Cruz called Sandy aid ‘pork’ but wants ‘all available resources’ after Texas blast

[Playinghardball]

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) says that he is prepared to make “all available resources” available from the federal government to assist in the recovery after an explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas — but the senator voted against aid for victims of Hurricane Sandy earlier because he said it was “pork.”

The Dallas Morning News reported on Thursday that Cruz had reacted to the fertilizer plant explosion that killed dozens in West, Texas earlier this week.

“We are in very close touch with officials on the ground and we’re monitoring the tragic accident closely,” Cruz said in Washington. “It’s truly horrific and we are working to ensure that all available resources are marshaled to deal with the horrific loss of life and suffering that we’ve seen.”

In a statement on his website, Cruz added that “[w]e remain in communication with Gov. Perry’s office and emergency management officials, and stand to offer whatever support we can.”

But following the super storm that devastated much of the East Coast last year, Cruz was not as willing to part with taxpayer money.

According to The New York Times, the junior Texas senator voted against Sandy aid three times.

“Hurricane Sandy inflicted devastating damage on the East Coast, and Congress appropriately responded with hurricane relief,” Cruz said in a statement earlier this year. “Unfortunately, cynical politicians in Washington could not resist loading up this relief bill with billions in new spending utterly unrelated to Sandy.”

“This bill is symptomatic of a larger problem in Washington – an addiction to spending money we do not have. The United States Senate should not be in the business of exploiting victims of natural disasters to fund pork projects that further expand our debt.”

On Thursday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) also asked President Barack Obama for a “quick turnaround” on federal aid.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/19/cruz-called-sandy-aid-pork-but-wants-all-available-resources-after-texas-blast/

[gaspee]

1. Of course he does

Hypocrite - and his disaster entirely man-made. Let insurance cover it beyond the immediate help needed to help the people directly affected.

[marybourg]

2. +1

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Just tell him the country's broke and there's no money for Texas.

[AndyA]

4. H Y P O C R I T E

Make that CRAZY HYPOCRITE!

Ted Cruz is symptomatic of a larger problem in Washington - hypocrisy and an attitude that "if it doesn't affect me, screw 'em." Gay people don't deserve equal rights until they learn that their child is gay--suddenly, they have a revelation and change their mind.

Let's not provide aid to those libruls in the northeast because, well, they're mostly Democrat [sic]. But when it hits close to home in a red state, heck yeah, they want all the help they can get!

I hope the media calls him out on his hypocrisy and insists on an explanation. Same goes for the rest of them who expect help for their state yet voted against helping Hurricane Sandy victims.

[AngryAmish]

5. Well, to be honest Sandy Hook was pork...because...TEXASSSS!!!!!

so stupid

[AsahinaKimi]

6. I would send him the money

PLUS A VERY VERY LARGE PIG.

[sharp_stick]

7. I want him to beg

and I want that asshole Governor of theirs right beside him while he kisses the ring.

I don't think we should hesitate in offering all needed assistance to the people of West but by God I think that making them whimper a bit would be good for the National morale.

[Seeking Serenity]

8. Um, one of the quoted paragraphs in your OP

completely blows your premise (to wit, that Cruz opposed Sandy aid but now want aid for West, Texas).

“Hurricane Sandy inflicted devastating damage on the East Coast, and Congress appropriately responded with hurricane relief,” Cruz said in a statement earlier this year. “Unfortunately, cynical politicians in Washington could not resist loading up this relief bill with billions in new spending utterly unrelated to Sandy.”

Might consider revising.

[Fumesucker]

23. Cruz voted *against* aid for Sandy victims

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/19/ted-cruz-bill-flores-aid_n_3117356.html

Actions trump words and Cruz's actions show him to be a hypocrite of the highest order.

[sinkingfeeling]

24. Voting against it 3 times doesn't constitute 'opposing Sandy aid'?

[atreides1]

9. I have a suggestion for Cruz

He, Perry, and the Repulican congressional delegation should rent out the Cowboys stadium and have themselves a prayerfest, like they did during the drought...that worked out so well, it might again!

