Las Vegas Mayor demands apology from President Obama

[EraOfResponsibility]

:crazy: :silly:

Sin City Mayor Says Obama's Vegas Dis Ain't Worth Craps
February 10, 2009 10:31 PM

Oscar Goodman, the colorful mayor of Las Vegas, is outraged over comments President Obama made about his city, and has demanded that the president pay him an apology.

At issue are remarks about corporate responsibility Obama made at a town hall Monday in Elkhart, Ind., when responding to a question from an audience member.

“We’re going to do something to strengthen the banking system," Mr. Obama said, “You are not going to be able to give out these big bonuses until you pay taxpayers back. You can't get corporate jets. You can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayers' dime. There's got to be some accountability and some responsibility.”

Goodman responded today with outrage at Obama’s singling out his city in a negative light, dissuading -- in his view -- travel to Sin City.

“That's outrageous," Goodman, a Democrat, said to KLAS-TV today. "He owes us an apology. He owes us a retraction. What is a better place, I say, for them to come here. For them to change their mind and go someplace else and to cancel at the suggestion of the president of the United States, that is outrageous.”

Goodman is also the chairman of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and asked the state’s congressional delegation to speak to President Obama about this matter.

Goodman last made national news for defending an earmark he wanted put in the stimulus package, a $50 million museum dedicated to the history of organized crime.

-- Sunlen Miller and Jake Tapper

(Jake Tapper; go fucking figure)
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/02/sin-city-mayor.html

[anonymous171]

1. Jake Tapper is trying too hard. He will be a joke by the end. nt

[rcrush]

2. How was that negative?

I thought you couldnt insult Las Vegas? What? Do people go to Vegas for wholesome family fun?

[Pirate Smile]

3. Ummmm, idiots (Tapper and Mayor), he didn't pull the city out of a hat. It came up because of this:

Wells Fargo cancels lavish Las Vegas trip

WASHINGTON (AP) - What was going to happen in Vegas has riled the ranks in Washington.And after facing incensed lawmakers,Wells Fargo, which received $25 billion in bailout funds, has called off its lavish Sin City junket for top employees.

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito called the trip "outrageous" and the company "tone-deaf." The bank originally defended the trip but backed off under the hail of criticism.

Wells Fargo says it never planned to use taxpayer bailout money for the 12-day junket.

The trip was to come on the heels of this week's announcement that Wells Fargo lost more than $2.3 billion in the last three months of 2008.

Previous all-expense-paid trips for Wells Fargo have included helicopter rides, wine tasting, horseback riding in Puerto Rico and a private Jimmy Buffett concert. One employee said she was "amazed with just how lavish it was.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29012901/

He wasn't just picking a random city. :eyes:

[dkf]

8. The mayor should have pleaded with Wells Fargo not to cancel.

Then maybe this would make more sense.

[Parker CA]

4. Mr. Goodman apparently doesn't realize the comment was based on bailed-out CEO's planning junkets to

his city of sin and excess on the tax-payer's dime. Zero reason Obama should apologize for this. Tapper is clearly stirring the pot double-time. Jackass.

[PBS Poll-435]

14. Get a clue.

Thanks!

[Parker CA]

39. What exactly do I need to "get a clue" about? Thanks! n/t.

[damonm]

42. Methinks the "get a clue" was directed at LV's mayor...nt

[jenmito]

44. OR it was that the poster called Las Vegas a "city of sin and excess."

:shrug:

[Parker CA]

45. Apparently the comment was from someone who has a bone to pick with anyone stating that

the Mayor is wrong in demanding an apology. Looking through the thread all the responses seem to stand out as the lone voice in support of the apology to the Mayor and to Wells Fargo continuing their planned junkets on our dime. Maybe the posts were inspired from someone who will no longer be attending this junket?? Strange.

The "sin and excess" are my words and my personal view, sure, somewhat cliche and hyperbolic, as everyone who lives/goes there doesn't engage in sin or excess, but still, I'm sure I'm not alone in those sentiments.

[damonm]

47. You have a point...

LV ain't exactly the City of Homes & Churches now, is it?

[PBS Poll-435]

51. Referring to Wells Fargo's planned-far-in-advance conference in LV

as "on the tax-payers dime."

Simply not the case. Ignoring the fanatical hyperbole and doing your own research on the matter would be helpful.

[jenmito]

48. BTW, I agree with you that there is NO reason to apologize. If he has to apologize to Las Vegas, he

also has to apologize to the NFL, right?! I didn't hear the NFL complaining about his comments about the Superbowl.

[CakeGrrl]

5. OK, the Mayor of LV is possibly a doofus

and Jake Tapper is a tool for eagerly reporting the stupidity.

