOP Conference.
“I’m just waiting to make a decision until I know what’s happened in the election,” Martinez said. “And perhaps Sen. Stevens should be given a chance to speak, but I think a convicted felon is pretty inconsistent with serving in the United States Senate.”

Senator Jim DeMint will be calling a behind-closed door vote on Tuesday at 9:30 am to oust Stevens from the GOP caucus. It doesn't sound like Martinez is quite there yet.

Update: Now there are reports Stevens is phoning Republicans asking them to hold off ANY votes on his fate until his appeals process is over. That process by the way, could drag on for years. This should be a non-starter.