Thread: Kean, Menendez continue attacks as N.J. Senate race heats up

Kean, Menendez continue attacks as N.J. Senate race heats up

By REBECCA SANTANA
The Associated Press

PLEASANTVILLE, N.J. - Republican Senate candidate Tom Kean Jr. hammered away at his familiar campaign themes of the economy, immigration and corruption Friday while his Democratic opponent, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, said the campaign ads run against him are slanderous.

Speaking to a lunchtime crowd at Gary's Restaurant, Kean tried to shore up support in the traditionally Republican, suburban area outside of Atlantic City, pursuing a theme that has been a cornerstone of his campaign: integrity and what he says is Menendez's lack of it.

"We can no longer afford Bob Menendez in the United States Senate on behalf of the people of the state of New Jersey," said Kean, a state senator.

Comments such as those have infuriated Menendez, who said in an appearance in Lawrence that his reputation has been so sullied by a series of Kean attack ads that he may take some type of action about it after the Nov. 7 election.

The ads have said Menendez is under federal criminal investigation for his connection to a nonprofit agency that rented a building from him and for which he helped obtain federal funds. The senator has denied he is under investigation, and maintained the rental agreement was approved by the House ethics committee.

While Menendez called the ads slanderous, he declined to specify the type of action he was considering or against whom. Asked repeatedly to clarify the remark he made to students at Rider University, Menendez said only, "We'll take care of it after the election."

Jill Hazelbaker, a spokeswoman for Kean, said Menendez was "desperate" and "acting silly."

Menendez talked at length about his opposition to the war in Iraq during his 25-minute speech at Rider. He also highlighted his support for stem cell research, education assistance and increasing the minimum wage.

Kean's repeated attacks on Menendez seemed to hit home with some diners in Pleasantville.

Al Garrell, 64, of Absecon, said the economy and issues of integrity and corruption were some of the reasons he planned to vote for Kean, the son of the popular governor of the same name.


"We've got to get a hold of the state's economy, and we've got to have people in Washington who make sure the corruption is out and the honesty is in," said Garrell, who was wearing a sticker showing his support for Kean.

In a race that has grown increasingly tense and nasty, the outcome may depend on how voters feel about two people who aren't running: President Bush and former Gov. Thomas H. Kean, according to a new poll.

Results of The New York Times/CBS News poll published in Friday's newspapers suggest that Kean has benefited from his father's reputation, and Menendez has profited from voter discontent with the president.

The poll shows the two are just about even, with Menendez leading 38 percent to 36 percent among registered voters. The telephone poll, conducted between Oct. 20 and Oct. 25, included 1,023 adults, 849 of whom were registered to vote.

The poll had a sampling error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

In general, the voters polled who support Menendez said the president and control of Congress play an important role in their decision: Fifty-eight percent described their vote as being against President Bush; 90 percent of those favoring the senator said they disapprove of the job the president is doing. Some 67 percent of those favoring Kean said they approve of the way Bush is handling his job.

When it comes to Kean, voters seemed swayed by his family history: 33 percent said the first thing that came to mind when asked about Kean was his father. No other category gained more than 10 percentage points.

But the poll also showed that, with less than two weeks to go until the November election, many people are still undecided. Thirty-nine percent said they could change their minds before Nov. 7.

---

Associated Press Writer Angela Delli Santi in Lawrence contributed to this report.
October 27, 2006 4:25 PM

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/ ... 33303.html

I wish we would have a good independent to run in this race. I cannot vote for Menendez, he is corrupt and voted for the Senate Amnesty Bill. We also have the country's highest taxes no thanks to Rep. Menendez.

Kean Jr., has sent telephone messages to NJ state residence. I received one the other day. The first thing out of his mouth was, "I am against illegal immigration". I guess hearing that will get my vote. I have misgivings about the War in Iraq, but we have our backs to the wall.

I feel if comprehensive immigration goes through we will lose the country. If Kean wins, we could stop illegal immigration and keep pressure on the Republicans for an exit strategy in Iraq.

I have to worry about our homeland. It's being invaded. We won't have a country to fight for if we lose it!

Originally Posted by CCUSA

I wish we would have a good independent to run in this race. I cannot vote for Menendez, he is corrupt and voted for the Senate Amnesty Bill. We also have the country's highest taxes no thanks to Rep. Menendez.

Kean Jr., has sent telephone messages to NJ state residence. I received one the other day. The first thing out of his mouth was, "I am against illegal immigration". I guess hearing that will get my vote. I have misgivings about the War in Iraq, but we have our backs to the wall.

