Las Vegas Sun

August 21, 2008

Caucus a target for Vegas cliches

Gordon Absher, vice president of public affairs for MGM Mirage, over the past week repeatedly found himself explaining to journalists from Japan to Washington that, no, casino workers were not going to be caucusing on the casino floor.

The casinos have meeting rooms, he patiently told them.

This was all part of the impromptu role as Las Vegas Valley ambassador he assumed while fielding media requests to talk to casino workers about the caucus from England's BBC, the Arab world's Al Jazeera and a host of Japanese TV networks, as well as all of this country's national networks and cable stations.

"Some of these folks, all they have to go on is stereotypes," Absher said. "There's the temptation to take something serious like the caucus and turn it into a series of Las Vegas cliches."

So what did he do?

"I found myself explaining to them, "Don't confuse us with the marketing," Absher said. "We live here. These are people participating in the caucus. We're concerned about schools and roads and the issues other people care about."

Still, the company decided to turn down one request from all: shots from the casino floor.

"A lot of folks wanted pictures in the casino," he said. "But it would be turning the caucus into (something) kitschy ... leading people to believe that our votes count less than others.

"We didn't want to. It would ... lend itself too easily to the stereotype -- 'Candidates in Las Vegas are throwing the dice.'"

Discussion: 39 comments so far...

  1. GO HILLARY/EDWARDS!

    NO BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Girly girl needs to get a life, I doubt by her post, she is even old enough to caucus

  3. How about other cliches? Or, more simply, adding Nevada to the list of 3rd world countries with discredited elections? With the culinary union caucus sites, the whole process is compromised. Too bad for Obama that he got caught up in this. If he wins its because of a rigged caucus. If he loses, with this rigging, he really loses because even stacking the deck didn't help. Either way, he's tainted his reputation and loses in Nevada.

  4. Allow me to provide some light on a lot of misunderstanding here:

    One, Senator Obama championed an extremely successful health care plan for Illinois children - All Kids http://www.allkids.com/, created with Rod R. Blagojevich(IL Gov.)is literally a model for a workable, affordable national health care plan. All children qualify, $40 per child for full coverage health insurance? How many of you making around $45,000 a year pay such a low premium. What health care program has Hillary created. She stated during the Nevada debate that she helped pass the CHIP, Children's Health Insurance Program, the federal program that covers millions of children in the US. She completely mislead the audience. Senator Orrin G. Hatch, a conservative Republican, along with Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat, wrote the monumental health care bill in 1997. Hillary boasted bravely of her achievement that night, but she was not in office in 1997, she was the first lady at the time, and was wrapped up in the Monica Lewinsky affair.

    Two, Barack Obama has had a fantastic career, even before his political office. He was an Illinois Senator from 1996 to 2004. As a state legislator, Obama gained bipartisan support for legislation reforming ethics and health care laws.[33] He sponsored a law enhancing tax credits for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for child care.[34] Obama also led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped.[34] The law was at first very controversial, but due to Obama's skills as a negotiator and bipartisanships, he won the support of the police. During his 2004 general election campaign for U.S. Senate, he won the endorsement of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, whose president credited Obama for his active engagement with police organizations in enacting death penalty reforms.-Wikipedia.

    Time Magazine wrote an excellent article on Obama's political achievements - http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/...

    I'm fairly shocked at the misinformation of this election cycle. I wish I could remain unbiased. But Obama's dedication to service, his consistency to fight on behalf of the interest of the American people cannot be ignored. A presidency under him would indeed be a win for the common man, and undoubtely would be a new era in Washington politics.

    I'm afraid that under the Clinton's - If her current smear and suppress tactics are any indication - it would simply be more of the same Washington politics. I am voting for Obama because I beleive we do need a new direction for our country, and Obama is exactly the man that can do that.

  5. Wow, Wikipedia says it, so it must be true.

    Please give us a break, no amount of info will cover the mess that Obama has gotten himself into in Nevada. Win or lose, he loses.

  6. the racism in the comments section by alleged Democrats is appalling.

  7. "the racism in the comments section by alleged Democrats is appalling."

    Where? None in this thread. But unfortunately, a few in others here and on most Web sites.