Where did Obama insult Las Vegas? He singled it out, along with the Super Bowl, as a travel destination where someone might want to spend their money. The money is the problem, Mr. Mayor. Oy.

Maybe the Mayor is lonely and wants some attention from our Prez. He needs to take a number and get in line. Obama has that certain something that makes some people lose a few marbles.

:rofl:

[John Q. Citizen]

9. Las Vegas. Welfare recipients favorite vacation destination!

[John Q. Citizen]

11. Self Delete

[PBS Poll-435]

15. Please research the issue further

:eyes:

[ieoeja]

36. Re-read. Obama didn't say anything about them spending their money in Las Vegas.

Exact quote says, "taxpayers' money".

[Sebastian Doyle]

6. Apologize for WHAT, exactly?

He didn't say anything against Vegas, Mayor Jackoff. He said something against greedy corporatist fuckwads spending taxpayer "bailout" money.

And here I thought Spineless Reid was the most useless "Democrat" in Nevada? Looks like he's got some competition.

[Number23]

7. Is he stupid?

Because he sure as hell sounds like he is.

[Jennicut]

12. He haz the stupid, definitely

Obama criticized Wells Fargo, not the city of LV. Sheesh.

[PBS Poll-435]

13. Yikes

That is not good.

Talk about misinformed.

[izquierdista]

29. Not only stupid

But corrupt as well.

[PBS Poll-435]

10. I agree with the Mayor. The Las Vegas "diss" was about the Wells Fargo trips that were scheduled

in Las Vegas in February.

Complete bullshit.

Wells Fargo makes a hefty profit and wanted to reward its employees. Citi leaked the info to GE (MSNBC & NBC) and a stupid PR battle waged. For about a week.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUKTRE51721C20090209

[Jennicut]

19. Sorry but in this economic climate taking employees to Las Vegas

is such bad PR. They got Tarp money and still want to allow a recognition event? Yeah, that sucks if you are an employee but all extras have to be cut out when you take govt. money from the little guy all the way to the top of the organization.

[PBS Poll-435]

20. (They didn't need the money. The trip was planned many quarters in advance)

If I were CEO, I would think first about my employees and second about "bad PR."

[ecstatic]

27. ok you're beginning to sound a little biased

towards Wells Fargo! Do you have ties to them? LOL.

[Spazito]

35. LOL, I wonder the same...

it is almost as if the poster was one of those who had their trip canceled and is an unhappy camper.

[ecstatic]

26. They were free to keep the junket and deal with the fall out

:shrug: As far as I know.

[Barack_America]

37. Wrong. In this economy, the reward you get is keeping your job and your paycheck.

Especially if you work for a company that is being kept alive using taxpayer dollars.

[Hansel]

60. Wells Fargo is not being kept alive using taxpayer dollars.

They are a triple A rated bank and the only U.S. bank in the top 10 in terms of stability and the government bought stock from them. They were not bailed out or kept alive by taxpayer dollars.

Why do they perform so well? Maybe because they treat their employees with respect and make conservative business decisions. The trip was plan long long before TARP was even thought of. Canceling these events can be costly and, if cooler heads prevailed, would have been entirely unnecessary.

I find it interesting that Wells Fargo, one of the few major companies that has not been a big proponent of outsourcing and does everything possible to prevent lay-offs is constantly being dissed by so-called progressives on this website. Instead of saying bully for them for treating their rank and file employees like they value them instead of loading up the top execs with huge bonuses at the expense of the rank and file, the comments are about how their employees should feel lucky to have a job. It's very freeper-like and creepy.

I don't know about you, but I want more American companies to act like American companies and I'm not about to slam those who do it successfully. If all companies treated their employees like Wells Fargo, maybe there wouldn't be an unemployment issue in this country.

So they treat their rank and file employees with respect and reward them for helping make the bank one of the handful of profitable banks in the world. Wow, that's just horrible.

[WinkyDink]

56. Yeah, that looks really swell in these times. Tough noogies, Wells Fargo employee.

[snowbear]

16. It's so ridiculous it doesn't even sound real...

.
.


Is this Mayor Goodman dude serious?



Hey Goodman: No Stim Package for YOU!



-

[ecstatic]

17. Wow. Can he switch parties already? What a Palinesque series of concerns

:crazy: Are you guys sure that wasn't satire?

[firedupdem]

18. Jake Tapper and the mayor of Las Vegas are jokes! n/t

[Egnever]

21. Thats my mayor!

And he definately isnt stupid.

He promotes Vegas! like no ones business. He is a character to be sure but, the guy loves this town.

