Clinton-Backing Senator Bemoans Media's Scandal Coverage

Senator Robert Menendez, a key surrogate for Hillary Clinton, said on Thursday that it was time for the media to move on from the scandal and conflict coverage of the presidential campaign and begin focusing its attentions on issues like Iraq.

"The problem is, of course, that we have the media, which is more interested in conflict than substance at the end of the day, and that is the challenge," the senator told The Huffington Post. "Of course if you only stuck to the issues and never deviated it would be hard for the media to find the opening. But the reality is that the nature of the political campaigns is giving us a different set of circumstances."

Menendez was speaking at a conference with fellow Sens. Jim Webb and Frank Lautenberg marking the fifth anniversary of President Bush's declaration of "mission accomplished" in Iraq. Speaking before a gathering of congressional reporters (as many journalists were in attendance as congressional aides), he argued "it [was] not enough to put Iraq center-stage only when Gen. Petraeus comes into town," and that "too often the war fades from our newscasts and our public thought unless you are a family who has a soldier there."

In making his comments, Menendez became the second senator in as many days to criticize the media for a lack of political substance. On MSNBC yesterday, John Kerry, an Obama supporter, ripped into the network for focusing intensely on the issue of Obama's controversial former pastor Jeremiah Wright.

"Can I say something to you?" Kerry asked. "You folks need to let go of this. Television needs to stop dwelling on something that is in the past. I thought Barack Obama yesterday gave America his second big presidential moment of this campaign. The first when he spoke out about the issue of race. The second yesterday, when he made it clear, every one of the statements of the minister are just unacceptable. They're not the person that he knew before. Now let's move on to how we'll put people to work. How are you going to give people health care? How are you going to create jobs in America?"

While Menendez did not directly address the media's focus on the Wright controversy, his message to the fourth estate was much the same. Asked after the conference whether he thought the race between Clinton and Barack Obama had devolved into a distraction of sideshow issues and political scandals, the New Jersey Senator agreed.

"In fairness, both candidates have talked about the issues, whether it be heath care or the economy and Iraq," he said. "I think it is largely driven by the media. I think the media is largely driven by the idea that the essence of a good story is conflict."

Comments

[justobserve]

The Clintons' MO is insinuate the Wright sermon then her supporter invited Wright to the Press Club then Clintons just sit back and let the media roll! Mission accomplished!

[PKSSK]

Mr Menendez, maybe you should have your candidate stop her surrogates, like Blumenthal and Podesta, from feeding the right wing media the scandals that have negatively impacted her fellow democratic opponent and his supporters. The longer you and others in the party let this destuctive, illegal and corruptive situtation go on, the more culpable you "all" are in destroying the party and your constituent support in the future. You all better wake up before it is too late!!!!

[Mesaywar]

Someone should probably tell Menendez to talk with Sidney Blumenthal and the rest of the Vast Clinton Conspiracy before spouting bull about negative media.

[mntnguy]

Everyone! Google Paul vs Clinton and hold on to your shirt with what you read!! I can not believe this is being hidden so well by the media and Clinton supporters claim she has a chance of winning once she is convicted in this case that she is apparently guilty of along with Gov Ed Randell and Former Pres Clinton. This will all be over soon! I know the superdelegates are watching this!

P.S. all Obama supporter should start talking about this in every post maybe the media will get the idea ! let the truth be told!

Go Obama 08 Yes We Can!!!!

[Darqhorse]

The original Judge who said HRC had not done anything illegal was a Judge seated by Bill Clinton. Isn't that a bit of biase plus a conflict of interest, she should have recused herself. The only reason Peter Paul got this to go to the appeal courts is because of the recorded message.

After this was brought out, she amended her campaign finance report to the FEC to reflect a very small portion of this event, and got fined only $35K.

Now they are looking into the Elton John concert to see if it violated any FEC regulations. Which I believe it did once Elton John made the comment about people who don't vote for her are "misogynist". That was an endorsement by a foreigner and due to FEC regulations was a violation. Let's see where this goes. NOWHERE!

Now the Judge has throw that out as of April 25th and will not be admitted into court. In addition. HRC will not have to be deposed until after the November elections. IF she is election (god help us) then she will have Presidential immunity. Call that Justice!

Her and Bill always find a way out of EVERY dishonest and scandalist event and throw their so called friends under the bus and let them go to jail for their sins.

[Plumbervip]

why can't any one get this to fox, cnn ect ect

[2351]

Believe me, all of the news media know about this. I think that people need to picket these stations.