[dogknob]

10. The United States of Me

That is what we have. Cons, libs, dems, reps, crips, bloods, coke, pepsi...

It's all about Me. What I want. My friends. My family. My business. Me.

We're all guilty of it to some extent. Me is our culture and Me will be our legacy.

[hifiguy]

33. Me-ism will be recorded as the cause of death

when this country finally goes to terminal shit. That and pure, unvarnished fundamentalist-based stupidity

[sharp_stick]

11. Funny how fast the asshole

or his staff blocked me from his Twitter feed when I pointed this out to him.

He's a lot faster on Twitter than he is in the intellectual arena.

[Rex]

12. He is a true Repuke.

He is just re-qualifying his credentials as a GOPer.

[LeftInTX]

13. Harry Reid should add gun control pork to the Texas disaster relief

[tartan2]

14. So now you want something Perry!

you pathetic jack ass. Was it two maybe three years ago you wanted to succeed from the Union. Why don't you just go to your rich corporate buddies and get some help!

[TwilightGardener]

15. This fertilizer plant deal was 100% man-made. Why would TX get federal aid for their

home-grown screw-up? That's a waste of taxpayer money. They should rely on charity. (edit to add: I've decided to take the Republican position on this)

[TimberValley]

18. It is precisely the sort of attitude that you have

that leads to many needy people in America (and the world) being neglected.

[HangOnKids]

26. AHHH it is so sweet to see you care

Really! How sweet.

[Kingofalldems]

28. Where are the people that caused this?

Funny Cruz seems to be giving them a pass. What gives?

[HangOnKids]

29. Thanks!!

The poster does not care to follow up and that bothers me.

[texanwitch]

16. I hate to break it to all of you, not everyone is a Republican in Texas.

People were killed and injured.

West, Texas is a little farming town no different then many across the country.

DU is full of people who love to hate.

I do feel sorry for all of y'all who feel free to dump on a little town that has lost so many of it's people.

I hope nothing ever bad happens to any of you, ever.

And if your state has a Perry for Governor, I hope all of you get the help you need.

[HangOnKids]

22. If there were spending?

Really? On top of that statement, you take Cruz's word for what was in the bill? Major LOL. Really?

[Generic Other]

19. Call Harry Reid's office and call your own reps and senators

Segami suggests Reid put a rider on any aid bill to Texas to include background checks on guns. The senators and reps in Texas voted against aid for Sandy Hook. Time for Reid to play hardball with them. We can help by calling our reps and senators and Reid's office too. Let them know we are paying attention. And we don't forget.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2708888

edit: typo

[womanofthehills]

20. Is their no zoning in Texas

A fertilizer plant right next to a middle school???

[Fumesucker]

25. No zoning in lots of small towns around the country, particularly in agricultural areas

It's not just Texas.

[Patiod]

21. Thanks! Just used this in a FB thread about Schumer laughing at Cruz's gun conspiracy

someone complained about how rude Schumer was to laugh at Cruz's theory, and I was able to cut and past from this and say "oh, I t6hought he was laughing at Cruz's nerve in looking for federal govt help"
Conservative: "he thought it would be full of pork because it was NY"
Me: "But any aid given to TX will all go to widows and orphans, right?"
<crickets>

[TeamPooka]

27. We need to fix this problem.

I made my case for a fix here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022713237

[Arcanetrance]

30. As angry as I am for him to have voted against sandy aid

It disgusts me that fellow liberals would even float the idea of ignoring the humans hurt by this. That callousness is for republicans. The people in Texas affected by this are people plain and simple yes some might be republicans just as many could be Democrats in the end I don't care they are people in need just like my friends family and neighbors are and were after sandy.

[AgingAmerican]

31. This fits right in with their "me me me me" selfishness driven ideology

n/t

[moondust]

32. Exactly what I was going to post.

ME RICHER FASTER! ME RICHER FASTER! ME RICHER FASTER! ME RICHER FASTER! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME!

ALL FOR ME, NONE FOR YOU!!!

Screw him.