CNN exclusive: Feds investigating Christie's use of Sandy relief funds

[boston bean]

Washington (CNN) -- Just days after dismissing two top advisers for their roles in the George Washington Bridge scandal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is facing questions over the use of Superstorm Sandy relief funds.

CNN has learned that federal officials are investigating whether Christie improperly used those relief funds to produce tourism ads that starred him and his family.

The news couldn't come at a worse time for the scandal-plagued Republican, who is facing two probes into whether his staff tied up traffic near the country's busiest bridge to punish a Democratic mayor who refused to endorse his successful re-election bid.

N.J. Democratic legislator: 'I do believe laws have been broken'

http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/politics/christie-feds-investigating-sandy-ads/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_allpolitics+(RSS%3A+Politics)

[TBF]

1. I've been saying for a few days that my only

remaining question is whether it's the dems or repugs who are destroying Christie.

I do think it is his fellow repugs - dems never fight this dirty.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

4. interesting. But, you don't take your front runner out when you have NO ONE

interesting to replace him, do you ?

[TBF]

5. He's not nearly conservative enough for their zealots

even George P. Bush (Jeb's kid) is spouting off about being a tea bagger lately - he is running for land commissioner in Texas. Heaven help us.

They have Jeb, Rubio, Ryan and more. I don't think they want Ted Cruz or Chris Christie. Too crazy. The old guys with money like folks they can control. Those two are loose cannons. IMO.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. I was really being fictitious. But, Christie was their only chance, IMHO, before bridgegate.

He is the absolutely the only one with any kind of excitement to him. Albeit - not conservative enough, crooked, loose cannon, whatever. Despite his Tony Soprano-esque-ness, he has/had a certain amount of likability to the masses. Even if the right wing PTB think he is not conservative enough, the everyday wingnut likes him - his brashness and take no prisoners approach.

I don't think anything that's been uncovered in the last couple weeks has hurt him with this constituency. The group he has probably lost, the one everyone who runs needs, is the apolitical middle who thought he was a pragmatic, tell-it-like-it is compromiser.

There are probably contradictions in all I have written - but think this whole Christie thing is still playing out. Who knows what the new revelations - about emailgate and Sandygate will affect.

[Chemisse]

27. I agree. He was the only one I was worried about - until now.

I think he has had a lot of general appeal and would have given our Dem a run for his/her money in 2016.

[Beacool]

41. I think that you meant facetious, not fictitious.

Christie is popular with centrist Republicans. His problem is that the base who help elect the nominee despise him and call him a Rino. He's just not crazy enough for them.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

60. Yes ! facetious ! Sorry, it was early. Well, live around a ton of wingnuts and

at a dinner party the other night they ALL loved him despite the bridge deal. These people hate it when someone is trying to dig into someone's private business. Except of course if it's Obama or the Clinton's.

[flamingdem]

64. Let's hope someone doesn't emerge

who looks like a savior and can unite the Repukes.

The Kochs must be trying to create one in the Laboratory right now!
(Walker won't cut it..)

[elzenmahn]

80. Actually...

...check out what Chris Hedges said about Governor Krispy Kreme in his latest Truthdig article.

Chrispy Christie has been a corporate lackey from almost day one, from his earlier days working as a lobbyist and with/for the banks/hedge funds.

Moral of the Hedges article - don't take Christie lightly. He's well-backed, and he's dangerous.

[TBF]

82. He's old school conservative like Bush -

he presents as concerned about the almighty dollar but downplays the social issues. That is our grandfather's conservative party and I would agree with you that I don't see much difference at all between his policies and those of Jeb Bush. But he doesn't have the polished veneer. More outspoken, bullying, doesn't come across as smooth.

I agree that it makes him dangerous because moderates seem to like his spunk. But this bridgegate thing may be enough of a loose-cannon thing to pass him over.

But, yes, you've definitely got him pegged I think.

[R Merm]

13. Christie is a loose cannon,

I wonder if repugs are concerned that there is no controlling his behavior. He has clearly shown how vindictive he is and that he will place his own interests ahead of the parties.

[NJCher]

26. hah

He pretty much showed them that it's all about him when he gave the speech for Romney's nomination at the Republic convention and it was all about...him. Chris Christie.

