Short-term memory loss surely led to Obama’s remarks

By Jon Ralston

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010 | 2 a.m.

“This isn’t how responsible families do their budgets. 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 on Vegas when you’re trying to save for college. You prioritize. You make tough choices. And it’s time your government did the same.”

— President Barack Obama at a New Hampshire town hall, 2/2/10

My reaction when I saw President Barack Obama’s remarks about Las Vegas was simple: Shock.

Not so much because what he was saying was so outlandish, although who is the president to tell Americans how to spend their money? I was stunned because if this is the vetting Obama is getting on his speeches, as if his people (and POTUS himself!) have the short-term memory of Guy Pearce in “Memento,” that is, frankly, astonishing.

It’s as if Obama wanted to celebrate the anniversary of his remarks Feb. 9 in Elkhart, Ind., a week early by showing everyone here who defended him for those reasonable comments didn’t understand he really is Vegasphobic. Mr. President, what happens in Elkhart was supposed to stay in Elkhart, buried like Oscar Goodman’s pal Tony Spilotro was in a cornfield in that state.

Those comments a year ago — despite Goodman’s ardor for attention ricocheting them around the world — were innocuous, suggesting bailed-out companies should not come here “on the taxpayers’ dime.” But considering the pain Obama caused his putative friends, especially Harry Reid, who defended him despite the inanity of Goodman and Gov. Jim Gibbons, you would think he might be a little careful tossing around our city’s name in vain.

Isn’t this the guy known for his preternatural equanimity, for his verbal dexterity, for his sparkling intellect?

It was hardly interesting to watch the trajectory of events after he made the comments: Republicans frothed and sent out critical news releases. Goodman summoned reporters and then, powered no doubt by Bombay Sapphire, said Obama is a “slow learner.”

Frankly, Mayor Martini has a point there — I know the president has been dealing with little problems like terrorism trials and health care reform, but sir, remember how you had to send your press secretary, Robert Gibbs, to the briefing room to say you love Las Vegas? Remember how you had to come to Nellis and say those words yourself? Do you remember any of it?

And now, when you put out a letter to Reid, saying, as surely you believe, that you weren’t “saying anything negative” about Las Vegas and what a wonderful place it is, it makes me wonder (and this is off the record, so please don’t quote me) if Goodman might be right. Of course the irrepressible Goodman couldn’t contain himself and also said, “When (Obama) comes I’ll do everything I can to give him the boot back to Washington and to visit his failures back there.”

Ah, our mayor. The answer to the question: Who makes Joe Wilson look like the epitome of civility?

That’s all political theater and off-off-off-Broadway stuff. The real choreography comes when the president comes calling this month — assuming he doesn’t cancel his trip because he doesn’t want to blow any cash here during a recession. Imagine the Vegas-kissing he will be forced to do.

I have to believe that even Republicans must feel some sympathy in this latest drama for poor Reid (or something slightly kinder than schadenfreude). Here’s a guy whose numbers have plummeted partly thanks to his carrying of the president’s water for a year — and it has been a heavy lift that has left him with the political equivalent of the stooped shoulders and halting gait of a man on his way to the gallows.

And this is the thanks Reid gets? I wonder what the majority leader really was thinking as he put out a release telling Obama to “lay off” Las Vegas. Reid is not a man known for cussing, but if anything would have led him to sound like Dina Titus, this would have.

Of course, anyone who asserts that these remarks are going to further hurt the Las Vegas economy also believes that Goodman is a teetotaler at heart or that Gibbons has any sense of irony after labeling the president “thoughtless” and “heartless” after the governor’s approach to budget-cutting.

No, this is a remarkable study of a president and his minions who have what I hope, for the country’s sake, is a selective case of amnesia. It’s not much more serious than that, the political squawking aside. But the anticipation is killing me:

I can’t wait to hear what he says about Las Vegas next February.