  8. IF YOU VOTE OBAMA, I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR NEW YUCCA MOUNTAIN NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP NEVADA. HE'S GONNA OWE SOMEONE FOR ALL THE CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO HIM. ONLY 90 MILES FROM LAS VEGAS!! WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR JOBS WHEN THE CASINO'S HAVE TO SHUT DOWN DUE TO "SOME RADIATION LEAKAGE"???? NO CASINO, NO JOB, NO FOOD, NO CAR, NO NOTHING! VOTE HILLARY CLINTON SATURDAY, JAN. 19TH! SHE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO HAS CONSISTENTLY VOTED "NO" TO YUCCA MOUNTAIN BEING USED AS A NUCLEAR WASTE DUMP! STAND UP AND BE COUNTED! LAS VEGAS IS WHERE YOU LIVE AND WORK. PROTECT YOUR LIFE AND LIFESTYLE! VOTE HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT!

  9. Basically, what nurseratchet is saying...

    If you don't vote for Hillary Clinton, your world will end! Immediately!

    Fear as a political argument? Haven't we seen that movie a few times too many now?

    Obama doesn't support Yucca Mountain. Get over yourself.

  10. Folks, this is a most important election, possibly the most important of this century. It is imperative we get it right, and there is only one right choice of all candidates running. That is Barack Obama. You need to look at past records of these candidates as they served the people in their officially elected roles. I was prepared to post accomplishments of Mr. Obama, however a previous post by dranfu, did a fairly decent job, even though a lot was left out. When an individual is elected to be your representative, it is their job to go to Washington and propose and write legislation not only beneficial to your state, but to American's overall. Mr. Obama not only has an impressive record in the Illinois Senate, but also the U.S. Senate. The previous post by dranfu did not mention some of Mr. Obama's accomplishments in only his first year in the Senate. I will touch on a few that have been signed into law. The first year Barack authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. Some of the major bills include the Coburn-Obama government Transparency Act. This Act in consort with Republican Tom Coburn now gives Americans the ability to log into the website- www.usaspending.gov - on this website you are able to see where your hard earned tax dollars go and what they are spent on. Another companion bill he has introduced, which is still in committee, will require future contract proposal's and earmarks to be posted to the internet as well, before the money is spent. This law if passed will allow you to offer your opinion on these spending bills. This is historic transparency. Working with Republican Richard-Lugar, they passed the Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Bill. He was able to get the only Ethics bill in three decades passed into law, and has a companion campaign finance reform bill that is still in committee. He has authored Senate bill S-1181 which is a Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Act, a bill direly needed to close tax loopholes that allow our CEO's to reap windfall pay while workers suffer. These are only a few, at present there are over 890 Senate bills with Mr. Obama's name on them since he entered the Senate. We have never had such a good representative and he will do even better as President. To be fair,let me list the bills Hillary Clinton has managed to author and have pass into law in her first and only six year term in an officially elected position. She has had 20 bills signed into law. These can be verified, just the same as Mr. Obama's legislation by going to the government website www.senate.gov. Here are the bills she authored: 1.Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site. 2.Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month. 3.Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. 4.Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall. 5.Name courthouse after James L. Watson. Continued:

  11. Come on, skip the Democratic caucus, and vote for Ron Paul in the Republican caucus. Immediate withdrawal from Iraq, repeal of the Patriot Act, and stopping the Fed's devaluing of the dollar. Vote for Ron Paul -- you know you want to.

  12. Cont. from previous post: 5.Name courthouse after James L. Watson. 6.Name post office after John A. O'Shea. 7.Designate Aug.7,03, as National Purple Heart recognition Day. 8.Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart recognition Day. 9.Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death. 10.Congratulate the Syracuse University Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship. 11.Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship. 12.Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program. 13.Name post office after Sergeant Riayn A. Tejeda. 14.Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death. 15.Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. 16.Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11. 17.Pay for city projects in response to 9/11. 18.Assist landmine victims in other countries. 19.Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care. 20.Designate part of the National Forest system in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness Preservation System. There you have it. These are real and are part of the Congressional Record. I ask you now, which Senator has worked for the benefit of all people? Please use your common sense and caucus for Mr. Obama tomorrow. Don't let America miss this opportunity.

  13. In response, the only mess Obama got it in was being the direct rival of the most dirty, cut throat, no shame political family in America: The Clinton's.

  14. And to that guy who says "If wikepdia say's it, it must be true.

    What you fail to realize, is that Wikipedia( with millions of users daily) is used because it is sited. That means that links to the sources of nearly every claim is included in every entry.

    Anyone who reads it can simply click the link to the article or source, and make a judgment on the credibility of the source.

    So check the sources people.

  15. What I regret about these recent weeks of dirty politics, is that Barack Obama, through no fault of his own, has been painted, in lurid colors, by the Clinton's(cause let's face it, Bill is running with Hillary this time:)) into a person he is really not. It's obvious that many people didn't know about Obama before this election heated up.