And he was unapologetic about it.

His "I'm sorry" speech over Bridgegate was all about him and what a "sad" guy he is. It was, as a reporter said, his me-me-mea culpa.

Total narcissist.


Cher

[Beacool]

42. Dude is a narcissist.

It's all about him and how it affected him. Almost two hours of self pity. He was sad, he felt betrayed, they lied to him, blah, blah, blah.

[TBF]

47. Yes! I think he and Ted Cruz were

cut from the same mold, despite the fact that Cruz is way more conservative. Both are egomaniacs.

[dionysus]

69. i hope you didn't just hurl on your bankie...

[Beacool]

70. Nope, never.

The bankies are safely put away.

[rurallib]

20. they don't believe they have NO ONE

Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Huckabee, Santorum. I am sure there are more.
In their eyes these folks could all kick ass because America is a right wing country and those are the folks that stand for what America believes (or so they believe)

[flamingdem]

65. Would enjoy watching Ted Cruz missile or Rand

racist run in USA 2014.

Would be great for dems

[Hestia]

75. You can knock Hucka-who(?) off the list. Even his fundie base doesn't want to vote for him.

So that leaves the ragin' lunatics running.

I know we are up against the GOP & every major MSM outlet, including MSNBC but surely fact based reality wins out in the in. Even my sister, majorly apolitical, or well, she used to be and quipped some very funny jokes about the current political climate, so see - people do and are paying attention.

[flying rabbit]

78. THIS is their weakness

well... one of many.

[BlueStreak]

30. I don't know why everybody keeps ignoring Jebbie

It seems to me he is the one the party bosses are most comfortable with.

They sure don't want Perry, Huckabee, Palin, Cruz or Rand Paul

They could play ball with Ryan, but he isn't electable. Likewise for Rubio. Both Ryan and Rubio are lightweights who just look good in a suit.

And then there is Jebbie. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think he has ruled himself out. He is just as corruptible as Christie, but he is more reliable to his friends and backers, and probably a lot easier to get elected.

[jeff47]

54. Not gonna happen

Just gotta tie Jeb to W. Really easy to do since their brothers and all.

The base now hates W as insufficiently pure. Sane people hate W for utterly destroying the economy. "I'm not as stupid as my brother" isn't a way to undo that.

[BlueStreak]

57. Substitute "Bill" for "W" and "Hillary" for "Jeb" and you have EXACTLY the same argument

I don't think most people do automatically tie Jeb with W. Jeb is considered more thoughtful and considerably smarter than W.

There could be an argument that the nation is sick of bushes in general, but that applies equally to Clintons. I just don't think it is true in either case.

[jeff47]

59. People don't have to automatically tie them together.

There will be a campaign, after all.

Jeb is considered more thoughtful and considerably smarter than W.

That's a little like saying he's smarter than an eggplant. Not really a positive since it's such a low hurdle to get over.

Substitute "Bill" for "W" and "Hillary" for "Jeb" and you have EXACTLY the same argument

Sure, except for the massive deficits, the terrible economy, and the two failed wars.

Hillary's tie to Bill is a positive - most people feel the 90's were pretty damn kick-ass, and the possibility of repeating them would be a good thing. (Yes, a lot of policies that started in the '90s are part of why things are crappy now, but they hadn't fucked things up yet in the 90s)

Jeb's tie to W is a negative - most people feel the 00's were fucking awful, and the possibility of repeating them would be a bad thing.

And that's just the "sane" part of the country. The rabid Republicans don't like W nor Jeb. W failed, and since their policies can never be wrong it must be W's fault. Jeb is "more liberal" than W, so he would be a worse choice in implementing their policies.

[BrotherIvan]

66. NEVER underestimate Jeb

Poppy may be on his way out but Barbara is still kicking and she will do whatever it takes to get her favorite into the White House. And for those who are saying he's not conservative enough--he hasn't been branded for national consumption yet. Just you wait.

I think they were waiting to see what Hillary would do as she is formidable and can be conservative enough to counterpunch. The one thing he has going is the hatred for the Clintons and misogyny.

