Does Anybody Notice

[gatorman_07732]

that Rubio taking a sip of water gets much more coverage in the main stream media than Menendez and his under age prostitutes?

[fredsanford]

Irrelevant comparison.

[G8trGr8t]

Sad reflection of the current state of affairs

[PIMking]

lol so a democrat senator goes out and has sex with underage prostitues (great foreign relations might I add) and it's not a big deal? Even if only a rumor the fact that someone that has a dry mouth gets a drink of water is a big deal and a political disaster and the other isn't just shows how much our country and the news media are screwed.

[JerseyGator01]

I believe it took a month for the Washington Post to break down and report on the Menendez scandal. This reminds me of John Edwards.

[gatorman_07732]

Irrelevant comparison.

Only because you choose to stick your head in the sand. I believe it is the perfect example of the irresponsibility of today's MSM.

[fredsanford]

Only because you choose to stick your head in the sand. I believe it is the perfect example of the irresponsibility of today's MSM.

No one anointed him the next anything like they have Rubio.

Remember all that media coverage of Vitter's hooker scandal? Yeah, there was little then, either.

[gatorman_07732]

No one anointed him the next anything like they have Rubio.

Remember all that media coverage of Vitter's hooker scandal? Yeah, there was little then, either.

First of all these were underage girls Menendez was rendezvousing with, and second of all the prostitute scandal with Vitter made him drop his election run for governor because the press ran with it.

[Dreamliner]

We can't afford to elect a president who needs to take a swig of water on occasion! It would be a disaster!

[mdgator05]

First of all these were underage girls Menendez was rendezvousing with, and second of all the prostitute scandal with Vitter made him drop his election run for governor because the press ran with it.

I think he is discussing the Madam scandal, which occurred in 2007. Vitter's run for Governor was years before that and ended by another Prostitute story.

As for the Menendez stuff, it appears that the FBI has been unable to find any substantial evidence of the allegation.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fbi-probing-allegations-sen-menendez-patronized-prostitutes-in-dominican/2013/02/15/49b64e7c-77c5-11e2-8f84-3e4b513b1a13_story.html

A team of FBI agents has been conducting interviews in recent weeks in the Dominican Republic and the United States, looking into allegations that Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) patronized prostitutes in the Caribbean nation, but has found no evidence to support the claim, according to two people familiar with the investigation.

CREW’s executive director Melanie Sloan said her staff could not get the tipster to agree to meet or speak on the telephone. As a result, Sloan told a Washington Post reporter last month, she had doubts about the credibility of the person’s claims. The FBI began looking into the tipster’s story after CREW forwarded his information to the Justice Department and the FBI’s Washington field office in July.

In an e-mail to the tipster in September, FBI agent Regino Chavez wrote, “If you can give me . . . information on all the young ladies who were victimized that would be helpful.” The agent repeatedly asked the tipster, who called himself Pete Williams and only corresponded by e-mail, to meet, but he declined.

According to FBI affidavits filed in court, Chavez was listed last year as a member of a task force based out of the Miami field office that specialized in tracking crimes involving abuse of minors, soliciting minors to engage in prostitution and sex trafficking.

Obviously, if he did this, I hope he is found out and exposed for what he is. But right now, it appears that the evidence is exceptionally thin, with only the word of a person who refuses to meet with either the organization with whom he initially emailed or with the FBI who is investigating. Right now, with no corroborating evidence, the case that Menendez did this is particularly weak and thin, as acknowledged by both FBI and CREW sources.

On the other hand, his financial relationship with this shady eye doctor guy needs to be fully investigated, as there appears to be a lot more smoke there.

[HALLGATOR]

I guess the water glass thing had some relevance to something but I wasn't interested in it enough to figure it out.

[tegator80]

If I may assist you, you are focusing on the symptoms and not the affliction.

[channingcrowderhungry]

I have been paying zero attention and all I know is there was some sort of "water gaff." Did he spill it on himself? Or possibly couldn't get the cap off? I'm sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to learn the answer. The future of the free world depends on this.

[mdgator05]

The media is always reluctant to go after a politician during a sex scandal without solid evidence due to the possibility of being sued. The sex scandals that have been heavily covered by the media, Larry Craig, Anthony Weiner, Tom Foley, etc. all had very strong evidence. There doesn't appear to be strong evidence in this case, which should matter, regardless of the party of the accused.

[gatorman_07732]

Have they even bothered to talk to the two prostitutes that came forward?

[mdgator05]

Have they even bothered to talk to the two prostitutes that came forward?

