US Politics Thread |OT| THE DARKEST TIMELINE

[Mr. Gundam]

The best part is when he said Arne Duncan's grandchildren are going to ask him someday why he said only white surburban moms were opposed to Common Core.

I know some people feel strongly about Common Core, but it's not exactly a Crying Indian issue.

Common Core is a mess. We're using it in the schools I work at. Great belief to strive for, but it's killing a ton of kids more than the standardized tests were doing before.

[Great Rumbler]

"Having made the choice to leave the operation of the exchange to the federal government, Missouri cannot choose to impose additional requirements or limitations on the exchange," Smith said. He added that those challenging the law "are likely to prevail" with their argument that the navigator law is preempted by federal statute.

LMAO

[Positive Touch]

THANK FUCKING GOD I HATE THIS SHITTY STATE

[Phoenix Dark]

The sabotage going on is ridiculous. No one had a problem with Medicare Part D's navigators helping folks take advantage of that law. The result is that the law works horribly in some states (Texas, NC, etc) while it works great in others (California, Kentucky, etc). Many states like Michigan are in between due to state governments relying on the federal website, which is working but would probably be more effective if it was state run.

Speaking of Kentucky

60% Of KY GOPers Buck McConnell, Support Medicaid Expansion

A solid majority of Kentucky Republicans support the state's decision to expand Medicaid under Obamacare, according to a new poll, standing in stark contrast to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's opposition to the provision.

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky poll, reported by NPR-affiliated WFPL, found that 60 percent of self-identified Republicans said they support expansion. In total, 79 percent of Kentuckians agree with Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear's decision to expand coverage to low-income people under the health care reform law.

In a statement to WFPL, McConnell spokesman Robert Steurer dismissed the findings.

"Most new Obamacare enrollees are not on private plans, but are added to the state’s struggling Medicaid program," he said, "where one hundred percent of these costs will be picked up by taxpayers and where there is already a shortage of physicians accepting Medicaid patients."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/poll-kentucky-obamacare-medicaid-expansion

More physicians will begin accepting Medicaid patients due to reimbursement rates being increased. At my old job we began accepting children in the Medicaid program in October due to that. I think I've mentioned it before, but previously the program would pay $10 for a filling, whereas now they pay about $90.

[Phoenix Dark]

he illegally funneled money through his wife AND mistress

mistress is pretty fine tho 

[Human Snorenado]

Both the wife and mistress could get it

[Great Rumbler]

Young Turks

[benjipwns]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/24/huckabee-rips-critics-libido-comments/

Mike Huckabee says he is mystified by the liberal criticism of his remarks on women, contraception and libido, which erupted yesterday as the former Arkansas governor actively weighs a presidential campaign.

Huckabee, a Fox News host, says his comments were “virtually identical” to what he said on his network show last weekend, which he said produced no reaction.

“I'm always flattered when people on the far left manufacture a new version of being ‘offended,’” Huckabee told me. “They can be quite creative in finding something that hurts their feelings.” 

...

In his speech to the Republican National Committee's winter meeting on Thursday, Huckabee said: “If the Democrats want to insult women by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing for them a prescription each month for birth control because they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government, then so be it.”

He added: "Our party stands for the recognition of the equality of women and the capacity of women. That’s not a war on them, it’s a war for them.”

The use of the word “libido” brought an avalanche of criticism from the left. The Huffington Post ran a screaming headline, “Huckabee: Dems Think Women ‘Can’t Control Their Libido.” MSNBC has run segments titled “Hucked Up” and “What the Huck?”

Huckabee put part of the blame on two network reporters, NBC’s Kasie Hunt and CNN’s Dana Bash, who “erroneously tweeted” his remarks “to mean the polar opposite” and had to correct the tweets “because they so totally blew it…and now it’s a scandal?”

...

Huckabee, saying that he has an “outspoken wife” and appointed more women in Arkansas than any other governor, told me: “If people read the actual words I said in context, everyone who wants to understand it will.”

