Posted on 09/13/2006 9:54:25 AM PDT by Courdeleon02
New GOP attack on Menendez Wednesday, September 13, 2006 By DEBORAH HOWLETT NEWHOUSE NEWS SERVICE Republican state lawmakers yesterday filed a new ethics complaint against Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, accusing him of using his seat in Congress to protect the value of a stock he owned.
Aides to Menendez called the complaint "baseless" and say it's part of a mud-slinging effort by "lackies" of his Republican challenger, state Sen. Tom Kean Jr.
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State Sen. Diane Allen, R-Burlington, and Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose, R-Sussex, claim Menendez violated House ethics rules by working to prevent a $3.5 billion merger of Univision and Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. four years ago.
Menendez owned between $16,000 and $65,000 stock in the rival Spanish Broadcasting System, a Florida-based company, according to his financial disclosure statements. The 2003 merger seemed certain to substantially devalue his SBS holdings, which it ultimately did.
Menendez sold the stock this year, after it lost more than half of its value, said his campaign spokesman, Matt Miller.
But Miller said that Menendez's opposition to the merger had nothing to do with his personal finances. Throughout his career, Menendez has opposed media consolidation because it limits the diversity of voices, Miller said. He pointed out that as a result of the merger, Univision radio and TV stations now command 70 percent of the nation's Spanish-speaking audience.
"The Republican playbook this year is to run smear campaigns across the country," Miller said, "and Tom Kean Jr. has shown George Bush and the Washington Republicans that he is the boy wonder of smear campaigns."
The new complaint follows one filed two weeks ago over a rental deal between Menendez and a Hudson County nonprofit group that he helped get federal funds. That deal is now also the subject of an investigation by the U.S. attorney.
Republican "smear campaigns" = telling the truth about liberals.
Liberal smear campaigns = "Bush lied; people died"; "Bush is behind 9/11"
I guess it really does all depend on what your definition of is, is. ;)
Menendez - Union City Garbage.
I wonder if the RATS are going to replace Menendez with Toricelli? Or is Karly Katz going to get the nod?
I predict Bill Bradley.
I'm sure their pollsters will tell them soon who to select. It's the level of independent thought that I love so much about the Dims.
Corzine's motioning to the bullpen-and it looks like it will be Codey to finish this off in relief.
It's hard to be as corrupt as Louisiana, but New Jersey sure is trying hard to top them.
Hello Senator Cody.
Menendez has wanted to be Senator forever. Is there any chance he'd step down voluntarily?
Or will they bring back McGreevy???? Anyone that can commit fraud, lies, steals, etc. that's what New Jersey is all about...now I understand why the saying: "New Jersey, the armpit of America."
Are you sure about the deadline having been past? I'm not so sure.
If Kean is smart, and I think he is, he will have another five scandals lined up, and he can release one every two weeks between now and Election Day.
That was a joke, son, a joke ( in best Foghorn Leghorn voice). In NJ deadlines mean nothing when the RATS want to do something different.
There go those Republicans again, committing truth in public. When will they stop???
Will NJ folks be smart enough to get Mendendez out?----it's like the Louisiana of the North over there.
When was the last time a Democrat stepped down voluntarily? AFAIK only Republicans do that.
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