Sen. Menendez, prostitutes and not one mention of his cubano status

[flamingdem]

If we are to believe media reports about a West Palm Beach doctor and his ties to New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, it seems the chubby son of Cubans, who leads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee recently vacated by soon to be Secretary of State John Kerry, has an affinity for prostitutes.

The reports I’ve read also state Menendez’s courtesans are underage and from the Dominican Republic, where his buddy and big-time campaign contributor Dr. Salomon Helger is from. Apparently Menendez has travelled in Helger’s private jet to the Caribbean destination, and to borrow a line from a Vegas ad, “What happens at Casa de Campo (a Dominican resort) stays at Casa de Campo.”

One more thing, Menendez’s buddy, Helger, owes the I.R.S. more than $11 million in back taxes. Nice if you can get away with it, I suppose. But I doubt it. Let us not forget it was the same I.R.S. who finally nabbed Al Capone – when nobody else in the U.S. government could.

Oh Bobby, Bobby, what kind of friends do you keep?

But before I finish, I found one thing interesting in The Miami Herald report of today (Jan. 30). Not once in the story or the headline, did the word Cuban come up.

I guess if the news is bad, the Cuban part is left out. If the news had been positive for the senator, I assure you even the headline would have read differently.

http://progreso-weekly.com/ini/index.php/blogs/this-aint-disneyland/3707-menendez-prostitutes-and-not-one-mention-of-his-cubano-status

[TwilightGardener]

1. Why would it matter that he's of Cuban descent?

[flamingdem]

4. He is known as a supporter of the embargo and is taking over John Kerry's role in the Senate

I am not totally sure of the authors point on that either but the publication's writers include many anti-embargo Cubans in the USA.

It might be that he is put up as being a sane pro-Embargo Cuban American by all the forces that want to keep the embargo in place. Now if this comes more of a story they will lose credibility.

[bigtree]

2. the charges are right wing tripe from the Daily Caller

. . . and this weekly isn't the kind of reporting that our Democratic senator deserves to have represented here.


TPM:

In November, The Daily Caller published interviews with two purported prostitutes from the Dominican Republic who claimed to have had sex with Menendez at a home Melgen owns in Casa de Campo. Menendez has flown on Melgen's private plane at least once, according to the Miami Herald, when he was chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Melgen has contributed money to Menendez's political campaigns and the DSCC.

Menendez told the The Daily Caller on Monday that he was "not going to respond to the fallacious allegations" of the conservative news site's story.

[flamingdem]

5. Progreso Weekly is a left wing rag

so they are reporting this perhaps more out of a what if stance.

I am guessing you don't care much about the hypocrisy of Menendez' opinions on the Embargo.

[bigtree]

10. this article reads like it was written by someone who's decided Menendez is guilty

You can't see that? Get the damn facts out in front of this story and don't just rely on a gossipy internet post which doesn't do anything more than repeat the ALLEGATIONS as if they're gospel truth. our Democratic senator deserves more than a slick hit job from a sloppy and questionable report.

[flamingdem]

32. I don't disagree with what you're saying but we're not journalists here

and many stories begin with allegations this is just one that is not favorable to a dem. If it wasn't for the Cuba issue and what an ass he's been about that I wouldn't be interested in allegations against a dem.

However note that he's an extremist on that issue and we'd be better off with someone else at the helm of the foreign relations committee because one man should not be able to control US policy towards Cuba, and essentially he will by blocking any legislation ... and this is with Kerry and potentially Hagel which would have made it a done deal.

[bigtree]

34. we're not journalists, but, this isn't journalism that you've posted

. . . it's a uncritical account of reports of mostly anonymous allegations. It's rumor-mongering, at best, without providing the full context and circumstances of the allegations.

I think this original post of yours is a questionable extension of the allegations that originated on a notoriously anti-Democratic site; not just because the post provided presents these allegations in misleading shorthand; not just because your post seeks to springboard a wholly unrelated gripe about the senator's Cuban position off of a right-wing sponsored attack; but because of your own admitted desire to see Sen. Menendez defeated.

Slippery stuff, flamingdem.

[flamingdem]

35. I'd like to see you apply those criteria to other posts on DU

and you'll be very busy.

Plus the attack on me because of an issue I care about is purely your problem

[bigtree]

38. hey, what i've bothered to post here is not some attack on you. That's just absurd

. . . it's a criticism of these anti-Democratic-sourced allegations - so uncritically related by the post you provided and it's curious title - and your appropriation of it all to serve your admitted bias against the Democratic senator.

Slippery politics, imo. I don't think those are unreasonable standards of mine and I certainly do apply that reasoning to other posts here.