But does he have binders full of them?

Pressed today about his use of “libido,” Huckabee said by e-mail: “Women (like men) are sexual beings, but they are much more than that. To reduce either gender or any person to one aspect of their being is an unfair characterization.  My point was to point out that Dems have put a laser like focus on government funded birth control and given it more attention than cancer drugs.”

As for the word, “never thought about every word parsed apart from the overall message, so not sure why that one word attracts such attention in the context of the statement. It adds color and as a communicator yourself, you probably try to write so as to create vivid pictures. Libido is a normal part of being human. Nothing scandalous about it. But without it, in either women or men, would there be a demand for birth control?” 

"Women are sexual beings" 


On the lighter side, though apparently he does this often and intentionally:

[Great Rumbler]

Huckabee wants to free women from the unbearable slavery that is not being pregnant all the time and having a job.

[Phoenix Dark]

Republicans seem intellectually incapable of understanding that women use birth control for non sexual reasons, too.

[benjipwns]

Republicans seem intellectually incapable of understanding that women use birth control for non sexual reasons, too.

That's just what a slut would say: http://prospect.org/article/why-republicans-keep-calling-women-sluts

[Brehvolution]

My wife was prescribed birth control for ovarian cysts when she was a teenager. But that doesn't fit the narrative.

What the right is saying is, 'We hate abortion, but prefer them to free birth control.'

[Joe Molotov]

My wife was prescribed birth control for ovarian cysts when she was a teenager. But that doesn't fit the narrative.

What the right is saying is, 'We hate abortion, but prefer them to free birth control.'

Sex is a dirty filthy sin, and pregnancy is your punishment. Don't try to avoid God's judgement with your fancy contraceptives or abortions. 

[Joe Molotov]

I still believe we'd be better off if Romney had won, economically. Nothing is going to get done for the next two years guys. Nothing. Which means the economy slowly strangles while republicans gloat and Obama does nothing.

Unemployment benefits would be extended under a President Romney, as they were under Bush. He'd have to work with democrats in the senate to pass his economic agenda, meaning we could get stimulus spending alongside his tax cuts.

The downside would be social issues obviously, and long term debt thanks to tax cuts. And foreign policy - well pretty much everything would be worse except the economy. I'm not saying I wish he won, hell I wish no one won. But we're stuck with a suffocating economy, obstructive congress, and a completely ineffective president.

PD, your trolling of GAF is masterful.

[Phoenix Dark]

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/paul-on-lewinsky-scandal-dems-have-the-gall-to-accuse-gop-of-war-on-women/

it's gonna be a long two years brehs

[benjipwns]

http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/26/5348212/ezra-klein-vox-is-our-next

There better be a trailer with people getting tattoos and playing guitars or no sale.

[Brehvolution]

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/paul-on-lewinsky-scandal-dems-have-the-gall-to-accuse-gop-of-war-on-women/

it's gonna be a long two years brehs

The dems started the KKK.They are the real racists!

[Joe Molotov]

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2014/01/27/22466689-florida-rep-radel-to-resign-after-coke-conviction?lite

The (a) cokehead congressman is resigning. And after his week long rehab where he found Jesus and turned his life around and was ready to get back to work, too. I wonder if he  was afraid some more dope () was about to leak out on him.

[CatsCatsCats]

Look at these comments

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152240056189974&set=a.10150141099489974.330985.224383614973&type=1&permPage=1

Subwayghazi!!!

[Great Rumbler]

The top venture capitalist who compared the liberal critique on inequality in the United States to Nazi Germany doesn't seem to be backing down from his comparison.

The celebrated venture capitalist, Tom Perkins followed up to his remarks on Sunday, saying that the difference now is instead of racial demonization, it's class demonization.

"In the Nazi area it was racial demonization, now it is class demonization," Perkins said in an email to Bloomberg News.

