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President Barack Obama speaks during “The Good Fight: A Tribute To Nevada’s Senator Harry Reid” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas Tuesday.
Published Tuesday, May 26, 2009 | 4:31 p.m.
Updated Tuesday, May 26, 2009 | 10:25 p.m.
Obama speaks at Caesars
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Reader poll
Obama Arrives in Las Vegas
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President Barack Obama arrived at McCarran International Airport Tuesday afternoon for a two-day stay in Las Vegas.
Knockout Punch?
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On his first visit to Nevada since the November election, President Barack Obama played Fundraiser in Chief Tuesday night, delivering a 20-minute speech to a sold-out crowd at Caesars Palace, all for the benefit of Sen. Harry Reid.
The event was expected to raise about $2 million for the Senate majority leader’s campaign.
Reid is up for re-election in 2010 and has proved a pivotal partner in helping Obama shepherd his agenda through Congress in the administration’s first 100 days. And, even with Democratic majorities, the president will need Reid to corral a politically diverse caucus as Obama tackles the more difficult terrain of energy policy and health care reform.
Indeed, that’s the case the president made Tuesday night, making reference to former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott’s book about life in the chamber, titled “Herding Cats.”
“The last few years Harry has done an extraordinary job as the leader of the U.S. Senate, and that’s not easy,” Obama said. “Harry has consistently fought on those issues that matter not just to Democrats but to middle class families. Good jobs. Health care. Clean energy. He makes decisions and chooses battles based on the values he was raised with in Searchlight, Nev. That’s why we need to keep Harry Reid exactly where he belongs.”
Polls show a tough election environment for Reid. His approval rating sits at 38 percent. More troubling though, almost half of those surveyed in a Mason-Dixon poll conducted for the Las Vegas Review-Journal last week said they would like to replace him. That said, Republicans have yet to find a challenger and Reid continues to build a war chest that he says will grow to $25 million.
Obama thanked the at-times raucous crowd for its help on his campaign but said his election marked “not the victory we sought, but the opportunity to make change.”
He touted the economic recovery package, the authorization of stem cell research, the expansion of children’s health insurance, equal pay legislation and consumer protections regarding “abusive fees” from credit card companies. He then received a standing ovation for his mention of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.
“This is a woman who will bring more experience than any woman on the Supreme Court,” Obama said. “Nobody can say she’s not qualified to be on the Supreme Court.”
With Sotomayor’s nomination, “America will take another important step in realizing its image, equal justice under the law. I’m inspired by her, and I know that Harry Reid and others in the Senate will make sure she’s confirmed.”
Still, when it comes to his administration’s agenda, Obama said he was far from satisfied.
“We have come a long way. We see light on the horizon. But we’ve got a long journey ahead,” he said. “That’s why you are here tonight. I know you’re going to be at the polls next November. I know you’ll be making those phone calls and knocking on those doors, so Harry Reid can continue his service to this great state. That’s why I’m here tonight. I can't bring the change I promised all by myself. I need partners in Congress, leaders who are willing to make a difference. Right now, more than ever before, we need their help.”
Obama promised great strides in education and renewable energy and reiterated his campaign pledge to enact health care reform by the end of the year.
He implored the crowd: “Stand with me. And stand with Harry Reid.”
“I know that years from now we will look back on this time and this moment and say that’s when the American people came together and reclaimed our future, to write the next great chapter of the American story.”
The president will visit Nellis Air Force Base on Wednesday to discuss the economic recovery package.
Prepared remarks
Sun coverage
Transport yourself to the opulent and excessive Roman Empire at Caesars Palace. But the ever-changing Caesars Palace is far from ancient. The hotel and casino is constantly raising the bar for what visitors can expect in a Vegas resort experience.
Caesars Palace features 3,348 rooms and suites in five towers, including the new luxury boutique Nobu Hotel and Restaurant, which opened Feb. 4, 2013, in the totally remodeled Centurian Tower. Caesars features 129,000 square feet of gaming space, including the Strip’s largest poker room and a 250-seat sports book. Other amenities include about two dozen restaurants, a four-level shopping mall, four pools, a spa, Pure and Poetry nightclubs and Pussycat Dolls.
Dining options include restaurants from world-renown chefs Guy Savoy, Wolfgang Puck, Bobby Flay, Gordon Ramsay and, on Feb. 4, 2013, Nobu Matsuhisa.
You never know what characters you’ll run into at Caesars with regular performers like Jerry Seinfeld, Bette Midler, Elton John and maybe even the emperor himself.
I am sure he didn't come here on the taxpayers dime, he costs us millions to come by to raise a million for harry Reid. Great use of resources for this global warming advocate that is worse than Gore at practicing what he preaches. All words, and words are not counting for as much as they used to.
Why doesn't he land at Nellis instead of screwing up McCarren?
neiman1........you must have been layed off from your menial peon casino job huh?
Take the time you have on your hands and go back and get your HS diploma.......then perhaps you can improve your employment prospects.
Just some friendly advice to get you thru your angst!
That sleaze is such a scumbag that nothing is going to help him. Just remember he said the war was lost. Hopefully he gets lost!!!!!!!1
This is exactly what the dying economy of Las Vegas needed. The President is by example letting people know that it is okay to come to las Vegas and enjoy this unique city.
with President Obama coming to Las Vegas, he is proving that it is ok to come to Vegas and not be afraid of the economy.
raising money for stinky pinky on the tax-payer dime. stay in washington, unless you are personally paying the bill to fly here.