[flamingdem]

39. What you're not doing is understanding the information

and this can happen to anyone on DU who is not familiar with an issue.

The point of this article is not to slime Menendez, it's to point out the hypocrisy of the right wing in that they when they slime him they leave out the "Cuban American Senator" description that is generally used when speaking about him.

That's the main point here, whether people get it or not is their problem. If they want to know more they can post and ask me or check out the publication that is very left wing.

So it's an issue of education, and people should know that Menendez is a hypocrite on this issue as are the right wingers who are attacking him.

And it is a personal attack because of the way you communicate and frame it.

[bigtree]

41. well, I'm sorry you took it that way

. . . it may be because the issue I'm criticizing has to do with media and the dissemination of information; like allegations and charges.

Personally, I'd take more care when furthering right-wing sourced allegations against members of our party on a Democratic board, or anywhere else for that matter.

[yellowcanine]

46. Well you do appear to be in violation of copyright policy

Cut and pasted more than four paragraphs + cut and pasted whole article. In fact, articles are supposed to be cited, not copied in as the post. The way you have it now is that the OP appears to be written by you but actually it is copied whole hog from somewhere else. That is the definition of copyright infringement.


DMCA Copyright Policy
Do not copy-and-paste entire articles onto this discussion forum. When referencing copyrighted work, post a short excerpt with a link back to the original.

To simplify compliance and enforcement of copyrights here on Democratic Underground, we ask that excerpts from other sources posted on Democratic Underground be limited to a maximum of four paragraphs, and we ask that the source of the content be clearly identified.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=copyright

[dsc]

42. so if he favored trade with Cuba

he could rape children and you would be fine with it? Is that really what you meant to say?

[Freddie Stubbs]

43. So, you are only interested in the allegations against him because he supports the Cuba embargo?

[blm]

7. Tucker Carlson also pushed the lie that Kerry had an affair with a college student in 2004.

And Carlson pushed it KNOWING it was a lie just to see how far he and his rumormongering pals could get with it.

[bigtree]

15. that's the state of reporting these days - not new, but disturbingly ignorant

. . . can't call this 'journalism.' It's more like advanced rumor-mongering.

'Tucker' who?

[Sekhmets Daughter]

3. That he is of Cuban descent is important why exactly? n/t

[flamingdem]

6. My speculation also written above:

It might be that he is put up as being a sane pro-Embargo Cuban American by all the forces that want to keep the embargo in place. Now if this comes more of a story they will lose credibility.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

13. Got it...

You may want to change your heading to include 'pro-embargo'

[flamingdem]

17. True! We know he's one of ours but he is a big FAIL on that issue!

And the problem is that the post he's taking over from Kerry makes it a nearly done deal that the embargo will not be lifted.

Considering the millions of people that hurts, plus the reputation of the USA, I would like to see him replaced. It's NJ after all and we'll probably replace him with another Dem.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

18. Booker?

[flamingdem]

20. Perfect

yeesh

[Sekhmets Daughter]

26. So you live in NJ...

Is Booker really a substantial candidate? I know he's very 'media' savvy, but what do you think?

I live in Palm Beach Cty, FL...my town is immediately south of West Palm Beach...The FBI brass loves these kind of raids, the agents not so much.

[flamingdem]

30. No but I think Booker is favored to win

That's interesting what you're saying about the raids. The FBI raided an associate of Rep. David Rivera about his campaign fraud actions and found evidence but nothing came of it... so I get the feds do their jobs but no follow through?

[Sekhmets Daughter]

31. You can't prosecute if you can't produce evidence.

Back in 1999 FBI agents raided a mortgage company for which I worked, the owner went to jail.

[OldDem2012]

8. Ask yourself why none of the major media outlets have reported this story. nt.

[TwilightGardener]

9. They have--Miami Herald, anyway. Check Latest Breaking News.

[bigtree]

11. still reporting nothing more than the allegations

. . . and this FBI raid of the doctor's office.

[TwilightGardener]

14. No, but the FBI is investigating, so that part is not made up.

These allegations have been around since late October.

[bigtree]

24. investigating allegations by a republican rag, a 'tipster,' and two Dominican Republic 'prostitutes'

ALLEGATIONS.

[WinkyDink]

25. Yes, that is the word. What's your point?

[bigtree]

28. that this is a shitstirring load of crap

. . . from likely suspects.

[Mosaic]

49. I wish EVERYONE here had your sensibility

This smear has conservative bullshit all over it! It stinks to high heaven and no Democrat should take it seriously at all.

[OldDem2012]

16. I personally don't consider the Miami Herald to be a major media outlet, certainly not....

....national in scope.

