Obama Apologizes For Vegas Slap
Pres. Obama has again apologized for making Las Vegas the rhetorical whipping boy amid an economic crisis.
In remarks yesterday at a town hall meeting in NH, Obama touted fiscal responsibility, pleding to rein in government spending. "You don't go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage. You don't blow a bunch of cash in Vegas when you're trying to save for college," Obama said.
Facing a difficult re-election campaign, Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid quickly defended his home state, a top tourist destination.
"I just spoke to the White House and told them that while the President is correct that people saving for college need to be fiscally responsible, the President needs to lay off Las Vegas and stop making it the poster child for where people shouldn't be spending their money," Reid said in a statement.
In response, Obama sent a contrite letter to Reid's office.
"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."
Obama is slated to travel to Las Vegas later this month. He has been several times, most recently to attend a fundraiser on Reid's behalf.
It's not the first time Obama has used Vegas as a punching bag. Last Feb., Obama said companies that received bailout funds shouldn't hold conferences in Las Vegas or go to the Super Bowl.
"This president is a real slow learner," Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said at a presser yesterday.
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