If you want to call hundreds of thousands if not over a million dead Iraqi civilians with many more thousands of doctors and professionals fled a victory, more power to you bunch of missing links! We mass murdered innocents but they were the wrong religion and color so it was OK.
Senator Reid was right at the time when he said the surge was a failure because only part of the equation was somewhat successful but not the political part. Do any of you dolts on the right grasp this simple fact? ANY! Or would this poke a hole in your hot air balloon?
My afternoon was seriously screwed up by all the road closings. Reminds me of the last time they closed down the freeways for a President. Seriously- I spent an hour and a half detouring after running into that pile that is the closure of northbound 15, only to get back to where I started from. This huge inconvenience for practically everyone must be bad for the economy. Why can't he just land at Nellis and take a helicopter or something?
Welcome to Las Vegas, Mr. President. I wish you well! May you have Harry as long as you want him. It is a mandate for Nevada voters to so honor the president!
Wow he really came huh....
Well all I have to say is welcome Mr. socialist...
I don't know why everyone is so excited about him coming to Las Vegas...he is ruining the value of this country...people should learn how to depend on themselves, and not to depend on the government to bail them out. I don't know why we need socialize healthcare, and he always says getting healthcare for people who can't afford it, well thats how the ball bounces if you can't afford healthcare you don't get none Im sorry...if you can't afford to go to college then don't go...if you can't afford to raise a family then why have one...if you can't afford to pay your bills go to a shelter...if you can't afford to buy a home then don't buy one.
America please wake up, learn to work for yourselves, and not depend on the government to help you out. We need to get rid of food stamps, and welfare to get our economy back to shape. People should learn to work for what they have and not depend on other people to help out. Granted my parents, and my family are doing pretty well and we are doing okay, but I do feel sorry for the homeless people, but again I have to say it..."thats the way the ball bounces!!!!"
Uh delcamp2,
What about all those with physical handicaps? Or the veterans with missing limbs? Or the mentally challenged? Do they "learn to work for..." themselves?
Come to think of it you haven't exactly thought this one out have you sport? Most of life is out of your control if you thought about it at all. You sound like another in a long line of sociopaths without empathy, sympathy, or simple decency.
I was lucky enough to get a free ticket to attend this evening's event. Just think if Harry Reid donated all of his war chest of $25 million dollars to the state of Nevada, it would be put to better use than media buys during the election but I guess Democrats are the same as Republicans.
If President Obama and Senator Reid truly believe in the words they were saying tonight then they would help all Americans by capping government salaries at $75,000 (just like last year's $600 rebate) and using the money to pay down the deficit, pay for a tax credit for medical insurance and give out scholarships for students to attend any school (including private schools). Also, the President can be environmentally conscious by banning vehicles within government facilities and eliminating Federal parking lots. Federal employees would be required to walk or use public transportation.
Also, I also wish that President Obama would call upon private citizens George W. Bush and Dick Cheney to serve on the front line in a Middle East combat zone plus free passage for any other cowboy gun slinging diplomat.
It is clear the local hate talk radio station had some of their unstable listeners come out of the woodwork to protest as a publicity stunt.
Obama's event sold out, the hate talk station couldn't even fill half of an arena for their "freedumb concert" featuring Iran Contra figure Oliver North and fox-news hate-talker Shawn Hannity.
The article states:
"Obama said. "Harry has consistently fought on those issues that matter not just to Democrats but to middle class families. "
What does that mean? There are no middle class Democrates?
This entire fundraiser discusts me! If you're going to have a fundraiser, at least have it for something that actually is needed...
People, people.....Hate the game not the players. I will never under those who hold so much hatred for someone the have never and probably will never meet. Sadly some refuse to grasp reality and dwell on how they wish things could have been.
I didn't even know the Shammity coward tour came thru LV.........the wuss Shammity still hasn't manned up on his bet to be waterboarded........doubt he has the stones to man up.......keep whining Shammity you little weasel.
When Harry Reid was a boy ... he had a pet trilobite. Time for the sour old ninny to retire -- but he won't because he knows he can't put up with his own miserable company during all that home-alone time. (Maybe he could spend his golden years reading up on that thing called the U.S. Constitution.)
HARRY'S FAREWELL TOUR KICK-OFF. Glad to see Obama coming to Nevada to kick off what is going to be an 18-month farewell tour. It will be entertaining to see Harry grovel for 18 months and try to recast himself as a moderate and sometime conservative. He is politically done.
Anyone casting a vote for Harry Reid needs to have their sanity questioned. I don't care WHO the nominee against him is I'm Voting for that guy. Reid has become a far left zealot in the Senate gumming up the works when Bush was in power and now he carrys the water for far leftists like Schumer, Boxer, Durbin, Kennedy, and Feingold. So much for being a small boy from searchlight nevada. He lost his ways just like Tom Daschle did. The arguement that we need to vote for Harry because he is so powerful is bullfeathers. Sell your soul because a newspapers tells you its good for the State. Don't forget Harry Reid telling the USA that the WAR was lost just 2 months later the surge was working and to this day still denies it. He is out of touch. VOTE NO to Harry "do-nothing" Reid.
ynotjohn,
I just have to laugh at your suggestion for paying down the deficit. Although Obama promised to reduce the deficit in half by the end of his term, he has already quadrupled it in his fist few months in office. For those that thought Bush's deficit was atrocious with funding 2 wars, times that by 4 - so far. YAY hope & change!!
I like President Obama; I believe he'll at least TRY to turn this country around. But supporting poor Searchlight "resident" Harry Reid is strike one against Barack. How did Harry Reid accumulate his millions? Hmmmm.