Embarrassed on behalf of Nevada

Friday, May 29, 2009 | 2:01 a.m.

Las Vegas was the center of the political universe this week and here is what the world saw:

A “governor” on national television describing how an offer to meet the president was “a phony setup” and claiming, without any evidence, that Barack Obama had cost the state $100 million (he may have had the Dr. Evil pinky thing going, too).

And a mayor who brought his ceremonial martini glass to a photo op with the president of the United States and who, after being ridiculously catered to by the White House, still criticized Obama for not saying “the magic words” while he was here.

Yes, America, we are Nevada, actually one of the 50 states, with leaders who make us proud and show how far we have evolved from the Sin City/wasteland image we have had for so long.

Although the national media, from CNN to Fox (especially Fox), ate up the Jim Gibbons-Oscar Goodman campaign against the president, I wonder if most Nevadans were embarrassed by their self-involved performances. Look, America, the national media seemed to be saying, a wildly unpopular governor who snubbed the president and a martini-besotted mayor who wants him to apologize!

I am bursting with pride. How about you?

I am curious how many Nevadans actually fell for the Gibbons-Goodman performances, played straight but actually pure comedy. I doubt either of them would accept any responsibility for making the state a laughingstock during a visit by the president.

For weeks, Goodman has wailed about Obama’s comments in February at an Elkhart, Ind., town hall meeting: “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 taxpayers’ dime,”

That is, no companies that received bailout money should be taking trips to places such as the most recognizable destination in the world, a testament to the marketing the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has done.

The throwaway remark would have garnered scant attention if Goodman, whose appetite for publicity is insatiable, had not sought national media attention, demanding the president apologize and “rectify” the perfectly reasonable statement. Indeed, beyond the rabid Obama-haters here, no one much thought the comments didn’t make perfect sense. But they certainly would have gone nowhere if not amplified by the mayor’s big mouth and blustering nonsense.

The president of the United States should say he is sorry to the mayor of Las Vegas? What?

Hey, America: We’re Nevada. Aren’t we a state of rubes?

Goodman made all sorts of demands on the White House — he needed a personal invite from the president! — before this week’s visit and then, after Obama, in words and deeds, showed how much he loves the city, still wasn’t satisfied. “The magic words didn’t come out,” Goodman told the newspaper that provides the indecorous wrapping for the Sun.

Magic words? Again, the mayor of Las Vegas wanted the president of the United States to apologize for saying companies shouldn’t use bailout money to come here. And even though the LVCVA has never said Obama was responsible for canceled conventions, Goodman continued to claim the president had hurt the city.

Magic words? I bet Obama has a couple for Goodman today.

Goodman’s partner in the axis of idiocy, The Man Formerly Known as Governor, was similarly desperate for the spotlight, trying to tap into Obamahate to boost his flagging poll numbers. First he demanded a meeting with the president to lecture him on how he had hurt the state. Then, when Obama said he couldn’t hold a meeting but would talk to Ø at the airport, Gibbons made a big deal out of declining the offer. Yes, he refused an invitation to greet the president of the United States. I am sure Sean Hannity got excited, but most Nevadans surely were mortified.

Yes, America, our governor refused to greet the president at the airport. Aren’t we something?

Gibbons was all over the national and local news with that “phony setup” line, then inventing the $100 million in lost revenue attributable to the president’s remarks. This is about as fantastic a number as a 36 percent cut in higher education, but the national folks and the Obamahate crowd ate it up.

Beyond the mortification meter being pinned, the real story is that Goodman (especially) and Gibbons, not Obama, are responsible for any lost revenue. If they really wanted Obama to make an “I love Las Vegas” statement, why wouldn’t they have made a phone call to the White House or gone through back channels?

We know why: They simply wanted attention. And now, thanks to the axis of idiocy, Nevada looks ridiculous to the nation.

Discussion: 9 comments so far…

By fremmasmind

5/29/09 at 3:34 a.m.

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Oscar can't see the world beyond his nose. Tip another one for Nevada O.G!
The only reason Dirty Harry had his photo ops with the Prez is he got free air time for his upcoming re-election.
By rstanberry

5/29/09 at 8:16 a.m.

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"Magic words?" You mean Obama saying he was sorry to tell corporate execs not to spend Tax payers money on trips to Vegas? Look I agree that his words possibly scared a lot of companies in backing out of the Las Vegas Junkets this year, however it could have been just bad timing and those companies were looking for any excuse to cancel.

I am not embarrassed however that these elected officials want the President to endorse Las Vegas and have people spend their money here. The good news is that Obama showed that Nevada is a frontrunner on clean energy and hopefully that will garner some of those shovel-ready energy dollars.
By revbobdobbs

5/29/09 at 9:40 a.m.

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"Axis of idiocy"

You made me snort coffee on my keyboard.

While I may live here, I would never call myself a Las Vegan or Nevadan while these two buffoons are in office.
By Johnathan_Abbinett

5/29/09 at 10:04 a.m.

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I didn't have any major problem with Oscar - Oscar is Oscar and his political theatrics pale in comparison to Gibbons!

Frankly, as a veteran, I'm far more embarrassed by our Governor (who also is a veteran) for being so very disrespectful to the President and Commander-In-Chief! It is a matter of long-standing etiquette within the veterans community that once the election is over the winner is treated with the utmost respect (and only criticized fairly based on facts) as the President of the United States and OUR Commander-In-Chief!

There is always the individual to consider, but the status of the highest office in the land trumps petty partisan politics in value system!

Obviously Gibbons just doesn't care how his childish antics reflect poorly on all of Nevada - what's really embarrassing is that the people of Nevada are not politically organized enough to impeach this nearly worthless politician and send him packing!
By worstnightmere

5/29/09 at 12:51 p.m.

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Maybe the reason Oscar is following Gibbons political theatrics,is maybe Oscar wants to run for Governor on the Republican ticket, and this will give him a edge to pick up Gibbons votes win he runs for Governor????
By larry5

5/29/09 at 6:23 p.m.

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Embarrassed. That's the word I think of whenever I hear Harry Reid speak (mumble).
By sheilacatherine

5/30/09 at 8:23 a.m.

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Exactly, Mr. Abbinett! Las Vegas does bill itself as "the entertainment capital of the world" and Mr. Goodman is an entertainer. He is the perfect front man for our city...entertaining, hilarious, over-the-top! However, Mr. Gibbons is the governor of Nevada and his antics have no place in the Silver State. I am VERY proud to be a fifth generation Nevadan but I am not proud of a governor who grandstands not for the benefit of the people he represents but for himself and his flailing image alone.
By mslv

5/30/09 at 5:57 p.m.

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I couldnt agree more. I think living here is overall a joke.
By Our_Linn

5/30/09 at 10:49 p.m.

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"...claiming, without any evidence, that Barack Obama had cost the state $100 million."

You should read your own paper. You guys had a story quoting LVCVA numbers that 400 corporate conventions have been canceled, costing Las Vegas an estimated $100 million in non-gaming revenue.