“This guy is stupid!!!”
Everyone knows you can use Google maps to find directions.
Dado Ruvic / Reuters
And you can use it to review restaurants.
Gerardo Mora / Getty Images
But did you know you can also review members of Congress?
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Yes, just like restaurants and hair salons, Google Maps allows people to review congressional offices. And review them they did.
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Some users commented strictly on the services the office provided — like this person, who thought Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby's staff was "very professional."
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Or this person, who said New York Sen. Chuck Schumer's office has given them a "courteous and prompt response" when they've reached out.
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This person even complimented a staffer in Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt's office by name.
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But others reviewed the senators themselves. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine's comments showed how extreme people's opinions of senators could differ.
The claim that Hillary Clinton sold 20% of the US's uranium supply to Russia has been debunked by numerous outlets.
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New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's two reviews evened out to an average of three stars.
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Some people wished they could leave zero stars for some senators. "Wish I could give no stars," one person said of Ohio Sen. Rob Portman.
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Others said they were leaving a review because they couldn't get through to their representatives via more traditional routes.
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Some wrote about interactions with members in real life, like this reviewer, who says he saw Sen. John Barrasso "being a bully."
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One commenter used the review feature to urge Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker to "please" run for reelection.
Corker, a Republican, has already announced he will not.
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Another thanked Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake (who announced last month that he won't seek reelection) for his service.
The comment was made in the same week the Republican announced that he's retiring in 2018.
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In general, members of Congress with high name recognition had more feedback, like House Speaker Paul Ryan.
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And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
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Another person called McConnell one of his "oldest and dearest friends."
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Other comments were just completely random. Here's one from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's page: "God bless USA."
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Not all of members of Congress show up on Google Maps though.
A Google spokesperson told BuzzFeed News in an email that in order for "business listings to appear on Google Maps or Search, users or business owners need to add the location." So the reason some lawmakers' offices do not appear on Google Maps is "likely because they simply haven't been added."
FWIW, the White House had 10,868 reviews as of Friday.
You can sift through those on your own.
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A Google spokesperson told BuzzFeed News in an email that "Google removes reviews that violate our policy." Users can flag comments they believe violate the company's policy, which includes rules against "spam" and "off-topic reviews."
from BuzzFeed - Tech https://www.buzzfeed.com/lissandravilla/google-maps-lets-you-review-some-members-of-congress-and?utm_term=4ldqpia
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