Ted Cruz can't run with the birther argument, Rand Paul is far too fey to win, Christie with his weight and now his scandal--it's the same clown car strategy they pulled last time. Guess what, lo and behold, Romney was the nominee. Who was surprised? The power structure of the Republican party despises the Tea Idiots, but uses them with impunity. Jeb is their man, one of them. Christie pulling out may have moved up his run as I didn't think he'd go up against Hillary. But the fact that he is laying so low in Mordor means he's arming himself.

[okaawhatever]

68. Barbara has already said "there have been enough Bushs in the white house" sounds like she put the

word out the Bush family wouldn't pull out all the stops for him. I wonder if the senior Bushs care enough about the country to not let another W happen. Also, I think they know that W was a figure head for the people who put the money behind his election. The same will happen with Jeb and I'm not sure the Bush seniors trust those folks.

[Hestia]

77. The reason everyone forgets about Jeb is because he is a snooze fest on camera.

It was the reason we got his brother rather than him in 2000. Remember reading something about it way back when. He is a huge PR problem, along with GWB baggage. And yes, he'll have that baggage, because I personally will register with every blog, media site, whatever and remind them each and every day about GWB and Iraq Iraq Iraq. I can be relentless too.

[BlueStreak]

79. Don't underestimate him. And remember, the Party is only looking for

a figurehead.They already have their agenda, They just need to package up a public face. Jebbie is certainly no more droll than Mittens. And if Romney hadn't been so damned arrogant to do the 47% thing, we would be talking about President Romney right now.

Look, we need to face facts. While we may technically have a 5-10M advantage in voters that ought to be inclined to vote for us, most of them are too damned apathetic to vote. When they get out to the polls, that is the exception rather than the rule. With all the election rigging the GOP has put in place, they would have an excellent chance with Jeb.

Obama was a once-a-century sort of thing, and that guy has pissed away the whole idea of making meaningful changes. Right about now, "Change you can believe in " strikes most people as horse shit when you look at things like the TPP, the NSA, the drone program, the fact that the number of prosecuted banksters is still zero and so on. No progressive will be able to use progressive change as a campaign focus for a generation because Obama basically that into a bad joke.

I don't mean to be negative, but anybody who thinks the GOP power structure isn't serious and they aren't seriously looking at Jeb needs to pay a lot more attention. We accuse the RW as living in their own little bubble. Well look in the mirror. We have our own bubble too.

[tblue37]

39. Enter stage right wing: Jeb Bush. nt

[TBF]

48. That's what I'm talking about.

They let Christie and Cruz bloviate around for awhile and then tossed them. I would be very surprised if Jeb is not the nominee.

[BlueStreak]

58. The fact that he is the one viable candidate nobody is talking about is telling

He is playing it cool. Nobody wins the election 3 years ahead of the voting. But a bunch of unknowns have to send up their trial balloons. The fact that Jeb is not saying anything, and has not taken his name off the table tells you where this stands.

He is letting the others eliminate themselves. And after that process is done, if he likes his chances, then he'll be the chosen one. He is infinitely easier to push through the primaries than Christie. And he is just waiting or Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz to wear out their welcome. He doesn't need to say or do anything for a year.

[stevenleser]

63. Everything I have seen suggests that Far RWers consider Jeb as bad as Christie, ie a RINO.

Believe me when I tell you, these folks are absolutely determined this time to nominate what they consider to be a 'real' conservative. I dont think folks outside of Rand Paul, Scott Walker and Ted Cruz need apply. Even Marco Rubio has screwed himself in their eyes with his back and forth on immigration and Paul Ryan is now suspect with the budget deal.

My money is on Cruz.

[awoke_in_2003]

67. Jeb will be highlighted...

as the "sane" choice juxtapositioned against the crazy of Cruz and Christie.

[stevenleser]

62. They consider him the same as Christie. nt

[calimary]

81. But the thing is - all those uninteresting future also-rans still THINK they're worthy of

replacing him. MAN, do they ever flatter themselves! They live in the ultimate Bizarro World. They think they're the bee's knees! God's gift! The answer to everyone's prayers! Why else would a pathetic little weenie like rand paul presume he's presidential material, forcryingoutloud? Shit - my dog is better presidential material than he is! Hell, the rats my cats would be going after if they only could - are better presidential material than he is. At least they know they're vermin.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. This actually started a couple months ago

in the Senate, from one of our favorites.

