By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Give Sarah Palin credit: She stung fellow Republican and Alaskan Sen. Ted Stevens on Monday after he was found guilty of lying on financial disclosure forms. Palin basically said Stevens was guilty as charged.

"The verdict shines a light on the corrupting influence of the big oil service company up there in Alaska that was allowed to control too much of our state," Palin said.

"And that control was part of the culture of corruption that I was elected to fight, and that fight must always move forward regardless of party affiliation or seniority or even past service."

The strong words, of course, helped Palin re-establish her credentials as a fighter of corruption in Alaska. Still, the development Monday is not likely to change the basic fact that most Americans don't think Palin is qualified to become vice president.

The federal jury found Stevens guilty on seven counts of lying -- mostly for not listing gifts and home renovations on financial disclosure forms.

Most gifts came from Bill Allen, former chief executive of an oilfield services company called Veco.

Palin knows Veco well, because she has spoken out against corruption in the Alaskan oil industry.

Stevens, who's represented Alaska for 40 years, is fighting to keep his job in the Senate. That job just got a lot harder on Monday, thanks to the jury's verdict and Palin's stinging words.