Sen. Robert Menendez seeks to block Bush's $20M Iraq war PR effort

[bigtree]

By ANGELA DELLI SANTI, Associated Press Writer
Published: Thursday, September 7, 2006

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - With the war in Iraq taking center stage in New Jersey's tight race for U.S. Senate, Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez on Thursday proposed restricting the amount of money the Bush administration spends spinning positive news about the conflict.

Menendez, who is running against Republican state Sen. Tom Kean Jr. for New Jersey's Senate seat, sponsored an amendment in the Senate that would block a $20 million public relations contract from going forward.

The U.S. command in Baghdad is seeking bidders for a two-year contract for monitoring the tone of news stories about the Iraq war filed by U.S. and foreign media.

"This proposal is not just irresponsible, it is an insult to the thousands of Iraqi citizens and coalition forces that have died in this war," Menendez said. "The Bush administration doesn't need a new PR campaign in Iraq, they need a new policy in Iraq."

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/newjersey/story/6729111p-6599255c.html

[evlbstrd]

1. Truly, a corporate presidency.

Don't change the behavior, but manage the perception.

[NJCher]

2. Thank you Menendez

This is an outrage: spending our money to "sell" us something WE DON'T WANT!

I love this guy as my senator.




Cher

[Ignacio Upton]

6. Just wondering: How is the race going on in your state on the ground?

Menendez is trailing Kean in two polls as of now. I'm concerned about how things are going there.

[KoKo]

3. Every time I think they can't go lower....they do. Good for Menendez

[flyarm]

4. wooo hooo Senator Menendez!! wooo hooo you stop the crooks! n/t

[Ignacio Upton]

5. Someone should block Kean Sr. from shilling for ABC

over Path to 9/11. He's a consultant for the movie and has no problem with it, even though it contradicts the findings of his own commission.

[EVDebs]

7. There goes the money to pay for The Path to 9-11, ABC nt