I knew this was going to happen: LVRJ says, "Obama dings Las Vegas — again"

[BeyondGeography]

An offhand remark at today's town hall. Obama knows NV is an important swing state (and his de-funding of Yucca Mountain tells you he recognizes its importance), and his first "swipe" at Vegas was really aimed at bankers. But today's remark was a screw-up:

President Barack Obama once again used Las Vegas as the punch line in a crack about wasting money.

The Hill, a Washington, D.C., publication, quoted Obama warning an audience in New Hampshire against the danger of wasting "a bunch of cash in Vegas."

The remark was reminiscent of a statement last year in which Obama said companies getting government bailout money shouldn't use it in Las Vegas.

That remark generated strong rebukes from Las Vegas boosters and criticism from convention industry people who said it unfairly marked the destination as a wasteful location for events.

"When times are tough, you tighten your belts," The Hill quoted Obama saying today at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire." You don’t go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage. You don’t blow a bunch of cash in Vegas when you’re trying to save for college."

U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he spoke to the White House following Obama's comments.

“While the President is correct that people saving for college need to be fiscally responsible, the President needs to lay off Las Vegas and stop making it the poster child for where people shouldn’t be spending their money," Reid said in a statement...

http://www.lvrj.com/news/breaking_news/Obama-dings-Las-Vegas--again-83382047.html

[Jennicut]

1. People in Las Vegas need to stop making it legal to gamble there then.

Duh.

[Hello_Kitty]

2. Sorry, but I don't go to Vegas when I don't have a lot of money to burn. eom

[Warren Stupidity]

3. Ah of course, the silly substituting for the serious.

When will the boating industry senator start complaining?

[rucky]

4. But nobody loses money in Vegas.

right?

[monmouth]

5. Vegas's skin is as thin as Reid's. Much ado about nothing IMO...n/t

[BeyondGeography]

7. Oh yes, it's ultra thin

More chips on the shoulder per capita than anywhere, perhaps. Which is why you don't make Vegas jokes if you're intent on winning there. :think:

[monmouth]

10. Haha, wonder what would have happened if Prez just said Atlantic City...n/t

[BeyondGeography]

13. Would have been a better choice; he can carry NJ without it

He won Clark County by 20 points in 2008 and it basically gave him his total vote margin for the state.

Anyway, I'm sure it won't happen again. Doesn't help Reid though.

[phleshdef]

6. Vegas is culturally associated with gambling. Thats just how it is.

[Uzybone]

8. people need to stop being scared of the truth

Stop whining Vegas.

Either that or kill the "what happens in Vegas.." slogan, which suggests that people go down to Vegas to behave irresponsibly.

[Drunken Irishman]

9. Who the hell doesn't go to Vegas to blow through money?

I mean, it's not like it has anything of substance beyond the Strip.

[Warren Stupidity]

11. hookers.

[Drunken Irishman]

12. Well even then, there's some blowing going on.

[kiva]

14. Glad to see he's so confident of winning that

he doesn't need Nevada's votes.

[countmyvote4real]

15. Fine. Then call it what it is: gambling. n/t

[marshall]

16. Vegas is even more iconic in Hawaii than it is on the mainland

I lived in Hawaii for two years. A Vegas vacation was the dream of every person I knew who grew up in Hawaii. Television was inundated with ads for packaged trips to Vegas. It makes sense to me that Obama would have Vegas references as an inherent part of his nomenclature.

[GoneOffShore]

17. Vegas, like Disneyland, is a completely artificial construct

Great idea - build a city where there is no water and the weather is too hot for humans. Then put in gambling. Then when somebody actually says that gambling is your major industry, act all hurt and play the victim card.

[Odin2005]

18. Fuck Vegas. It's a symbol of all that's wrong with our society.