From the article I linked:

The allegations in the letters included the names of a few women who allegedly had improper relations with Menendez and Melgen, including that of a Dominican teenager who told a local television station she had no involvement and had never left her village.

The Miami Herald reached another one of the women for an interview, and she explained that she worked for Melgen and considered him a generous person but did not elaborate. An attorney for the woman, Svitlana Buchyk, told a Post reporter Friday that the tipster’s claims about her are “absurd.”

“Ms. Buchyk is an actress and model attending to her career,” said her attorney, Gerald Greenberg. “Any allegation that she had an improper relationship with Senator Menendez or anyone else is sheer nonsense. The claims about her that have appeared in fringe-media sources are irresponsible and utterly absurd.”

[gatorman_07732]

From the article I linked:

This sounds pretty specific

Two women from the Dominican Republic told The Daily Caller that Democratic New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez paid them for sex earlier this year.

In interviews, the two women said they met Menendez around Easter at Casa de Campo, an expensive 7,000-acre resort in the Dominican Republic. They claimed Menendez agreed to pay them $500 for sex acts, but in the end they each received only $100.


http://dailycaller.com/2012/11/01/women-sen-bob-menendez-paid-us-for-sex-in-the-dominican-republic/

[mdgator05]

This sounds pretty specific



http://dailycaller.com/2012/11/01/women-sen-bob-menendez-paid-us-for-sex-in-the-dominican-republic/

I'm not sure if those women have been interviewed as their identities are not known. All I know is that the FBI doesn't seem to think there is evidence of illegal activity in this regard. CREW also has thrown the primary source for the Daily Caller into question due to the unwillingness of the person to actually meet with them.

[gatorman_07732]

I'm not sure if those women have been interviewed as their identities are not known. All I know is that the FBI doesn't seem to think there is evidence of illegal activity in this regard. CREW also has thrown the primary source for the Daily Caller into question due to the unwillingness of the person to actually meet with them.

It's obvious what happened here. The cheap bastard did not pay to what he agreed so they got pissed and came forward.

[mdgator05]

It's obvious what happened here. The cheap bastard did not pay to what he agreed so they got pissed and came forward.

That is what they allege. Prostitution with legal age participants would not be illegal in the Dominican Republic. I didn't see in the article where they stated that these two were underage. He also isn't married. While I morally don't agree with the behavior, engaging in legal behavior that isn't a violation of any sort of vow doesn't seem like a public matter to me.

[squigator]

Irrelevant comparison.

speaking of irrelevant

[squigator]

that Rubio taking a sip of water gets much more coverage in the main stream media than Menendez and his under age prostitutes?

And more than the Jessie Jackson, Jr. criminality.

[mdgator05]

And more than the Jessie Jackson, Jr. criminality.

Current google news search for "Jesse Jackson Jr" and "charged" returns 64,200 results.

A similar search for "Marco Rubio" and "water" returns 53,000.

So that is simply not true.

[JerseyGator01]

How old are the Jackson vs. Rubio stories? Big difference.

[mdgator05]

How old are the Jackson vs. Rubio stories? Big difference.

Well I was specifically looking at stories that mentioned him being charged, which occurred this week.

And certainly there could be some extraneous articles about each as Rubio could have discussed water issues at some point in the past and past articles could have mentioned the possibility of Jackson being charged.

But clearly, the media is discussing both stories. They are discussing the Jackson story in a more serious manner and with greater frequency, but they are discussing both stories.

[gatorman_07732]

Current google news search for "Jesse Jackson Jr" and "charged" returns 64,200 results.

A similar search for "Marco Rubio" and "water" returns 53,000.

So that is simply not true.

asinine argument, you can find anything if you google it. Try watching the evening news.

[fredsanford]

asinine argument, you can find anything if you google it. Try watching the evening news.

Most people under 60 don't do that anymore.

[gatorman_07732]

Most people under 60 don't do that anymore.

If that was the case the news would not be on TV. Again, unless you are specifically doing a search it's a bogus argument. The media is alive and well on TV and everybody I now watches the local evening news. Yes I live in NJ and no they are not covering it.

[JerseyGator01]

The Jackson story has essentially been around since 2008 with Blago. Nice try. My point stands.

[PIMking]

The media is always reluctant to go after a politician during a sex scandal without solid evidence due to the possibility of being sued. The sex scandals that have been heavily covered by the media, Larry Craig, Anthony Weiner, Tom Foley, etc. all had very strong evidence. There doesn't appear to be strong evidence in this case, which should matter, regardless of the party of the accused.

you mean like the sex scandal stuff that they did with the black man running for president but happened to be a Republican?

