President Obama and Vegas

[Anonymous]

OK- I confess to a soft spot for Sin City - got sneak married there before the 'real wedding' and felt reckless and wild doing so. Have never had a bad stay there and 4 days is always more than enough. I don't gamble, but feel like there is something for everyone from lowbrow to highbrow. An awful lot of hardworking people n Vegas depend on vacationers choosing Las Vegas over other destinations. I don't think the President should promote places over others, but I also find it kind of weird that he keeps singling out Vegas like it is a worse place to vacation in 'this economy' than say, NY? It's almost like teetolar or something. Spend your money, but in approved places. It seems kind of uncool of him to me, and a lot of people there are understandably PO'd. Whence the tone-deafness? Thoughts?

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/0203/Obama-slams-Las-Vegas-again-Reid-upset-again

[Anonymous]

His point was correct. Gambling is a luxury that you enjoy when you have the financial means to do it. And it's not just any old luxury. It's one where many people end up losing far more than they intended to risk.

Sure, hardworking people depend on it. But these people know they are in the tourism industry and that industry is not an essential good or service.

And I don't see how we should steer clear of criticism of any industry, merely because it employs hardworking people. Cigarette companies employ people, too, and we wouldn't browbeat our politicians for pointing out the health risks of smoking. Same for the Big 3 automakers. We don't softpedal their weaknesses out of concern for the workers.

[Anonymous]

His original quote:
"You don't blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you're trying to save for college."

His explanation, after a storm of complaints from Nevada officials:
"I was making the simple point that families use vacation dollars, not college tuition money, to have fun," Obama said, according to the letter released by Reid's office. "There is no place better to have fun than Vegas, one of our country's great destinations."

On balance, I think Vegas managed to get some good PR. Had he thought more about his original quote, I suppose he'd have said "gambling" instead of "Vegas", but to me it looks like he did no more than lick a toe.

[Anonymous]

In your OP, you say that "he keeps singling out Vegas". He's mentioned Vegas twice in a year. I don't understand why this is a big deal, as he has not criticized Vegas or the gaming industry or even the legal prostitution. I agree with 18:58's point; you don't go on vacation when you can't afford it. Unfortunately for Vegas, it's viewed as a destination where people drop a lot of money that they can't afford to spend.

[Anonymous]

Don't really see how it makes a difference. If you want to go, you'll go and it won't matter what Obama says. And if you're a gambler or into the whole I'm a bad boy/girl risk taker kind of thing, even better that the Pres says you shouldn't go. Even more satisfaction than when you were a teenager and told not to do something.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Two issues: a) it just seems sort of prudish of him. How is Vegas any worse than the Bahamas? If you are an adult and choose to have fun at a gaming table, sheesh, lighten up. Is he talking about people with serious gambling addiction then why not attack the race tracks etc. He is just picking a soft target of fun... and I' m not sure why. b) Hospitality may not be an 'essential' industry... but I don't drive; are cars an essential industry? When I am in Vegas people from all over the world are there dropping their currency in our pool. There are more Brits and Asians than you can shake a stick at. Why should our own President sneer at it? It is a city in which an awful lot of maids, cashiers, waitresses, taxi drivers, street sweepers, construction workers etc. who depend on tourism. I thought this president was on the side of those people?

[Anonymous]

A while back, Obama said of corporate execs: "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."

This time he said: “When times are tough, you tighten your belts. 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.”

Here is Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman:

[Anonymous]

The problem is the corporations did not halt their vacation-conventions; they just quietly moved them to equally luxurious places away from Vegas. Nothing is accomplished with these types of gratuitous comments except changing the Vegas economy. The president's words reach lots of people (especially corporations concerned about 'appearance'). I don't mind if he goes after frivolous spending, but why keep naming names of Vegas - the service provider, not the spender?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem is the corporations did not halt their vacation-conventions; they just quietly moved them to equally luxurious places away from Vegas. Nothing is accomplished with these types of gratuitous comments except changing the Vegas economy. The president's words reach lots of people (especially corporations concerned about 'appearance'). I don't mind if he goes after frivolous spending, but why keep naming names of Vegas - the service provider, not the spender?

In that paragraph you used "Vegas" 50% more often than Obama did. Isn't "keep naming names" an exaggeration? I found Goodman's disrespect for the President utterly offensive. Even if you thought Obama should not have specifically mentioned Vegas, did you think Goodman's rant was justified?

[Anonymous]

Vegas lost a LOT of business after the president dimes the city out the first time. People asked him to retract/rethink in a respectful way. I think goodman's rant is justified- kind of fooled me once syndrome. He's po'd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His original quote:
"You don't blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you're trying to save for college."

His explanation, after a storm of complaints from Nevada officials:
"I was making the simple point that families use vacation dollars, not college tuition money, to have fun," Obama said, according to the letter released by Reid's office. "There is no place better to have fun than Vegas, one of our country's great destinations."

On balance, I think Vegas managed to get some good PR. Had he thought more about his original quote, I suppose he'd have said "gambling" instead of "Vegas", but to me it looks like he did no more than lick a toe.

I think people who are making a big deal out of this are taking it too literally. I don't think he was dissing Vegas, but dissing the idea of losing a bunch of money on something frivolous ie gambling.

When a friend does something naughty or sneaky, have you ever heard someone joke, "What happens in Vegas stays in vegas".... even though NOBODY in the situation was in LV NV? It's just a metaphor for a time/place where frivolity, naughtiness etc. happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vegas lost a LOT of business after the president dimes the city out the first time. People asked him to retract/rethink in a respectful way. I think goodman's rant is justified- kind of fooled me once syndrome. He's po'd.

If it was Obama's comment that made people stay away from Vegas, rather than the economy, he ought to spend more time on TV getting people to improve their diets, take better care of their kids, study harder, etc. TR said it's a bully pulpit, but I never realized that people really follow the sermons.

BTW, you are clearly not the only one who approves of Goodman. His constituents apparently like him:

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:BTW, you are clearly not the only one who approves of Goodman. His constituents apparently like him:

Well, you know what they say, "You can can't keep a Goodman down".

[Anonymous]

A goodman is hard to find. Obama's first comment kept corporations away. Vegas thrives on junkets and conventions. They would like to be perceived as a great place to book one--good value, space, entertainment. He made it sound like holding a convention in Vegas was akin to a million dollar firing payout. His second comment--after his first which literally caused businesses to cancel their reservations and rebook elsewhere--is just throwing more salt at Vegas. They are an American hospitality industry. When the American president takes two gratuitous swipes at you, I don't blame them for being PO'd. It's not just Goodman. Obama did well in that area in the election; I didn't hear many people saying much good about him there after his post-election comments. He presumably represents the people of Vegas as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vegas lost a LOT of business after the president dimes the city out the first time. People asked him to retract/rethink in a respectful way. I think goodman's rant is justified- kind of fooled me once syndrome. He's po'd.

If it was Obama's comment that made people stay away from Vegas, rather than the economy, he ought to spend more time on TV getting people to improve their diets, take better care of their kids, study harder, etc. TR said it's a bully pulpit, but I never realized that people really follow the sermons.

BTW, you are clearly not the only one who approves of Goodman. His constituents apparently like him:

Looks more fun than Fenty to me.