I feel if comprehensive immigration goes through we will lose the country. If Kean wins, we could stop illegal immigration and keep pressure on the Republicans for an exit strategy in Iraq.

I have to worry about our homeland. It's being invaded. We won't have a country to fight for if we lose it!

I agree with everything you've said, CC, except the rhetoric "exit strategy." That's exactly what it is......lib rhetoric.

Let me just say that by giving the enemy ANY date of redeployment/exit strategy is tantemount to giving them the pot of gold -- the brass ring.
It's pure lunacy and the worst strategy one could entertain.

As far as Kean/Menendez goes, it would have been a miracle if we had a decent choice. Notice how the repubs never put up a viable, decent candidate in this state? Kean is weak but Menendez is DANGEROUS. His loyalties are south of the border and in his pants pocket.

MENENDEZ AN LAUTENBERG JUST THE SAME EXCEPT HE AT LEAST VOTED FOR SOME WITHIN COUNTRY HOMELAND SECURITY BILLS
WHERE MENENDEZ DIDN'T
AND AS FAR AS KEAN BEING A BUSH'S MAN...I doubt it ...but the DEMOCRATS including Menendez (all just about) voted for Bush's amnesty bill ) Bush's democrats....

THIS IS PART OF THE IMMIGRATION VOTES...HE WAS RATED AT 0%
Immigration-Reduction Report Card OVERALL ACTIONS
Session Year Grade
109 '05 - '06F- 107 '01 - '02F- 105 '97 - '98D-
108 '03 - '04F- 106 '99 - '00F 104 '95 - '96C

Click here: Americans for Better Immigration
http://grades.betterimmigration.com/iss ... tus=Career
Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to kill border fence in 2006
Voted in 1996 to continue chain migration
Voted on Senate floor in favor of amendment to kill border fence in 2006
Sen. Menendez voted in favor of final passage of S. 2611,Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006
Voted on Senate floor for amendment to weaken worker protections in 2006
Voted against amendment to cap employment-based visas in 2006
Voted against amendment to limit proposed guestworker program in 2006
Sen. Menendez voted against the Hutchison Amendment (SA 4101) to S. 2611,require the State Department to grant a Secure Authorized Foreign Employee (SAFE) visa to a national of a NAFTA or CAFTA nation who meets specified requirements
Voted on Senate floor against amendment to increase worker protections in 2006
would offer modest protections for American workers from being displaced by a foreign worker
Voted against amendment to prohibit immigration increases in Free Trade Agreements in 2005
Voted against American workers by voting in favor of worker-importation program in 2003
Rep. Menendez helped the House pass H.R.3736. even though U.S. high tech workers over the age of 50 were suffering 17% unemployment and U.S. firms were laying off thousands of workers at the time.
The Senate passed this bill to open parts of the Gulf of Mexico to oil and natural gas exploration.
Sen. Robert Menendez voted NO......
Menendez ethics are very questionable.....
I can go on and on...but he's not standing up for me and Lautenberg pretty much votes as menendez does...

Americans for Better Immigration
http://grades.betterimmigration.com/del ... istrict=NJ

State Composite Grades For Overall Career

New Jersey
Senators F

US SENATE C-

New Jersey
Representatives C-

U.S. House of C
Representatives

Entire New Jersey C-
Delegation

Whole Congress C

Reduce Illegal Immigration Border Control

Name District Score
Lautenberg, Frank Senator D+
Menendez, Robert Senator F

Reduce Illegal Immigration Interior Enforcement
Name District Score
Lautenberg, Frank Senator B-
Menendez, Robert Senator F-

Reduce Reugee & Asylum Fraud

Name District Score
Lautenberg, Frank Senator No Actions
Menendez, Robert Senator No Actions

Many people feel they are going to vote in this election.. to...send a
message to the President.. to show him their disenchantment with his lack
of protecting this country and it's citizens,their anger at unlawful data
mining through citizens privacy, total disgust with his actions and
inactions in the middle east and at our borders and ports. Mr. Bush and
Congress keep reminding us "People want to kill us and then they leave
the doors open and want to give amnesty to 15-20 million people who have
come here illegally, have committed crimes and still are against this
country and it's citizens. They refuse to enforce our laws and
constutional rights and want to make more laws to accommadate those
causing mayhem to our way of life. The anger is shared by many and my my
first instict.also was to send a message to President Bush..but after much
thought I realized... I would be giving my vote to someone who's not
running...So I decided..to send my message in a vote... to congress...who
had a chance to listen,pay attention and do what we sent them there to
do.....but instead...most weren't listening to us ...the citizens,voters,
the middle class who are the supporters and the backbone of this great
country. So reguardless of the party...I'M GOING TO VOTE AMERICAN.....AND
AGAINST THE INCUMBENTS... WHO HAD EVERY CHANCE TO LISTEN TO AMERICANS AND
DIDN'T.