Perkins recently penned a letter to the editor in The Wall Street Journal where he wrote that there are parallels between Nazi Germany's "war on its 'one percent,' namely its Jews, to the progressive war on the American one percent, namely the rich."

Perkins wrote that there seemed to be "a rising tide of hatred of the successful one percent."

"This is a very dangerous drift in our American thinking. Kristallnacht was unthinkable in 1930; is its descendent "progressive" radicalism unthinkable now?" Perkins wrote in the letter to the editor.

[Brehvolution]

Ask the Bourbons how that worked out.

[Oblivion]

Look at these comments

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152240056189974&set=a.10150141099489974.330985.224383614973&type=1&permPage=1

Subwayghazi!!!

I hate Subway for the most part, but I'm gonna start going there more often just cause of this.

[Brehvolution]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/24/huckabee-rips-critics-libido-comments/

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2012/02/15/huckabee-for-contraception-mandate-before-he-opposed-it
PD, why didn't you post this link here?

[Phoenix Dark]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/24/huckabee-rips-critics-libido-comments/

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2012/02/15/huckabee-for-contraception-mandate-before-he-opposed-it
PD, why didn't you post this link here?

I posted that yesterday on GAF.

[ToxicAdam]

Hillary Clinton said that she hasn't driven a car since 1996, TPM reports.

Said Clinton: "I have to confess that one of the regrets I have about my public life is that I can't drive anymore. My husband thinks that's a blessing, but he's the one who should talk. Last time I actually drove a car myself was 1996, and I remember it very well. Unfortunately so does the Secret Service, which is why I haven't driven since then."

PD, please explain.

I can't vote for a person who can't drive. This is America.

Chris Christie can probably drive a car with his gut.

[Great Rumbler]

Christie couldn't even fit in car lol cuz he's so fat

[benjipwns]

Where's he gonna go? Across the George Washington Bridge?

[Tristam]

Look at these comments

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152240056189974&set=a.10150141099489974.330985.224383614973&type=1&permPage=1

Subwayghazi!!!

Top comment is outstanding:

Subway can you please get Michelle Obama to endorse breathing so we can remove so much hate and racism from our great nation.

[Mandark]

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/01/27/140127fa_fact_remnick

Very nice NYer profile of Obama.

[DCharlieJP]

the whole "1%" thing is largely bollox too - try the 0.1%

[Phoenix Dark]

At the core of Obama’s thinking is that American military involvement cannot be the primary instrument to achieve the new equilibrium that the region so desperately needs. And yet thoughts of a pacific equilibrium are far from anyone’s mind in the real, existing Middle East. In the 2012 campaign, Obama spoke not only of killing Osama bin Laden; he also said that Al Qaeda had been “decimated.” I pointed out that the flag of Al Qaeda is now flying in Falluja, in Iraq, and among various rebel factions in Syria; Al Qaeda has asserted a presence in parts of Africa, too.

“The analogy we use around here sometimes, and I think is accurate, is if a jayvee team puts on Lakers uniforms that doesn’t make them Kobe Bryant,” Obama said, resorting to an uncharacteristically flip analogy. “I think there is a distinction between the capacity and reach of a bin Laden and a network that is actively planning major terrorist plots against the homeland versus jihadists who are engaged in various local power struggles and disputes, often sectarian.

“Let’s just keep in mind, Falluja is a profoundly conservative Sunni city in a country that, independent of anything we do, is deeply divided along sectarian lines. And how we think about terrorism has to be defined and specific enough that it doesn’t lead us to think that any horrible actions that take place around the world that are motivated in part by an extremist Islamic ideology are a direct threat to us or something that we have to wade into.”