[greejambri]

Whoops, looks like the Clintons' newest "Judas."

[mntnguy]

I think what we are seeing is that bill Clinton pulled in alot of favors to try and keep the media off the lies his wife and campaign staff were running around telling everyone

[Zanti]

Can you elaborate?

[Shelly1970]

Menendez is basically right. Yet it's somehow hypocritical to support a candidate who also focuses on scandal, and not substance.

[Testtubebaby]

Those Tee Shirts really need to circulate.

[DavePM]

Of course he would come out and say this after weeks and months of bullshit media coverage. Great leadership, Senator. Set the example for everyone else. Weak.

[JMorgan]

Dear Senator Menendez,

OPEN YOURS EYES! That is if you want anyone to believe you're not as corrupt as the Clintons are.

Signed,

J. "I don't live in New Jersey, but I did and have about 30 relatives who do, who all vote and won't vote for Hillary Clinton or anyone who helps her get the nomination" Morgan

[Pupster]

Don't post that here. Send it to his office or give him a call.

[Bill3rdterm]

very democratic of you, threatening someone to get your way. Uncase you forgot she carried NJ by double digits

[Americanium]

The thing is if this campaign had stuck to the issues..Hi­llary would have had a better chance of winning the nomination.

Now she is being viewed as part of the negativity and has sought to benefit from the filth.

[Bill3rdterm]

she had been talking issues the whole time, but the media treated Obama with kid gloves. This rev wright thing should have been exposed a long time ago.

[Zanti]

Or dealt with. Or at least anticipated. Why didn't they see it coming?

[billrott]

If he wants this, then he should get Hillary and her surrogates to stop pushing these news stories. Better yet, he should just endorse Obama and end this debacle.

[Tranquility08]

What a jerk. It's his candidate that demanded that she stay in this race despite the fact it is impossible without tearing the party apart for her to win. And then when the Press reacts to the fight which has to happen since there is really not much else to talk about, he comes back and bemoans the Press. Bull.

This is all happening because Hillary wants to change the rules. She's not satisfied with a delegate counting contest. She wants a current public opinion poll driven nomination process similar to how she and her husband governed. She wants to ignore how the Party decided- with her blessing- to punish the states that broker the rules. She wants she wants she demands.

This is not the Press's fault this is Hillary's fault. This is HILLARY DRAMA.

STOP THE DRAMA VOTE FOR OBAMA.

[Gemma08]

He shud tell Clinton and her lapdog, Blumenthal to stop feeding the MSM the anti-Obama poison then. The Democratic party is in the arsenic death throes it was force fed by Hillary Clinton and her 'supporters'.

If Clinton 'wins' she should ask Britney Spears to perform 'Toxic' at the Convention.

[abouttime]

Hilary has lost.

[Teritt]

She lost my respect

[Obamlatina]

With all due respect Senator Menendez the Media wouldn't be covering "scandales" if it weren't for Clinton and her surrogates "throwing the kitchen sink" at Senator Obama. Surely, you know that she can't win without going negative and the media is loving every minute of it! I'm surprised you even support such a divisive and deceitfull politician like Hillary.

[standforpeace]

Hear, hear. Clinton supporters need to face up to the fact that they are backing the queen of dirty tricks. I don't want to ever hear another person who supports this wretch bemoaning the farce that politics has become. At this point Clinton's whole strategy is based on promoting the premise that whites won't vote for the Black guy. She wants to officially take us from the party that gave us the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act (with a great big push and even some dragging and outright carrying by Civil Rights Movement activists and not the other way around as Hillary once tried to suggest) to being the Democratic party of the 1950s when the party was the political headquarters of white supremacists. Because that's what it means to build your whole outreach to the Super Delegates on a wink and a whisper that Obama can't win with whites.

Well we've got some news for you this time out Hillary. The Democrats also can't win without Blacks. And we are not going to reward your race baiting with our votes this time around. So sorry.

[legalgirl]

"I think it is largely driven by the media. I think the media is largely driven by the idea that the essence of a good story is conflict."
NOTE TO MEDIA: Stop doing made up "conflict" stories. No one believes you anymore. You are the collective "boy who cried wolf." We, the public, have moved on, while you are still stuck on "American idle." What's more, you are so stupid, because you should be able to do BOTH. Double your viewership, get it? DO QUALITY news coverage. DO American Idol. Just don't do them in the same show.
And you guys get paid what? good grief

[poppaculture]

Bravo