2 months ago
Rand Paul hits Chris Christie over post-Sandy tourism ads
Posted by
CNN's Dana Davidsen

<..>

In a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing to review the federal response to last year's deadly storm, Paul questioned Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan about whether Sandy relief funds should be spent on television ads.

Paul said that “people running for office put their mug all over these ads while they are in the middle of a campaign. In New Jersey, $25 million was spent on ads that included somebody running for political office."

"Ya think there might be a conflict of interest there? You know that’s a real problem. That’s why when people who are trying to do good and trying to use taxpayer dollars wisely they are offended to see our money spent on political ads. You know that’s just offensive."

<..>

"New York did the same thing, which I still object, but at least they didn’t put someone’s face on the ad and their family, and it looks like a bio ad," Paul continued. "You know I think, yeah, come to New Jersey, but it’s like I don’t want to pay for ads for someone’s advertising out of Sandy relief funds. It gives the whole thing a black eye."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/06/rand-paul-hits-chris-christie-over-post-sandy-tourism-ads/

[Chemisse]

28. Ahhh. Kicking this back into the news at this time makes a lot of sense for those gunning for him.

He needed to be hobbled before this kind of accusation could really hurt.

[gcomeau]

38. What about any of this is "fighting dirty"? -eom

[TBF]

51. My theory that his own party

is throwing him under the bus. I could be wrong.

[FourScore]

43. The day he slammed house Republicans for not sending Sandy relief money

was the beginning of his end. I even said to my husband...he'll be politically destroyed within a year.

I was right. I've seen it too many times.

[TBF]

52. Yup, that was not wise on his part. nt

[Laura PourMeADrink]

2. Holy shit. Add Sandygate to Emailgate to Bridgegate. Take him out early. nt

[PearliePoo2]

3. SWEET!!

Let the piling on begin! Is it too early to raise a toast?
Bury the arrogant bastard.

[obxhead]

71. There's a lot of road between accusations and consequences.

Let it begin indeed. Every trip is began with a single step.

[JustAnotherGen]

6. At last!

This should have been done in May/June of last year!

[sufrommich]

7. Holy Cow. I can't imagine how pissed I'd be

if I were a NJ resident who needed those funds only to find out that Christie was using them to elevate his national standing.

[maindawg]

8. I guess they are running up the score

[Zoonart]

10. Not to mention-

Mrs. Christie's Sandy Charity which has raised a purported 32 million dollars and has yet to pay out one red cent.


Christie and Sandy: Unanswered Questions
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/01/12/1269045/-Christie-and-Sandy-unanswered-questions

[jsr]

11. Both husband and wife are lying crooked thugs.

[Trekologer]

18. I'm both embarrassed and angry that he was wearing a Rutgers shirt

Considering he was in favor of giving away one of the Rutgers' campuses as political payback and trying to exert more state control over the university.

[factsarenotfair]

56. He's a political thug and she's a Wall Street thug.

I can't imagine them as parents.

[factsarenotfair]

55. Yes! I'm sure that every grant from the Sandy Relief charity she manages required a quid pro quo.

The Christies are quite a team!

[ProSense]

12. They should investigate

if any corners were cut in the construction of the boardwalk destroyed by fire.

Report: Feds Investigating Christie's Use Of Hurricane Sandy Funds For Tourism Ads

Federal officials are looking into whether New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) improperly put Hurricane Sandy relief funds towards Jersey Shore tourism ads, CNN reported Monday.

Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) told CNN that federal auditors are expected to examine the state's use of $25 million in Sandy relief funds to market the tourism campaign, which starred Christie and his family. Pallone asked the Department of Housing and Urban Development inspector general in August to look into how Christie spent the funds.

"This was money that could have directly been used for Sandy recovery," the New Jersey congressman told CNN. "And, as you know, many of my constituents still haven't gotten the money that is owed them to rebuild their homes or raise their homes or to help."

Pallone wrote in his letter to HUD that he was concerned about the bidding process for the ads, according to CNN. The winning bid for the marketing plan featuring Christie, he noted, cost $2 million more than the losing firm's proposal, which did not feature the governor and his family.