He went on, “You have a schism between Sunni and Shia throughout the region that is profound. Some of it is directed or abetted by states who are in contests for power there. You have failed states that are just dysfunctional, and various warlords and thugs and criminals are trying to gain leverage or a foothold so that they can control resources, populations, territory. . . . And failed states, conflict, refugees, displacement—all that stuff has an impact on our long-term security. But how we approach those problems and the resources that we direct toward those problems is not going to be exactly the same as how we think about a transnational network of operatives who want to blow up the World Trade Center. We have to be able to distinguish between these problems analytically, so that we’re not using a pliers where we need a hammer, or we’re not using a battalion when what we should be doing is partnering with the local government to train their police force more effectively, improve their intelligence capacities.”

Good lord, I can't imagine how hard Obama rustles the jimmies of neoconservatives and network television "journalists." I want to be in the room, just to see Obama say that to a McCain or Graham.

[Great Rumbler]

McCain would have a heart attack and die if Obama said that to his face. But you can bet his corpse would get wheeled into the studio of a Sunday talk show to whinge about it anyway.

[Joe Molotov]

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Monday called on President Obama to use his State of the Union address on Tuesday to answer questions about the 2012 attack that killed four U.S. officials in Benghazi, Libya, as well as other issues like IRS targeting and ObamaCare.

[Great Rumbler]

[Brehvolution]

 

[Dickie Dee]

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2014/01/27/140127fa_fact_remnick

Very nice NYer profile of Obama.

“There’s no doubt that there’s some folks who just really dislike me because they don’t like the idea of a black President,” Obama said. “Now, the flip side of it is there are some black folks and maybe some white folks who really like me and give me the benefit of the doubt precisely because I’m a black President.” The latter group has been less in evidence of late.

“There is a historic connection between some of the arguments that we have politically and the history of race in our country, and sometimes it’s hard to disentangle those issues,” he went on. “You can be somebody who, for very legitimate reasons, worries about the power of the federal government—that it’s distant, that it’s bureaucratic, that it’s not accountable—and as a consequence you think that more power should reside in the hands of state governments. But what’s also true, obviously, is that philosophy is wrapped up in the history of states’ rights in the context of the civil-rights movement and the Civil War and Calhoun. There’s a pretty long history there. And so I think it’s important for progressives not to dismiss out of hand arguments against my Presidency or the Democratic Party or Bill Clinton or anybody just because there’s some overlap between those criticisms and the criticisms that traditionally were directed against those who were trying to bring about greater equality for African-Americans. The flip side is I think it’s important for conservatives to recognize and answer some of the problems that are posed by that history, so that they understand if I am concerned about leaving it up to states to expand Medicaid that it may not simply be because I am this power-hungry guy in Washington who wants to crush states’ rights but, rather, because we are one country and I think it is going to be important for the entire country to make sure that poor folks in Mississippi and not just Massachusetts are healthy.”

President Stoney Mason

spoiler (click to show/hide)

j/k  Stoney

and actually I think Obama comes off pretty well so far, although I'm only on page 3 of 18(!!)

[close]

[Phoenix Dark]

His comments on the NSA are baffling, and the drone comments boil down to "just trust me." But overall you definitely get a sense that this is a guy who really loathes the current political game/media, and rightfully so.

[Great Rumbler]

Pretty much everybody except the GOP and hardcore Tea Party-types hate the current political game/media.

[Brehvolution]

Presidents can talk. Only congress can act.

[benjipwns]

Presidents can talk. Only congress can act.

They've delegated that.

[Mandark]

Congress is now operating on passive-aggressive relationship principles: I shouldn't have to explain to you what needs to be done, you should know by now and just do it.  Unless you do something I don't like, in which case I will complain loudly and sabotage your project.

[Joe Molotov]

When is the White Community going to take a stand against this thuggish behavior by their politicians? I'm not racist (some of my best friends are white people) but this is clearly a issue that needs to be dealt with.

[Joe Molotov]

Creepy. 