{can't resist}

LAUTENBERG.......the comotose surprise Senator that was, then wasn't, then was again. Only in New Jersey!! Oh well, maybe Louisiana too

They put a stick up his arse, toothpicks to hold his eyes open,
threw a suit on him and propped him up in his senate seat. Waallaa.....and NJ has the perfect Senator to screw our overtaxed, hardworking citizens.

I agree Hotbcns.


Hi, 2nAmendsis.

I just feel like Iraq has become a civil war. The people of Iraq want us out of there it seems as well. The road side bombs seem to becoming the most leathal weapon. If we had to go into Iraq, I wish we had gone in with a international force. The bill for the war would have been split, we would of had more forces to begin with to contain the violence.

This war is costing us American lives and a fortune. We have China financing us for the war and I am leery to trust China. I feel we have ourselves out on a limb. I know wars are unpredictable and never easy, but I and alot of Americans question the false information on WMD's that led us into this war. I have great misgivings about this war.

We should of stuck to Afganastan. This is just my opinion.

Originally Posted by CCUSA

I agree Hotbcns.


Hi, 2nAmendsis.

I just feel like Iraq has become a civil war. The people of Iraq want us out of there it seems as well. The road side bombs seem to becoming the most leathal weapon. If we had to go into Iraq, I wish we had gone in with a international force. The bill for the war would have been split, we would of had more forces to begin with to contain the violence.

This war is costing us American lives and a fortune. We have China financing us for the war and I am leery to trust China. I feel we have ourselves out on a limb. I know wars are unpredictable and never easy, but I and alot of Americans question the false information on WMD's that led us into this war. I have great misgivings about this war.

We should of stuck to Afganastan. This is just my opinion.

CC
Personally, I never wanted to go in there in the first place. And please know.......I'm one furious gal at the idiotic mistakes that have been repeated that have left our kids sitting ducks no less than 4 or 5 times.
It's not a civil war right now, but it could be if we don't take the gloves off.

Again, as a broken record, this "quagmire" was wrought by the press, anti-American loud mouths and all those who still have NOT learned the lessons of the last war. These are the same people that are helping the Pro ILLEGALS. That's not even mentioning the screw ups by the DOD and Joint Chiefs. Had our courageous troops had their hands untied, this would have been a done deal. Their hands were and are tied thanx to the screaming ninnies who get even more brazen with every anti-war idiot that spews their communist crap. This administration, among other reasons, didn't want to rock the boat and we've been fighting a PC war. That dog won't hunt!

If we leave, as I fear we might, we will rue the day! We will see great devastation over the next decade and it will land on our shores. People must open their eyes to this very real, very dangerous goal of an islamic caliphate that has been planned for centuries and heavily worked on since the 60's. When Europe caves, and it might not have much of a choice, we will be fighting not only the ILLEGALS but the islamic fanatics who've also been working at converting in S. - C. America as well as Mexico.

That "exit strategy" montra is right out of the mouths of Kennedy, Pelosi, Kerry the traitor and several other very dangerous people. That's why my hair stood up. They succeeded in getting this phrase into the mainstream.

As difficult as it is, try to remember this:
those that decry the "war" are also the ones that are funding, helping and guiding the ILLEGALS and are the AMNESTY crowd. They want our sovereignty to be null and void right along with the bush gang.
They are one and the same & we are fighting them on 2 fronts

PS........also remember that just as CHINA has now gotten their claws into our PORTS as well as deals with Mexico, Cuba, Venezuela.........CHINA also is the puppetmaster of IRAN & N. Korea.

Can you see how both our Invasion of ILLEGALS and this war are now linked together? This freakin administration & the last 2 rotten administrations and every Congress within this time span has plunked us down right into the middle of the fight of our lives and for our Sovereignty!!!

I know 2ndAmendsis.

It's quite a scary picture is'nt it. I can only hope and PRAY that the elections give way to patriotic Americans who love their country and not their wallet.


Reps. like Tancredo give me hope. We need to get control of immigration to secure the country. I hope the war in Iraq can be resolved soon. I am going to be a wreck up until the elections.