- more -

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/feds_investigating_christie_sandy_funds

[Laxman]

14. Those funds were meant for tourism ads...

its standard with disaster relief in places where tourism is present. You know-the "Gulf is Open for Business" BP ads. The intent is to help local businesses recover. Christie's handlers saw this as a chance to burnish his image and get some free political advertising. Beyond that they saw it as an opportunity to steer funds to a politically connected advertising firm rather than the lowest qualified bidder. This might not be corruption in the sense of stealing funds, but it is corruption nonetheless.

Besides-these commercials are supposed to attract people to the Jersey shore. Christie's family sitting on the beach? Run away!

[ProSense]

16. Evidently,

"Those funds were meant for tourism ads..."

...they're talking about the funds allocated for relief: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024322990#post12

[sufrommich]

17. BP paid for those ads.Relief funds can't be used for tourism

ads.

[Laxman]

22. Yes They Can....

From the approved spending plan for Sandy relief money. Same was done in upstate NY/Vt after Irene

Finally, having received a waiver from HUD, the State proposes using $25,000,000 of CDBG-DR
funds for a tourism marketing campaign to inform tourists that much of the Jersey
Shore is open for business in 2013.

Link to Action Plan.

They were NOT meant for self-aggrandizing political commercials touting the Governor. They were meant to be spent wisely and efficiently-Not on a politically motivated, politically connected ad campaign.

[sufrommich]

24. You're right. My apologies. nt

[Laxman]

25. No need to apologize...

It was a reasonable statement. Some of this stuff is so arcane you need to know where to look to have any chance of digging it out.

[Cheviteau]

40. The Gulf Open For Business Ads

are part of a settlement agreed to by BP and the Federal government, and are not financed with taxpayer money. Put your thinking hat on before you type something. C'mon, do some research.

[FourScore]

44. Refer to post 22. Then apologize. n/t

[FourScore]

50. I'm not sure the veracity of the charges really matter at this point.

I suspect there is total political annihilation going on here. Get as many scandals and probes and investigations and charges against him as possible so that he has no choice but to resign in utter disgrace. His political career is over. I'm sure he knows it.

I'm okay with that. The day I saw him yell at the school teacher was the day I was done with him.

[Kingofalldems]

15. It will be interesting to see what Rubio does this week.

[spanone]

19. proceed governor

[herding cats]

23. Looks like some possible nepotism.

Last edited Mon Jan 13, 2014, 10:50 AM - Edit history (2)

Pallone wrote that he was concerned about the bidding process for the firm awarded the marketing plan; the winning firm is charging the state about $2 million more than the next lowest bidder. The winning $4.7 million bid featured Christie and his family in the advertisements while the losing $2.5 million proposal did not feature the Christies.

I'd be looking into who that firm donated to as well if I were investigating this.

From Rep. Frank Pallone's website.

Long Branch, NJ – Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today called for an investigation into the contract and bidding process used by Governor Chris Christie for the marketing campaign to promote the Jersey Shore and encourage tourism. While the Congressman supports the campaign, he questions whether Governor Christie took advantage of the federal funds for his personal political gain.

In a letter to the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Pallone questions the Governor’s decision to award the contract to a bidder that cost the state $2.2 million more than a comparable firm’s proposal. These taxpayer-funded television ads feature the Governor and have been aired in New Jersey and surrounding states during his reelection cycle. However, the proposal from the less expensive firm that was not chosen during the bidding process did not propose featuring the Governor in the ads.

“The fact that this particular proposal was chosen despite an obvious conflict of interest, in addition to the higher costs, raises serious concerns with the entire process. I fought hard for passage of the Sandy aid package in Congress by assuring our colleagues that this funding was critical to our recovery and that it would be spent responsibly without waste, fraud and abuse,” wrote Pallone in the letter.

Had Governor Christie chosen the less expensive firm, $2.2 million in federal disaster aid could have potentially been directed elsewhere, for example, to provide 44 Sandy impacted homeowners $50,000 grants to raise their homes.

http://pallone.house.gov/press-release/pallone-calls-investigation-christie%E2%80%99s-misuse-disaster-aid-political-gain

The full text of the letter available at the above link.