[Broseidon]

[Brehvolution]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/how-republicans-lost-the-farm/283349/

In conversation, the rank-and-file Farm Bureau members were often bracingly right-wing. Many departed from the official position of the bureau's leaders to decry food stamps. Their opposition to Obama was virulent. I sat at a table on the floor of the convention's trade show with a South Carolinian named Joye Davis, surrounded by enormous displays of power tools, tractors, livestock fencing, and no less than five Chevy Silverado pickup trucks. A trailer sponsored by Nationwide Insurance contained a miniature Dallas Cowboys hall of fame, complete with a real live former Cowboys player, Jay Novacek. Monsanto was holding a drawing to give away iPad Minis.

Davis and her husband, Julius, both in their 60s, farm corn, peanuts, cotton, and wheat in Sumter County. She told me she thought putting food stamps into the farm bill had confused the public, making them think farm subsidies were a form of welfare, when nothing could be further from the truth. Obama, she said darkly, wants to give handouts to "his people," most of whom are not really needy but "have figured out how to beat the system."

"I have seen on the street signs that say 'Obamaphone,'" she said. "I pay for mine, but it's a free phone for them." (The myth that the Obama Administration has created a program to give taxpayer-funded cell phones to poor people is commonly repeated on right-wing talk radio.) Farm payments, on the other hand, were something landowners had earned. "I work for what I have," she said. "So I have a sore spot about that." Later, I found the Davises in the Environmental Working Group's farm-subsidy database. They had received at least $108,000 from the government between 1995 and 2012.

[Brehvolution]

[Phoenix Dark]

we got goons in this country man

The journalist is related to Anthony Scotto, former head of the Brooklyn longshoremen’s union and a former boss in the Gambino crime family.

“Michael is a tough reporter, and in true Scotto fashion, he’s not easily intimidated!” “Good Day New York” host Rosanna Scotto, Michael’s cousin and Anthony’s daughter, told me.

http://pagesix.com/2014/01/29/rep-grimm-couldnt-intimidate-scotto/

[Joe Molotov]

Some background on the first panel: Tom Perkins, the "liberal Kristallnacht" guy, rammed another boat with his yacht and killed a guy in France, and when he was found guilty, he complained about the French court system and how they were all out to get him and it was a perversion of justice. His punishment was a $10,000 fine. He was so devastated by this, that he waited 10 whole years to build one of the biggest yachts ever made.

Perkins and the yacht were the subject of a prize-winning biography, Mine's Bigger: Tom Perkins and the Making of the Greatest Sailing Machine Ever Built, by Newsweek's David A. Kaplan. The book in 2008 won the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award for best business book of the year.

[Phoenix Dark]

http://pagesix.com/2014/01/29/rep-grimm-couldnt-intimidate-scotto/

he was shook.

dude was lookin more like AJ Soprano than Tony 

[Great Rumbler]

This guy's a real piece of work. If somebody worked him over with a 2x4, I wouldn't shed any tears.

[Oblivion]

This guy's a real piece of work. If somebody worked him over with a 2x4, I wouldn't shed any tears.

Way to prove that dude and the WSJ editorial board right, Herr Rumbler.

[Eric P]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/nyregion/christie-bridge.html


The former Port Authority official who personally oversaw the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge in the scandal now swirling around Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said on Friday that the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening, and that he had the evidence to prove it.

In a letter released by his lawyer, the official, David Wildstein, a high school friend of Mr. Christie’s who was appointed with the governor’s blessing at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls the bridge, described the order to close the lanes as “the Christie administration’s order” and said “evidence exists as well tying Mr. Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference” three weeks ago.

“Mr. Wildstein contests the accuracy of various statements that the governor made about him and he can prove the inaccuracy of some,” the letter added.

The letter marked the first signal that Mr. Christie may have been aware of the closings, something he repeatedly denied during a two-hour press conference earlier this month.

In early January, documents revealed that a deputy chief of staff to Mr. Christie, Bridget Anne Kelly, had sent an email to Mr. Wildstein saying, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” the town at the New Jersey end of the bridge, where Mr. Christie’s aides had pursued but failed to receive an endorsement from the mayor.

Mr. Christie has steadfastly denied that he knew before this month that anyone in his administration was responsible for the lane closings, and his administration has tried to portray it as the actions of a rogue staff member.