[mdgator05]

you mean like the sex scandal stuff that they did with the black man running for president but happened to be a Republican?

Financial settlements with accusers are not terrible evidence of impropriety.

[mdgator05]

asinine argument, you can find anything if you google it. Try watching the evening news.

But you find more of one story than the other. No doubt you can find anything. The question was how much would you find. And Jackson's case has received more coverage.

[cocodrilo]

People are overlooking the fact that drunks with bad hangovers have to stop and drink water all the time because they're dehydrated.

That's why Rubio had to stop in the middle of a short speech to swig water. He drinks too many Cuba Libres to be president.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

But you find more of one story than the other. No doubt you can find anything. The question was how much would you find. And Jackson's case has received more coverage.

This is not how Google works.

[PSGator66]

I think that the water drink hype is a signal that the left is scared as hell of Rubio.

[tegator80]

Marco Rubio reminds me of the Republican establishment's equivalent to boxing's "Great White Hope." While the media is not helping, nor should they although it would be helpful if they were equally unimpressed with politicians, too much hope is being put on some pretty limited options.

[mdgator05]

I think that the water drink hype is a signal that the left is scared as hell of Rubio.

I remember when the left was supposedly terrified of Palin since they criticized her, sometimes in a joking manner for stupid things.

If she want to run for President next time, I think the left would erupt in cheers.

[mdgator05]

This is not how Google works.

How does google news search work then?

[orangeblueorangeblue]

How does google news search work then?

Among many things, it duplicates content, specifically wire content. It also includes a great deal of blogs, which would skew any sort of analysis

Further, the actual count is:
Rubio: 49,400
Jackson: 46,300

So it doesn't even support that point to begin with.

But Google search result #s are about the most meaningless thing to use.

[mdgator05]

Among many things, it duplicates content, specifically wire content. It also includes a great deal of blogs, which would skew any sort of analysis

Further, the actual count is:
Rubio: 49,400
Jackson: 46,300

So it doesn't even support that point to begin with.

But Google search result #s are about the most meaningless thing to use.

So how does it duplicate wire content? Is it if the Gainesville Sun and the Orlando Sentinel both print an AP story, it shows up twice? If so, how does that negate the capability to show the reach of a story. The issue isn't how many unique stories were written about each issue but the reach of each issue.

And I am getting over 60K stories for Jackson and about 47K stories for Rubio.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Because:

It's only written once, distributed tons of places that may or may not even list the story on their site (accessible via google sitemaps, etc.)

Jesse Jackson charged (https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&q=%22jesse+jackson%22+%22charged%22&oq=%22jesse+jackson%22+%22charged%22&gs_l=news-cc.3..43j43i400.812.812.0.945.1.1.0.0.0.0.58.58.1. 1.0...0.0...1ac.1.nOCgwexofC0) returns About 48,400 results (0.27 seconds)

Marco Rubio + Water (https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&q=%22marco+rubio%22+%22water%22&oq=%22marco+rubio%22+%22water%22&gs_l=news-cc.3..43j43i400.1701.6163.0.6367.26.16.2.8.0.0.156 .1199.13j3.16.0...0.0...1ac.1.izF8S0fEwZ0) returns About 49,200 results (0.24 seconds)

[fredsanford]

If that was the case the news would not be on TV. Again, unless you are specifically doing a search it's a bogus argument. The media is alive and well on TV and everybody I now watches the local evening news. Yes I live in NJ and no they are not covering it.

I'd imagine that everyone you "now" (sic) is a pretty small slice of the country's demographic divisions.

[mdgator05]

Because:

It's only written once, distributed tons of places that may or may not even list the story on their site (accessible via google sitemaps, etc.)

Jesse Jackson charged (https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&q=%22jesse+jackson%22+%22charged%22&oq=%22jesse+jackson%22+%22charged%22&gs_l=news-cc.3..43j43i400.812.812.0.945.1.1.0.0.0.0.58.58.1. 1.0...0.0...1ac.1.nOCgwexofC0) returns About 48,400 results (0.27 seconds)

Marco Rubio + Water (https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&gl=us&tbm=nws&q=%22marco+rubio%22+%22water%22&oq=%22marco+rubio%22+%22water%22&gs_l=news-cc.3..43j43i400.1701.6163.0.6367.26.16.2.8.0.0.156 .1199.13j3.16.0...0.0...1ac.1.izF8S0fEwZ0) returns About 49,200 results (0.24 seconds)

Clicking on the second link only returns 46,200.