    I'm not trying to sway anyone's vote, because we are all going to vote the way according to our own reason. All these heated exchanges and bare naked attempts to appeal to each other's emotions for the benefit of our chosen candidate is not likely to change our minds.But with that said, and no matter if Hillary winds up destroying Barack, or if magically people wind up supporting him in wild numbers again, Barack Obama has honestly led a remarkable political life, and has largely worked toward helping the poor, fighting corporate power, and working to improve health care.

    Now, you may be skeptical of that, given all the press coverage and rumors that have been floating around, but it really is true. Read Time Magazines article - http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/...

    Time's article is clear and concise, but if you'd rather read just a listing of facts on Obama, read the Wikipedia Encyclopedia entry on him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obam...

    Barack has lived a fairly noble life, as far as politicians go. So I just don't think it's fair the way the media, and the Clinton's are trying destroy his image. he's lead a good life, and honestly believes in the idea that our government would better if we'd minimize bipartisanship polarization. He's one of our better politicians, and even if he doesn't win, he's still going to keep fighting for the common good.

  16. Vote for the candidate you really agree with: Ron Paul.

  17. Hillary seems to have forgotten that Ronald Reagan was one of her favorite candidates. Taken from a press release on her website:

    "But no president can do it alone. She must break recent tradition, cast cronyism aside and fill her cabinet with the best people, not only the best Democrats, but the best Republicans as well.. We’re confident she will do that. Her list of favorite presidents - Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, both Roosevelts, Truman, George H.W. Bush and Reagan - demonstrates how she thinks. As expected, Bill Clinton was also included on the aforementioned list."

    What a phony! She even likes Bush #1. She will now accuse Obama of stealing her idea. Spin this one Hillary!

  18. Culinary workers Unite.
    Stand up for your right to caucus for the candidate you believe in.
    If you are not allotted the time from work, then TAKE the time and caucus.
    (Its as good a reason as any for taking PTO)
    Dont let the Union Leaders decide for you, or shut you out of the process.

    Im Standing for Hillary.
    Because I know she is the best candidate running for office, and the Best choice for America.

    Hillary Clinton for President 08

  19. In Las Vegas, we care about immigration, the economy, and family values. That is why many will caucus for Romney tomorrow. He has spent the time here and cares about Nevada. Best of luck today Mitt and Ann!!!

  20. The devil himself can descend in NV and vote for Hillary, He may even bring all his armies. All that will not matter. Hillary will not be the next president of the United States.

    Bill Clinton may yell at reporters, he may even bark. All that will not matter. Hillary will not be the next president of the United States.

    Marketer and political strategists may repackage Hillary Clinton and sell her to us; All that will not matter. Hillary will not be the next president of the United States.

    All Clinton support can vote for her as long as they want; All that will not matter. Hillary will not be the next president of the United States.

    Why?

    Americans in the vast majority are people with a good judgment. They know and see what the Clintons are.

  21. HILLARY CLINTON IS A BARRY GOLDWATER PERSON.

    Yeah, she actually campaigned for the racist scum.

    Obama said Reagan was a transformation leader.

    Just like Obama will be.

    VOTE OBAMA TODAY!! It's time to TRANSFORM this country, not maintain the status-quo.

  22. Hillary said herself yesterday..

    "I want to get back to where we were before President Bush became president, when the budget was balanced and the economy was running a surplus"

    and in regards to Obama, Hillary said..

    "My leading opponent the other day said he thought Republicans had the better ideas for the last 10 to 15 years," she said. "That's not how I remember the last 10 to 15 years.."

    the choice is yours Nevada..

  23. OBAMA DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE OUR PRESIDENT

    Obama was AWOL from his Senate seat and did not vote a record 130 times!!! when it came time to '"change" America, some "agent for change" Obama is!

    In Illinois Obama fixed his wife's salary doubling it to $365,000.00 a year while he was doing nothing for the people of Illinois.

    Obama's supporters are rude, vicious people from what we have encountered steadily, obviously not deserving of their candidate winning anything let alone the White House.

    Obama encourages his supporter's ill behavior like he did with his smear job "stand up" routine attack on Hillary at a high school yesterday. Why not ask Hillary those questions instead of a bunch of high school kids coward?

    Obama has not paid his dues like Hillary has.

    Obama's health care plan leaves millions of Americans out in the cold!!

    Obama and his campaign workers constantly use bait and switch attacks on their fellow Democrats. Being sneaky and dishonest are hardly traits we need all over again for 4 - 8 more years like we've suffered through with Bush.