The governor fired Ms. Kelly. Mr. Wildstein, the director of interstate capital projects at the Port Authority, resigned.

[Rufus]

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/01/who-wants-competition-big-cable-tries-outlawing-municipal-broadband-in-kansas/

Legislation introduced in the Kansas state legislature by a lobby for cable companies would make it almost impossible for cities and towns to offer broadband services to residents and would perhaps even outlaw public-private partnerships like the one that brought Google Fiber to Kansas City.

The Senate bill doesn't list any lawmaker as its sponsor, and there's a reason—a Senate employee told us it was submitted by John Federico on behalf of the Kansas Cable Telecommunications Association, of which he is president.

[Joe Molotov]

Remember when Justice Kennedy said that unlimited money in politics doesn't cause corruption or even the appearance of corruption? Oh how we laughed and laughed that day.

[Rufus]

money = speech
millions and billions = deafening noise
-> deaf politicians

QED

[Phoenix Dark]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/nyregion/christie-bridge.html


The former Port Authority official who personally oversaw the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge in the scandal now swirling around Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said on Friday that the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening, and that he had the evidence to prove it.

In a letter released by his lawyer, the official, David Wildstein, a high school friend of Mr. Christie’s who was appointed with the governor’s blessing at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which controls the bridge, described the order to close the lanes as “the Christie administration’s order” and said “evidence exists as well tying Mr. Christie to having knowledge of the lane closures, during the period when the lanes were closed, contrary to what the governor stated publicly in a two-hour press conference” three weeks ago.

“Mr. Wildstein contests the accuracy of various statements that the governor made about him and he can prove the inaccuracy of some,” the letter added.

The letter marked the first signal that Mr. Christie may have been aware of the closings, something he repeatedly denied during a two-hour press conference earlier this month.

In early January, documents revealed that a deputy chief of staff to Mr. Christie, Bridget Anne Kelly, had sent an email to Mr. Wildstein saying, “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee,” the town at the New Jersey end of the bridge, where Mr. Christie’s aides had pursued but failed to receive an endorsement from the mayor.

Mr. Christie has steadfastly denied that he knew before this month that anyone in his administration was responsible for the lane closings, and his administration has tried to portray it as the actions of a rogue staff member.

The governor fired Ms. Kelly. Mr. Wildstein, the director of interstate capital projects at the Port Authority, resigned.

[benjipwns]

jrice2n  JNUTT • 4 hours ago −
I think I remember that kind of logic used about Reagan. We tried going with the ones the democrats liked in the last to elections.

If we are going to lose(according to you) then let us run Trump, West, Cruz, Bolton, Gingrich, Men of character that will stand up to any one not wanting to be our friend.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/01/who-wants-competition-big-cable-tries-outlawing-municipal-broadband-in-kansas/

Legislation introduced in the Kansas state legislature by a lobby for cable companies would make it almost impossible for cities and towns to offer broadband services to residents and would perhaps even outlaw public-private partnerships like the one that brought Google Fiber to Kansas City.

The Senate bill doesn't list any lawmaker as its sponsor, and there's a reason—a Senate employee told us it was submitted by John Federico on behalf of the Kansas Cable Telecommunications Association, of which he is president.

Seems more honest in a way.

[Great Rumbler]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/01/nyregion/christie-bridge.html


The former Port Authority official who personally oversaw the lane closings on the George Washington Bridge in the scandal now swirling around Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey said on Friday that the governor knew about the lane closings when they were happening, and that he had the evidence to prove it.

Yeah, Christie is toast.

[Joe Molotov]

jrice2n  JNUTT • 4 hours ago −
I think I remember that kind of logic used about Reagan. We tried going with the ones the democrats liked in the last to elections.

If we are going to lose(according to you) then let us run Trump, West, Cruz, Bolton, Gingrich, Men of character that will stand up to any one not wanting to be our friend.