[bigdarryl]

29. Not that I'm surprise of this but I have a question

Why the fuck didn't all this come out when he was running for reelection.Did they sit on this story before the election

[BumRushDaShow]

36. It did come out

as far back as May (before Memorial Day) -

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/05/christie_films_psa_for_nj.html
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/05/christie-stars-in-nj-tourism-ads-dems-cry-foul/
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/Chrisite-Talks-Clean-Beaches-Water-Post-Sandy-in-Wildwood-221321751.html

And then nearing the close of the summer season -

http://www.mediaite.com/online/home-state-paper-attacks-chris-christie-over-self-promotional-stronger-than-the-storm-ad-campaign/
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/Chrisite-Talks-Clean-Beaches-Water-Post-Sandy-in-Wildwood-221321751.html

And the day after his election in hearings -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/11/06/rand-paul-knocks-chris-christie-for-hurricane-sandy-tv-ads/

Even Sludge took a jab (if you are brave enough to click the link) - http://www.drudge.com/news/173726/rand-paul-takes-break-plagiarizing

To save time, the article headline for Sludge was - worthy itself. (I forgot that plagiarize-gate was going on around election time)

Rand Paul Takes Break From Plagiarizing To Slam Christie

Sen. Rand Paul took a jab at Gov. Chris Christie Wednesday, saying it was "offensive" that the governor appeared in New Jersey's "Stronger Than The Storm" TV spots while campaigning for office.

The ads, which featured Christie and his family and were funded with federal disaster relief money, promoted tourism along the Jersey shore in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and ran on TV, radio and online.

Speaking at a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing reviewing the ongoing recovery from Sandy, Paul, R-Kentucky, questioned whether storm relief funds should have been spent on the ads.

"Some of these ads, people running for office put their mug all over these ads while they are in the middle of a political campaign," Paul said. "In New Jersey, $25 million was spent on ads that included somebody running for political office."

[madaboutharry]

31. This is what happens when an arrogant man surrounds himself with arrogant advisors.

This is kind of thing is amateur hour.

[ProSense]

32. Christie Allegedly Diverted Millions In Hurricane Sandy Relief Funds To Pay For TV Ads Starring Hims

Christie Allegedly Diverted Millions In Hurricane Sandy Relief Funds To Pay For TV Ads Starring Himself

By Igor Volsky

The Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has opened a federal investigation into whether New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) improperly used Hurricane Sandy relief funds to produce commercials starring himself and his family ahead of his re-election campaign. Auditors will examine how the Christie administration used $25 million set aside for “a marketing campaign to promote the Jersey Shore and encourage tourism,” focusing on the bidding process to award a $4.7 million to a politically connected firm that cast Christie and his family in the Sandy ads, while “a comparable firm proposed billing the state $2.5 million for similar work” but did not include Christie in the commercials.

The ads produced by the company, MWW, attracted significant criticism. The New Jersey Star Ledger accused Christie of siphoning off “money that was intended for victims of Sandy to promote himself in a series of TV ads,” and described the move as “offensive” and a ” new low.” Watch the ad here:

<...>

Here are 6 things you need to know about the investigation:

1. Congress raised alarms about the ads in August. In August, Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) alerted the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that the Christie administration may have “irresponsibly misappropriated funding allocated by Congress from the Sandy aid package” and used funds set aside for promoting the state “for political purposes.” “[T]he contract was awarded to a firm that is charging over $2 million more than the next lowest bidder to develop the marketing plan,” Pallone wrote, noting that “the winning bid proposed including Governor Chris Christie in the advertisements, while the lower cost proposal that was not selected did not.” “It is inappropriate for taxpayer-funded dollars that are critical to our state’s recovery from this natural disaster to fund commercials that could potentially benefit a political campaign.”

2. Conservatives questioned Christie’s staring role. In November, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said Christie’s appearance in the television ads gave the recovery effort a “black eye.” “People running for office put their mug all over these ads while they were in the middle of a political campaign,” Paul said during a committee hearing. “In New Jersey, $25 million was spent on ads that included somebody running for political office. You think there might be a conflict of interest there? That’s a real problem and that’s why when people who are trying to do good and trying to use taxpayers’ money wisely, they’re offended to see our money spent on political ads. That’s just offensive.”

