The day after President Obama and Senator Harry Reid killed Yucca by defunding the nuclear waste program, (a promise the President made during his presidential campaign) the President has caused a ruckus in this city when he told Americans to be responsible with their money at a New Hampshire town hall.
Las Vegas is upset at remarks the President made in New Hampshire, in which he urged Americans to use their money responsibly and not blow it on gambling. The city's mayor, Oscar Goodman held a press conference and said that the President is "no friend of Las Vegas." Elected officials in Nevada are all furious at the President and want him to stop using Las Vegas as the poster child of bad behavior.
This city's political class are still reeling from remarks the President made last spring in Indiana when he said that companies which received bailout money should not go on Las Vegas junkets.
The President told the American people to act responsibly with their money as should their government. Here is what he said:
Sounds logical -- don't throw your child's college fund on gambling and don't use tax payers money on lavish company outings. Not in this city -- Las Vegas wants you to spend your money here and then forget what you did when you get home. Tourism is this city's engine and the economic downturn has hit this city hard. The unemployment rate is close to 14% (the second highest in the country) and it ranks the highest in foreclosures. Las Vegas is hurting and now they have someone to blame for their hurt -- The President of the United States.
The President tried to stop the anger by sending a letter to Senator Reid.
Las Vegas Sun
"I hope you know that during my Town Hall today, I wasn’t saying anything negative about Las Vegas. I was making the simple point that families use vacation dollars, not college tuition money, to have fun," Obama wrote. "There is no place better to have fun than Vegas, one of our country’s great destinations. I have always enjoyed my visits, look forward to visiting in a few weeks, and hope folks will visit in record numbers this year."
This story is big news in this city and might end up hurting a lot of Democrats that are trying to use their experience and closeness to the President as a reason to re-elect them. Last night the local news spent over 10 minutes on this and news papers headlines ran with it. Everybody is talking about what the President said about Las Vegas.
His letter to Senator Reid might stop some of the anger many are feeling. The President would get a chance to charm this city once again when he visits at the end of the month to discuss jobs. Let's hope he succeeds.