Men of character. Well, they are characters, that much is true.

[Eric P]

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/Chris-Christie-Sandy-Aid-Questions-New-Apartment-Tower-Untouched-Storm-242872821.html


Gov. Chris Christie's administration is again facing questions about how Sandy aid was distributed in New Jersey after it was revealed $4.8 million in relief funds went to help build an apartment tower in New Brunswick, a town that saw relatively little storm damage.

New Jersey's Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency approved the disbursement as part of the state's Fund for Rebuilding Multifamily Housing. The program is intended to speed the construction of new affordable housing in communities ravaged by the storm.

But New Brunswick lost relatively little of its housing stock when Sandy stormed through the state, and a Rutgers University study ranked New Brunswick 188th on a list of communities that suffered the most hardship due to Sandy.

"They're not spending the money on the people that they're supposed to be spending," said Doris Narkum, a storm victim whose family lost their house on the Jersey Shore.

Anthony Marchetta, executive director of the housing and mortgage agency, defended using Sandy relief funds to help build the New Brunswick apartment tower. Although New Brunswick itself was not heavily damaged by Sandy, Marchetta stressed the municipality exists in Middlesex County, one of the nine counties declared a disaster area after the storm.

"We're always in short supply of affordable housing in New Jersey," Marchetta said. "But those impacted counties have been further aggravated."

The New Brunswick project is one of 36 developments intended to increase the state's stock of affordable housing in the wake of Sandy. In all, Marchetta said the state has committed $157 million, which is expected to generate 2,369 affordable housing units.

As for the location of those units, Marchetta said a lot of that depends on where developers propose to locate their projects.

"We made an announcement to the development community that if you have any projects in those nine counties that will generate affordable housing, bring them on."

Forty-eight of the 238 apartments in the New Brunswick apartment tower will be classified as affordable housing.

The developer, a firm called Boraie, boasts the building will have 8,000 square feet of retail space, a parking deck and a fitness center.

Adam Gordon, a lawyer for the nonprofit Fair Share Housing Center, said most of the 36 development projects awarded through the Fund for Rebuilding Multifamily Housing appear to directly benefit communities heavily damaged by Sandy, but the New Brunswick tower appears to be more questionable.

"I just don't think building anywhere in any of the nine counties is equal, especially when you have a project that doesn't seem to have any connection to Sandy," Gordon said.

He has also criticized a senior housing development in Belleville, which won millions in Sandy relief funds. Belleville was not hit particularly hard by Sandy; it ranked 254th on the list of New Jersey communities suffering hardships after Sandy.

Despite the relatively low level of need, the HMFA approved $6 million to help the developer build 137 affordable senior housing units.

At a ceremonial groundbreaking in May, Christie did not mention how the senior center would benefit Sandy victims, but he did say he considered the project a priority for the seniors of Belleville and spoke about how he personally urged his appointed officials on the phone to approve the financial assistance.

"We saw the governor made remarks that basically directed his top cabinet officials to make sure this development got money. That was really troubling," Gordon said.

After the Sandy aid was approved, Belleville Mayor Raymond Kimble, a Democrat, crossed party lines to endorse Christie's re-election bid. Kimble did not respond to the I-Team's request for comment.

Another endorsement secured by Christie came from former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. He has invested with Boraie on other real estate projects.

Five months after the HMFA approved the Boraie application for Sandy funds, O'Neal appeared in a commercial endorsing Christie.

Earlier this month, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer said Christie's lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, pulled her aside last year and told her Sandy recovery funds -- from a program separate from the multifamily housing funds -- would be freed up for her city if she signed off on a certain real estate development. Guadagno has denied that this conversation took place.

Representatives for O'Neal did not respond to the I-Team's request for comment. Calls to Boraie Development were not returned. It is unclear if O'Neal has invested directly in the New Brunswick apartment tower.

A spokesperson for Christie did not respond to inquiries about the political endorsements from O'Neal or Kimble.