Again though, even if the story is only listed once, I am not sure why a good measure of reach would not include how far it is distributed. The sitemap issue could certainly complicate the analysis, but it seems like both of these stories would be subject to the same issue, and I have no idea why they would react to this issue in a different way.

[CHFG8R]

I don't care what side you ascribe to, unless you are a complete idiot (Fred?), the amount of attention this received and the contention that this somehow could hurt his election chances in 4 years is somewhat disturbing for its complete and utter vapidity.

If this truly does matter in the current political spectrum, then we'd better all (Rs and Ds and everything inbetween) grab our ankles. Because we are completely F--Ked as a nation.

[gatorman_07732]

I'd imagine that everyone you "now" (sic) is a pretty small slice of the country's demographic divisions.

http://www.people-press.org/files/2012/09/9-27-12-3.png

Nearly half of Americans still watch the news

[CHFG8R]

http://www.people-press.org/files/2012/09/9-27-12-3.png

Nearly half of Americans still watch the news

I watch the news all the time. . . when I want (BayNews 9 - 24-hour local cable channel).

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Clicking on the second link only returns 46,200.

Again though, even if the story is only listed once, I am not sure why a good measure of reach would not include how far it is distributed. The sitemap issue could certainly complicate the analysis, but it seems like both of these stories would be subject to the same issue, and I have no idea why they would react to this issue in a different way.

It's an entirely valueless metric. It doesn't measure scope of coverage nor reach.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

http://www.people-press.org/files/2012/09/9-27-12-3.png

Nearly half of Americans still watch the news

If you read the report, that's 48% of people who regularly consume news on a daily basis, not 48% of Americans.

[gatorman_07732]

If you read the report, that's 48% of people who regularly consume news on a daily basis, not 48% of Americans.

What does it say below the poll?

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Huh?

The Pew Research survey showed that among people that regularly consume news from any source, 48% get it from television in 2012.

[gatorman_07732]

Huh?

The Pew Research survey showed that among people that regularly consume news from any source, 48% get it from television in 2012.

That was not shabs claim. His claim were only people 65+ watch the news which we all know is ludicrous

[fredsanford]

That was not shabs claim. His claim were only people 65+ watch the news which we all know is ludicrous

My claim was that far fewer people watch the. 6:30 EST PM national news than they used to.

[gatorman_07732]

My claim was that far fewer people watch the. 6:30 EST PM national news than they used to.

That was not what you said

[orangeblueorangeblue]

That was not shabs claim. His claim were only people 65+ watch the news which we all know is ludicrous

Well it looks like he said "most people under 60" don't. My point was simply to point out that it isn't 50% of Americans, it's 50% of news consumers.

[gatorman_07732]

Well it looks like he said "most people under 60" don't. My point was simply to point out that it isn't 50% of Americans, it's 50% of news consumers.

Well ceratinly we can't expect chidren to be watching the news or for those under 30 for that matter.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

Well I mean if you look at that data it works out to slightly more than 1/3 of people 18-49 (prime demo) that are news consumers get their news from television. Which leaves about 60-65% from that demographic (and more if you include non-consumers) who don't.

People are watching less television for news over the last few decades with a slight uptick in 2012.

[gatorman_07732]

Well I mean if you look at that data it works out to slightly more than 1/3 of people 18-49 (prime demo) that are news consumers get their news from television. Which leaves about 60-65% from that demographic (and more if you include non-consumers) who don't.

People are watching less television for news over the last few decades with a slight uptick in 2012.

I don't think people are watching less television, it's just think the gene pool has been reduced to reality shows.

[orangeblueorangeblue]

I don't think people are watching less television, it's just think the gene pool has been reduced to reality shows.

Well television viewership is absolutely down, but I meant solely in the context of news:

http://stateofthemedia.org/files/2012/03/2-Network-Network-An-Uptick-in-Evening-News-Viewership-for-the-First-Time-Since-2001.png

Cable news had a huge uptick following 9/11 but has had a generally aggregate slow decline in the last four years.

[JerseyGator01]

If you really want perspective on news coverage, do a search for a Mrs. Morbelli, who died last week from a botched abortion. I couldn't find her name in a search on any of several major news outlets, even Fox.

[CalSFGator]

We can't afford to elect a president who needs to take a swig of water on occasion! It would be a disaster!

or uses a teleprompter.