Obama just took another jab at Las Vegas today. According to “The Hill”:
President Barack Obama took another dig at Las Vegas at his New Hampshire town hall Tuesday after similar remarks got him into hot water last year.
Obama said that people should no[t] “blow a bunch of cash in Vegas” during a tough recession. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman called for Obama to apologize after he made comparable comments last February.
Normally I would be the first to agree with our President that wasting money gambling is not the most productive use of it. However, I see two problems with his comment:
- His remarks were not limited to gambling per se, but were an attack on the tourist industry in general, an industry which has been particularly hit hard during this recession. Obama made a similar comment last year and his press secretary tried to clean up the mess by saying (again quoting “The Hill”): “…that Obama meant to target banks and other firms that received federal bailout funds. Gibbs said that the president believes in a strong tourism industry.”
- Obama is planning on traveling to Las Vegas later this month to campaign for Harry Reid. Now I am no expert, but I don’t think that dissing the way your future audience earns its money is the most effective way to win them over to your point of view.
I’m sure Harry is pleased.
Obama just took another jab at Las Vegas today. According to “The Hill”:
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:47 pm
$10 Harry Reid’s poll numbers tank after Obama comes to campaign for him
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:47 pm
New Hampshire?
Is he having campaign withdrawls?
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:54 pm
I’m going to Vegas for sure this weekend NOW
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:55 pm
And we’re gonna gamble our heads off at the Wynn. : )
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:06 pm
For anyone in an economically vulnerable situation, I think any kind of serious gambling is really stupid.
Not sure if the President needs to be pontificating on the issue, and I’m sure it doesn’t do Reid any favors, but he’ll be working as a 7 figure lobbyist next year anyway.
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Barack is a Meanie Bo-beanie, and I hope he fails. I hope he gets primaried.
February 2nd, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Obama post-Scott Brown seems less scripted and decidedly less presidential. He increasingly appears petty, small, insecure, and defensive. He almost appears to be having some sort of melt-down as a result of things not going his way.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Reid to Obama: Lay off Vegas
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid chided President Barack Obama Tuesday for making Las Vegas a “poster child” for excessive spending.
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=90D92A54-18FE-70B2-A8CF6CE9BC9F9091
Intelligence Officials Warn Attempted Al Qaeda Attack Months Away
The terrorist organization is deploying operatives to the United States to carry out new attacks from inside the country, CIA Director Leon Panetta told Congress.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/02/intelligence-officials-warn-attempted-al-qaeda-attack-months-away/
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:33 pm
[...] More signs that the bloom is off the Obama rose. From Politico (this is in response to my posting below): Last year, Obama drew criticism from Nevada politicians for criticizing junkets to Las Vegas by [...]
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Anyone think Obama did this on purpose?
Suppose Harry’s numbers continue to sink because of this and then Harry has to drop out and they bring in a stronger democrat prio to the election.
So maybe Obama is helping to push Harry out the door.
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:31 pm
Obama was right about wasting money in Vegas, and not just on gambling.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:18 pm
Hey Obama, lay off Vegas. Please stay out of our business and stop telling the American people how and where to spend our OWN money! Your policies have made it impossible for people to send their kids to college. Going to Vegas, or not going to Vegas, will make no difference in the grand scheme of things. We will tighten our belts when you and the government do the same, how’s that? This is still a free country, and leave Las Vegas