    After Obama slanders Hillary he plays innocent and becomes Mr. Nice guy, and it's "let's all have a truce" when he was the one who instigated the whole thing! never mind a truce, how about an apology Mr. Arrogant!?

    Obama has no experience compared to Hillary, only a Jr. Senator 2 short years to Hillary's 7 years, including her re-election.

    Obama stooped to playing a false race card effectively dividing the Democrats, pitting Democrat against Democrat and Black against White, how does Obama expect to unite the whole country when his false race accusations have split his OWN party? Hillary was simply making a point that it takes team work between leaders like MLK and FDR to get work done, and she is right! because she knows from her experience how it's done! MLK Jr. even said "Hillary didn't mean anything against his father"

    Obama is too young and inexperienced to be President, JFK had 14 years in the Congress and Senate before he ran, and Obama is no JFK, how arrogant a comparison is that?

    Obama steals lines from MLK and JFK for his speeches in an attempt to dupe his zombie youth, clone army into thinking he is as great as MLK and JFK. Hey Obama, here's a clue! accomplish something first like MLK and JFK did! and be original, "I have a dream" ?? get your OWN line!

    Obama is a "dreamer" Hillary is a "doer"

    Voting for Obama just because he says he "has a dream" is like voting for Bush because you can "sit and have a beer with him"

  24. Obama's second largest campaign contributer is Exelon Corp, the largest nuclear energy company in America, so much for the environment! We already have a President and Vice President tied to big energy screwing us and endangering our environment, we don't need another one!

    Obama and his wife are both quite obviously a very materialistic pair, as evidenced by their lush lifestyle. Bill Clinton is right! Obama is the Establishment Candidate, just look at his 'health care plan' it only covers those who can afford it!

    We already have a President we are trying to be rid of giving all our money away to foreigners, we don't need another one.

    We already have a President we are trying to be rid of that bases his judgments on what "God tells him to do" and that helped cause Bush's Iraq war!! we don't need another one.

    We already have a President we are trying to be rid of who refuses to hold people accountable who screw up when they work for him, we certainly don't need another one. Hillary on the other hand quickly fired several of her people when they stepped out of line, she does not mess around or cover people who step out.

    Obama uses the "roll technique" in speeches used by preachers to brain wash their followers into believing anything they tell them! Cult leaders use this technique to brainwash their followers into "believing" too, beware!

    Obama is very arrogant talking down to Hillary in his blatant disrespect for her being a woman, 15 years Obama's senior and First Lady for 8 years, how egotistical and arrogant!

    Obama is disrespectful along with his snotty, clueless followers to Bill Clinton too thumbing their noses at Bill's incredible legacy and all the great things he has done for America and poor people all over the world.

    Hillary is a great lady and ready to lead on day one, she already knows exactly what to do! and we need change NOW.

    Hillary All the Way!!!

  25. ^No one cares.

  26. The devil himself can descend in NV and vote for Hillary, He may even bring all his armies. All that will not matter. Hillary will not be the next president of the United States.

    Bill Clinton may yell at reporters, he may even bark. All that will not matter. Hillary will not be the next president of the United States.

    Marketer and political strategists may repackage Hillary Clinton and sell her to us; All that will not matter. Hillary will not be the next president of the United States.

    All Clinton support can vote for her as long as they want; All that will not matter. Hillary will not be the next president of the United States.

    Why?

    Americans in the vast majority are people with a good judgment. They know and see what the Clintons are.

  27. Obama will bring people together, he will united.

  28. Hillary!! Hillary!! Hillary!!
    Hillary!! Hillary!! Hillary!!
    Hillary!! Hillary!! Hillary!!
    Hillary!! Hillary!! Hillary!!
    Hillary!! Hillary!! Hillary!!

    You can't knock down our spirit no matter how hard you try you Obama zombies!!

    WE LOVE YOU HILLARY!!

    Hillary in 08!!

  29. Hey Hey! Ho Ho!
    Obama's Got to Go!

    Hey Hey! Ho Ho!
    Obama's Got to Go!

    Hey Hey! Ho Ho!
    Obama's Got to Go!

    Hillary All the Way!!!