[WinkyDink]

21. The Senator is "not national in scope"---yet. Jeez. People are acting like this story is only

in tabloids (which got the Edwards story 100% accurately).

[flamingdem]

22. They're not that bad but yes not exactly the New York Times

[UTUSN]

12. What is the a-hole writer's point?He's been a good Dem & a rare NON-wingnut Cuban of his generation

What's sickening are the wingnuts ROS-lecithin, Ted CRUZ, RUBIO and the rest of their ilk.

[flamingdem]

19. I agree and know he's one of ours but he's taking over Kerry's post and that means

that he'll block EVERY attempt to change or end the Embargo.

Considering the millions of people that hurts and the fact that ONE PERSON can continue a policy that damages the the USA around the world not to mention is a human rights travesty towards the Cuban people means.... sorry Bob you can be replaced with another NJ Democrat.

[UTUSN]

23. I don't know what his position on Cuba is. He's been mainstream Dem/Lib on everything else.

All these years with the Rethug Cubans, I've just been relieved he's been around.

[flamingdem]

27. He's not better than they are on the embargo sadly and he gives anti-embargo loons

credibility. I can't think of when he's been in disagreement with them but I should check. Let's face it many are in the pocket of the ultra right wing anti-Cubans including Debbie Wasserman Schulz who is also blocking at every turn any change to the Embargo, she just spoke out in favor of maintaining it last week.

She takes money from right wing Cuba pacs as do many Florida dems and she's really truly friends with Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

[RockaFowler]

44. DWS received money from this Doctor, too

Not sure if that has anything to do with this or not, but as you said she is friends with the whole Cuban Cabal in Miami

[srican69]

29. I like Menendez ... His office helped me a couple of times ... so he got himself a whore .. BFD!! nt

[TwilightGardener]

33. It's only a deal if he knew she was underage. Otherwise...David "Pampers" Vitter is still

stinking up the Senate.

[KamaAina]

36. Ex-Sen. Ensign, prostitutes and not one mention of his Caucasian status

Makes just as much sense.

[flamingdem]

37. The point is that Menendez is cited as a proponent of the US Embargo against Cuba

as one of his main calling cards.

He's always described as "the Cuban American" Senator from New Jersey

The point being made is that the right wing will drop the mention of Cuban American in the process of trashing Menendez because they like his anti-Cuba policies and don't want that association to be made.

The Ensign situation isn't a question of nationality or race.

[Freddie Stubbs]

40. It also fails to mention that he went to Rutgers

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

45. The wingnuts have been after Bob Menendez for many years. Nothing new here.

[Kablooie]

47. But these kinds of allegations are pretty hard to dismiss even if they are untrue.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

48. I know, and I'm sure that Bob is now vulnerable. If there's a push for him to resign,

Chris Christie can appoint his successor.

[leveymg]

53. The leadership won't try to push him out of the Senate, but he will be replaced as Chair of the FAC

[Mosaic]

50. This is purely political and a load of crap

Senator Bob Menendez does important work and we need him in the Senate, period.

[leveymg]

51. It's not his Cubano heritage, it's his overly close ties to AIPAC.

http://mondoweiss.net/2011/12/aipac-posterizes-obama-in-senate-100-0.html

by Philip Weiss on December 8, 2011 110

The Israeli consulate in San Francisco celebrates the Senate vote on Twitter.

If you want to understand the pressure that Obama is under from the Israel lobby, consider this greasy story: Last week three high Obama officials urged Senators not to pass an amendment to the huge Defense Authorization Act that would apply far stiffer sanctions to Iran's central bank than the Obama administration wanted. Two of the officials went to the Hill, and said the amendment would send oil prices higher, among other damaging effects.

But the Senate rebuffed the administration and voted unanimously, 100-0, for the sanctions.

Why did the Senate put aside appeals from Treasury secretary Tim Geithner, under secretary of the Treasury David Cohen, and Wendy Sherman, #3 at the State Department, all saying that the bill would be bad for business and bad for the U.S.'s efforts to build a coalition on Iran? Why did John Kerry, chairman of Senate Foreign Relations, acknowledge Tim Geithner's letter against the legislation, and then vote against his president?

The clear evidence is: because the lobby wanted this amendment and these guys feared for their political lives. AIPAC led the charge. AIPAC rolled the amendment out 3 weeks ago, and then led a letter-writing campaign to US Senators on the amendment, known as Kirk-Menendez (in part for the Senator from AIPAC, Mark Kirk of Illinois).

And in other part, one might add, Sen. Menendez (D-AIPAC).

[FarCenter]

52. Menendez is a native born American, in New York in 1954; his family immigrated in 1953

His being in the US has nothing to do with the Castro revolution.