While the national media begin to revisit the "corruption" issue -- largely as a Republican problem, as you can see from Monday's front page Washington Post story on GOP Sen. Conrad Burns -- it's important to remember where Democrats could have problems. Take appointed Sen. Bob Menendez, who's now the subject of a federal investigation for accepting $3,000-a-month rent from a group he's also sought to enrich with federal funding. NRO blogger Jim Geraghty reported:
So here outside Philly, we're getting New Jersey political ads, too, including one for Democratic Senator Bob Menendez, that features him in a courtroom. Oh, no, wait, it's not what you're thinking - he's not a defendant, he's touting his credentials fighting political corruption, not facilitating it.
AP describes the ad this way:
In the spot, Menendez is seen saying, "I was threatened for taking on corrupt politicians, but you have to stand up for what is right. No matter what." An announcer says Menendez wore a bulletproof vest and sent crooked politicians to prison.
AP's report uses pundits to note that Menendez is using the ad to counter the federal probe. But the national media have largely ignored the New Jersey race so far.
By the way, don't you hear the Democrats on the Post talking when they sound surprised in the photo caption that the Abramoff allegations against Burns "have not automatically doomed" his chances?
