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Obama Tours Flood Zones in New Jersey

Says 'Washington politics' won't stop federal aid

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 4, 2011 2:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama visited flood-ravaged communities in New Jersey today and vowed that "Washington politics" won't obstruct federal aid for people along the Atlantic Coast, the New Jersey Star-Ledger and the AP report. Dressed in rolled-up shirt sleeves and khaki-style pants, Obama landed in Newark just after noon and boarded a helicopter with Gov. Chris Christie and Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez to tour areas damaged by Hurricane Irene.

Obama's four-hour visit to the Garden State included a stop in Paterson, where the rain-swollen Passaic River had flooded the factory town and forced hundreds to flee. In nearby Wayne, hit hard by flooding from the Pompton River, Obama continued to shake hands and pose for photographs. "You know, it could have been worse," Obama said. "But we should not underestimate the heartache that's going through a lot of these communities, affecting a lot of families."

President Barack Obama walks with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Fayette Avenue in Wayne, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, as he visits flood damage caused by Hurricane Irene.
President Barack Obama walks with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Fayette Avenue in Wayne, N.J., Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, as he visits flood damage caused by Hurricane Irene.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama high fives a boy as he stops at a road to recovery center at a Lowe's department store after visiting flood damage caused by Hurricane Irene in Paterson, N.J., today.
President Barack Obama high fives a boy as he stops at a "road to recovery center" at a Lowe's department store after visiting flood damage caused by Hurricane Irene in Paterson, N.J., today.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
President Barack Obama walks along a flood damaged street in Wayne, N.J. as he visits areas damaged by Hurricane Irene, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011.
President Barack Obama walks along a flood damaged street in Wayne, N.J. as he visits areas damaged by Hurricane Irene, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011.   (AP Photo/John O'Boyle, Pool)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, left, and President Barak Obama talk as they walk towards Air Force One at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., today.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, left, and President Barak Obama talk as they walk towards Air Force One at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., today.   (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
President Barack Obama talks to residents on a flood damaged street in Wayne, N.J., as he visits areas damaged by Hurricane Irene, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011.
President Barack Obama talks to residents on a flood damaged street in Wayne, N.J., as he visits areas damaged by Hurricane Irene, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011.   (AP Photo/John O'Boyle, Pool)
President Barack Obama hugs a woman on a flood damaged street in Wayne, N.J. as he visits areas damaged by Hurricane Irene, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011. Looking on is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
President Barack Obama hugs a woman on a flood damaged street in Wayne, N.J. as he visits areas damaged by Hurricane Irene, Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011. Looking on is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.   (AP Photo/John O'Boyle, Pool)
President Barack Obama speaks to reporters with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, center left, and Sen. Robert Menendez, R-N.J., center right, in Paterson, N.J., today.
President Barack Obama speaks to reporters with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, center left, and Sen. Robert Menendez, R-N.J., center right, in Paterson, N.J., today.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
Watching4theMODS
Sep 4, 2011 11:13 PM CDT
Our President needs to fight the Republican'ts that will want to block aid, Rebuplicans are obstructionists.
cornelison
Sep 4, 2011 7:34 PM CDT
This is not about politics and spending cuts.  This is an American value to help each other.  Extreme Republicans take note.
brawne
Sep 4, 2011 7:15 PM CDT
Keep it up.  All the "he's right or he's wrong and whatever.  Bunch of saps being manipulated by the system.  If he were what every Liberal thinks he is you'd have universal healthcare and no wars.  If he were what every conservative thinks we'd all be in a cell with a bag on our head and our house would be part of the communal treasury.  Worse than either of those two things is the reality of him which is that he has no power at all.  None and we are so fucked that we hang onto labels to pretend that a guy who can raise a billion bucks is a socialist or some idiot Bush was a Christian.  That ass won SC in 2004 by having Rove's minions call everyone and say McCain had a black baby.  Ever think of that--how different your world would be if McCain and Cindy hadn't adopted a black baby? Or if Laura Bush had been stupid enough to adopt a black baby?  
Politics • US

 
New Jersey • flooding • Robert Menendez • Frank Lautenberg • President Obama • Chris Christie • Hurricane Irene

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