[Cha]

40. That doesn't mean he's not knee jerking and

is owed an apology by Obama.

[NYC Liberal]

22. The emphasis is on "on the taxpayers' dime"

Obama never said anyone shouldn't go to Las Vegas.

STFU Mayor Goodman.

[WCGreen]

23. Isn't Las VEgas the convention capital of the world...

[TheWraith]

24. The Mayor and Jake Tapper can both kiss my hairy pink buttcheeks. nt

[Thrill]

25. Keep waiting for it

[Frank Booth]

28. So Goodman's pissed because Obama doesn't want bankers taking trips to Vegas

on the taxpayers' dime? He doesn't get an apology for that.

[vaberella]

30. The Wanna-be B-Rod.

This guy just wants some damn air time and I'm surprised people are giving it to him. He's just a joker playing a whole indignant martyr game which is worthless. Nothing in Obama's statement could be seen as derogatory that would earn him even the batting of a lash. FAIL.

[JimGinPA]

31. Fuck The Mob Lawyer... & Jake Trapdoor Too!

I can't stand either of those pug bastards.

[Political Tiger]

32. I bet Bill Bennett agrees with the mayor. n/t

[Undercurrent]

33. .

Goodman is still pimping for his mob museum.
Forgetaboutit!

No wonder he is so interested in the museum.

"During his career as a defense attorney he represented defendants accused of being some of the leading organized crime figures in Las Vegas, such as Meyer Lansky, Nicky Scarfo, Herbert "Fat Herbie" Blitzstein, Phil Leonetti, former Stardust Casino boss Frank 'Lefty' Rosenthal, and Jamiel "Jimmy" Chagra a 1970s drug trafficker who was acquitted of ordering the murder of Federal Judge John Wood. His most notorious clients was reputed Chicago mobster Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro, who was known to have a short and violent temper. In the semi-factual 1995 movie Casino, the character of Nicky Santoro was based on Spilotro and was portrayed by actor Joe Pesci. Goodman had a cameo appearance in the film as himself. Goodman also represented former San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock, who was convicted of accepting illegal campaign contributions and eventually forced to resign."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Goodman


Oscar Goodman (Right) with one of his more infamous clients, Tony Spilotro.

[Blue_Tires]

34. how are those words singling out his city in a negative light?

and Tapper should quit the pretense and start freelancing for human events or lgf or ron paul's race report if he isn't already

[rvablue]

38. Oh. Please. There is nothing to apologize for. n/t

[Hutzpa]

41. Why don't he demand my nuts in his mouth n/t

[AlCzervik]

43. Fun story about Oscar Goodman i posted in 2005, the link is poofed but here's the text.

This might give you some insight into Goodman.

Mayor endorses gin to fourth graders

School officials say Goodman's remarks were inappropriat


Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman told a group of fourth graders on Monday that if he was marooned on a desert island the one thing he would want to have with him is a bottle of gin.

And when a student quizzed Goodman about his hobbies he replied that "drinking" was one of them, said Mackey Elementary School Principal Kamala Washington, who was present for the mayor's visit.

Goodman was unapologetic for his comments that came during his visit to the elementary school in North Las Vegas.

"I'm the George Washington of mayors. I can't tell a lie. If they didn't want the answer the kid shouldn't have asked the question," Goodman said. "It's me, what can I do?"

[AspenRose]

46. What's wrong with what he said?

Good Lord!

[4lbs]

49. You mean Las Vegas' own television ads "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" don't already

cast the city in a sinister light?

Those ads infer that a married or involved person can come to Vegas and have a fling without their spouse or mate finding out.

[Cha]

57. Wow...That's a saying but I

didn't realize they advertised as an enticement.

The mayor might have been better off if he had taken a more sane approach instead knee jerking.

[NikolaC]

50. What???

:wtf: Tapper is going loony trying to come up with anything to make the President look bad :crazy:.

[Better Believe It]

52. Screw him! How about a 50 million dollar museum dedicated to those who have fought against

organized crime rather than celebrating the mob?

[Hellataz]

53. OMG get the F over it!

Everyone knows that Vegas is a symbol for excess, greed and wasting or losing money. It's not like President Obama made some slight against the city on purpose.

[WI_DEM]

54. Obama has nothing to apologize for. The Mayor has to get over himself.

[HOLOS]

55. Pres. O was correct

[dcindian]

58. hahahahaha

I think someone needs his Binky.

[totodeinhere]

59. Obama was right.

Those fat cat Wall Street bankers have no business going to Las Vegas right now. If that hurts the Las Vegas economy, that's too bad, but all regions of the country are hurting right now. Why should Vegas be any different?