Idiot Mayor wants Obama to apologize for quip about Vegas

[jefferson_dem]

Mayor: Obama should apologize for Vegas trips quip
By OSKAR GARCIA,Associated Press Writer AP - Wednesday, February 11

LAS VEGAS - Sin City's mayor wants President Barack Obama to apologize for saying companies shouldn't visit Las Vegas on the taxpayer's dime.

<SNIP>

Obama made the remarks Monday during a town hall meeting in Elkhart, Ind., where the president traveled to muster public support for economic stimulus legislation.

"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 taxpayer's dime," Obama said.

A White House spokesman said it was looking into the mayor's comments and did not have immediate comment.

Goodman said Obama's remarks at the town hall meeting were unwarranted.

"That's outrageous, and he owes us an apology," he said. "He owes us a retraction."

Las Vegas tourism officials worry that increased scrutiny on business travel will discourage meetings and conventions _ business that would be crucial for the city already suffering economically. The number of visitors to Las Vegas was down 4.4 percent in 2008 compared with a year earlier, and visits in December alone declined nearly 11 percent.

Late Monday, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said it had moved a three-day conference from the Las Vegas Strip to San Francisco amid what the bank called a broad review of its activities. Goldman Sachs has accepted $10 billion in federal bailout funds.

Last week, Wells Fargo & Co., which received a $25 billion infusion, canceled a planned employee recognition conference in Las Vegas after an AP story reported on the trip and the bank received criticism from Capitol Hill that it was misusing the funds.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20090211/twl-obama-las-vegas-mayor-1be00ca.html?printer=1

[Zynx]

1. Oscar Goodman is a loudmouth douchebag.

That is all.

[marmar]

2. "that federal lawmakers might be discouraging travel to the city."

Jesus, Maria y Josef. :eyes: The stress of the economic crisis must be getting to former Mob lawyer Oscar Goodman.

[Thrill]

3. That mayor owes us an apology for suggesting they can take trips on

taxpayers money.

[PretzelWarrior]

4. hey, Vegas mob stooge. FUCK YOU!

you address the president with respect. You're part of the fucking problem with this country. GFY!

[IdaBriggs]

5. Good heavens -- he was given a MAJOR compliment by the President:

Las Vegas = prestige, luxury and glamour, and it is NOT appropriate for folks who are begging for a handout to go there.

Its not "go to another city" -- its GO ANYWHERE. Have a freaking conference call instead, and if you want to reward employees, bring in a dozen donuts.

On a side note, last Friday was an interesting day at my new job: I work for a contract house (six weeks), and they came in with donuts for us. Also, a message that everyone was losing all vacation pay (one lady who has been with the company for 19 years just lost three weeks), and no "holiday" pay (7 days). To summarize: someone just lost a month's worth of wages, and they brought donuts.

Perhaps they should have shipped us to Vegas instead? :sarcasm:

[TheCowsCameHome]

6. Oscar, I'll wager that you're a complete idiot. That's a safe bet.

[jberryhill]

8. The only bet in Vegas you can't lose /nt

[iamjoy]

7. What's Stupid Is...

What's stupid is companies getting bail out money "canceling" meetings, etc in places like Vegas and Miami Beach because they don't want to appear to be having fun. They relocate to places like NYC or San Francisco. As a result of worrying too much about "image" they are paying penalties for late cancellation and sometimes higher prices for the "less glamorous" location. It is stupidity like this that got us into the mess.

Of course, the mayor is being foolish too. Rather than attacking President Obama, he ought to recognize that Vegas has spent years marketing itself as a place of unbridled fun and they have been successful. It is no wonder that in hard times there might be a bit of a backlash toward that. Maybe it would have been better if he responded to the "meat" of our president's statement - you know, point out how Vegas can still be an economical destination and that the people of Las Vegas and Nevada need the jobs - they depend upon visitors coming to the city. The mayor could have used Obama's own words against him by framing a trip to Vegas into "stimulus." Instead, he comes across as a blowhard.

I live in Orlando and used to work in the tourism business. My Mom's a travel agent. She does leisure travel for a large corporate agency. Incentive trips are her specialty. As a result of businesses and individuals reducing their travel, her hours have been cut and so she's struggling to make ends meet. But she's "lucky" - one of her co-workers got laid off.

Asinine elected officials thought they could finance all of our state expenses with sales tax revenue, relying in large part on visitors to our county/state. Enough voters foolishly believed them. No wonder Governor Crist supports the stimulus. Since people aren't coming to vacation in Florida, our state has no money.

So, I see both sides of the issue.

[SoxFan]

9. Goodman is a Mob thug.

He can pound sand.

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. So Goodman supports people partying on the taxpayer's dime?

That's an odd position!

:wow:

[TwilightGardener]

11. WTF lately with demanding apologies? From the President, no less?

Fuck you and your shitball city, asshole.