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Photos: Biden Visits Sandy-Damaged NJ, Says "You've Got A Homeboy" In The White House "Who Gets It"
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 19, 2012
Modified Nov 19, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 19, 2012
Modified Nov 19, 2012
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Thespian and Vice President Joe Bidenvisited NJ yesterday to survey the devastation from Hurricane Sandy. Amtrak Joe took a helicopter tour of the destruction along the Jersey Shore and emphasized how the federal government would help, "So as the president said, when he was up here with the governor, we’re not going anywhere. We’re not not going anywhere. And you’ve got a homeboy in the deal who gets it." Question: Is the homeboy Obama or Biden?!?
When Biden arrived at the Seaside Heights Volunteer Fire Station, the pool report said that he "handed out challenge coins, jokingly punched men on the arm and gave hugs... To one tall state police officer whose name tag read Cuomo, VPOTUS said 'If I say anything you don't like, let me know.' He then gave him a punch on the arm... Nearby was a mop-headed teenager in a fire department sweatshirt. He had a radio strapped on near his shoulder. VPOTUS asked his age. He's 14. He got a punch on the arm." And when he saw Senator Frank Lautenberg in Hoboken, he saluted and said, "Your holiness!"
Biden mentioned his affinity to the shore, "I spent all my time on the Jersey Shore [during summers]. I was literally raised on the shore." Here are more of Biden's remarks, as transcribed by the pool:
If you’re not an Easterner it’s hard to understand that the ocean to us is the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone Park and everything else combined. It is a gigantic part of not only our economy but who we are. It’s a gigantic part of the culture as well.
And every time the rest of the country is in real trouble, New Jersey and Delaware and New York and Connecticut etcetera we respond, we respond. And it’s going to be a heavy lift. These are difficult times in terms of budgets but the president has made it clear that we are going to do everything we can to make sure that the Corps is fully funded, that FEMA has their needs and that all the programs that exist under the auspices of the federal government not only continue to exist but are funded so that we can make sure that this area of the country is fully fully fully restored.
So as the president said when he was up here with the governor, we’re not going anywhere. We’re not not going anywhere. And you’ve got a homeboy in the deal who gets it.
However, he didn't understate the massive undertaking, "We have an awful lot of work to do... This is going to be a long process. this is going to be an expensive process."
Tagged
hoboken
homeboy
hurricane sandy
joe biden
nj
president obama
seaside heights
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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