  30. OBAMA'S RECORD ON YUCCA:

    On April 18, 2002, the Illinois State Senate passed SR342 urging the U.S. Congress to support Bush on Yucca:

    Illinois State Senate Resolution 342 "urges Congress to sustain President Bush's affirmative decision on Yucca Mountain's suitability as a permanent federal repository for high-level radioactive materials." [S.R. 342, 4/18/02]

    Sen. Obama had the opportunity to speak out against the resolution but remained silent. From the State Senate transcript:

    "Is there any discussion? Is there any discussion? If not, Senator Rauschenberger moves for the adoption of Senate Resolution 342. Those in favor say Aye. Opposed, Nay. The Ayes have it and the resolution was adopted." [Pg. 26, Illinois senate transcript, 4/18/02]

    In contrast, when a similar resolution came before the U.S. Senate in July 2002, Hillary voted against the resolution and issued a press release underscoring her opposition.

  31. George W. Bush - Liar.
    Bill Clinton - Liar.
    Hillary Clinton - Liar.
    Clinton 08 Supporters - Liars

    "I want every Nevadan to know that I have always opposed using Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository, and I want to explain the many reasons why I've held that view. In my state of Illinois, we have faced our own issues of nuclear waste management. There are some who believe that Illinois should serve as a repository for nuclear waste from other states. My view on this subject was made clear in a 2006 letter to Sen. Pete Domenici, who at the time was chairman of the Senate Energy Committee. 'States should not be unfairly burdened with waste from other states,' I wrote. 'Every state should be afforded the opportunity to chart a course that addresses its own interim waste storage in a manner.' That is a position I hold to this day when it comes to both Illinois and Nevada." [Obama Letter To The Editor, Las Vegas Review Journal, 5/21/07]

  32. What I regret about these recent weeks of dirty politics, is that Barack Obama, through no fault of his own, has been painted, in lurid colors, by the Clinton's(cause let's face it, Bill is running with Hillary this time:)) into a person he is really not. It's obvious that many people didn't know about Obama before this election heated up.

    I'm not trying to sway anyone's vote, because we are all going to vote the way according to our own reason. All these heated exchanges and bare naked attempts to appeal to each other's emotions for the benefit of our chosen candidate are not likely to change our minds. But with that said, and no matter if Hillary winds up destroying Barack, or if magically people wind up supporting him in wild numbers again, Barack Obama has honestly led a remarkable political life, and has largely worked toward helping the poor, fighting corporate power, and working to improve health care.

    Now, you may be skeptical of that, given all the press coverage and rumors that have been floating around, but it really is true. Read Time Magazines article - http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/...

    Time's article is clear and concise, but if you'd rather read just a listing of facts on Obama, read the Wikipedia Encyclopedia entry on him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obam...

    Barack has lived a fairly noble life, as far as politicians go. So I just don't think its fair the way the media, and the Clinton's are trying destroying his image. he's lead a good life, and honestly believes in the idea that our government would better if we'd minimize bipartisanship polarization. He's one of our better politicians, and even if he doesn't win, he's still going to keep fighting for the common good.

  33. I support the only true blue Democrat in this race that is really for the American People! The one candidate that will make some serious changes on day one! Hillary Rodham Clinton

    but au contraire! we really need to ask the question - "Who is Obama really for?"

    - Obama supports the Republican Reagan doctrine - http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/17/...

    - Obama said recently that "I think it's fair to say the Republicans were the party of ideas for a pretty long chunk of time there over the last 10, 15 years" So Democrats have had no ideas in the last 10 - 15 years? What!? Some Democrat this guy is! Obama is just using the Democrats as a stepping stone to further his own career and personal agenda, quite obvious! So what Obama is saying then is Bill Clinton was a failure? 10 -15 years go was the period when Bill Clinton was President after all! and Reagan was Obama's hero?

    - Obama's second largest campaign contributor is Exelon Corp. the largest provider of nuclear energy in America. You cannot get any more Republican than Exelon!

    - Is it any wonder why Obama is so very disrespectful to the Clinton legacy of prosperity and success?

    Doesn't sound like a true Democrat to me!

    No the real question here is, Who does Obama really support?

    These are not the qualities and traits of a true Democrat!

    I smell traitor in fact, don't let him in people, with Republican "values" like Obama's just think of the damage he will do if we make that fatal mistake!

    Hillary All the Way.

  34. IM VOTING AGAINST CLINTON AND HER POLITICS OF FEAR AND SUPPRESSION. I'M VOTING FOR OBAMA.

  35. ¡Gracias nuestros amigos hispanos, gracias tan tanto!

    HILLARY ALL THE WAY!!!

    wooo hooo! we did it!

    We Love You Hillary! :D

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Politics: The Early Line

Political news and analysis from the Sun's reporting team, focusing in on the 2008 presidential race, Nevada's Presidential Caucus and the national, state and local political scenes.

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