- more -

http://thinkprogress.org/home/2014/01/13/3152271/6-need-know-federal-investigation-chris-christies-sandy-relief-funds/

[Laxman]

37. Divert is the Wrong Word....

$25 million was authorized for an ad campaign from the Sandy funds. It wasn't that the money was used on ads. It was that it was misused for his own personal advantage and directed to a politically connected media relations firm over otherwise qualified lower bidders. That's where the corruption is.

[NJCher]

33. speaking as a former advertising manager

Last edited Mon Jan 13, 2014, 01:40 PM - Edit history (1)

For numerous Fortune 500 companies, when I saw/heard the NJ shore ads, I thought they were the hokiest, most amateur ads I'd seen in a long time.

Like since 10" before, when I'd seen a local car dealer ad.

Specifically what I have against them is the "stronger than the storm" jingle. Not only is it something an amateur musical composer could come up with, it offers NO BENEFIT to the consumer.

That's what it's all about: a benefit to the consumer.

Give the customer a reason: "Why should I go to the shore for my vacation as opposed to ___, ___, and ____?"

Now, you tell me, what benefit is it to tell potential vacationers that NJ is stronger than the storm? Stupid, just totally stupid campaign.

Oh and so nice that we taxpayers spent $2 million more just for the feature of seeing Christie and his family on the shore. This is just like the hokey local ads that feature the car dealer. They're ads that appeal to the advertiser's big ego.

NJ is a heavily populated state with a wide range of talent--singers, writers, media producers, advertising and creative people. With Chris Christie, though, the only talent needed is that of the sycophant.


Cher

[Laxman]

35. I thought they were very professional!

Why I'm still humming Stronger than the Storm in the shower!

As I said before, Christie's family on the beach wasn't going to attract anyone to the shore.

[BumRushDaShow]

46. Imagine living in the media market for South Jersey

That ad played on every Philly TV station and major radio stations.

The fact that we're still humming it means that the jingle "stuck" like an ear worm.

[CTyankee]

34. all the while punishing the mayor of Hoboken for withholding her endorsement for him...

things are shaping up badly for CC in short bursts...keep it coming!

[Beacool]

45. This is nothing new to those who paid attention.

I'm just glad that the Feds have finally chosen to launch a probe.

This is from last May:

"The six ads are part of a television and radio roll out that includes a digital campaign, billboards in high-profile spots like Times Square and the entrance of the Lincoln Tunnel, as well as an official roll out May 24, the Friday before Memorial Day weekend. The kick off is a five mile ribbon cutting that spans across Seaside Heights, around the businesses and down the shore. Simultaneously, other parts of the shore will hold similar ribbon cuttings. They believe it will break the Guinness World Record for ribbon cutting.

According to Shannon Eis of MWW, the firm that won the bid to make the ads, they will run in New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, and other parts of Pennsylvania as the primary push. The secondary markets are Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, upstate New York, and eastern Canada. The ads provide Christie extra face time in the pricey New York and Philadelphia markets through July, the markets that New Jersey residents are included in. They will run in a scaled-back schedule the rest of the summer in August and September.

The campaign of Christie’s gubernatorial opponent Democratic state Sen. Barbara Buono say these are just campaign ads charged to the taxpayer. In a statement Buono said “the hard-working and resilient people who have rebuilt their businesses and homes after Sandy should have been the star of these ads.”

“That Gov. Christie would allow $25 million in federally-funded ads to feature him in the middle of an election year is both supremely arrogant and wildly inappropriate,” Buono said.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/05/christie-stars-in-nj-tourism-ads-dems-cry-foul/

Christie went with an agency that charged $2M more than the next bidder because that agency offered to feature him and his family in the ads. He wanted the free publicity as he geared toward his reelection campaign.

[boston bean]

49. Sorry, guess I wasn't paying attention. nt

[Beacool]

53. Well, if you don't live in NJ I wouldn't expect too many other people to know.

[questionseverything]

61. gotta wonder what took them so long

http://www.bradblog.com/?page_id=10334

as a side note that link is all about christie sneaking off to the koch conference in 2011...in case you hadn't seen it

[WillyT]

72. K & R !!!

[hrmjustin]

74. Hello.

[gopiscrap]

76. Excellent

hope they nail this fucker