Las Vegas Mayor Wants Obama to Apologize

http://www.lvrj.com/news/39420937.html

On Tuesday, Las Vegas boosters lashed back at comments by Obama and other politicians who say executives at companies taking taxpayer bailout money shouldn't hold meetings in Las Vegas.

They say harsh words citing Las Vegas meetings as examples of wasteful spending threaten to undermine a business sector that brought 22,000 events, $8.5 billion in spending and directly sustained more than 43,000 jobs in 2008...

Ironically, there's plenty of evidence suggesting it could cost more money to hold the event in the new location... "(Las Vegas) is probably one of the cheapest places to have your convention," said Rick Seany, CEO of the Web site FareCompare.com. "Try having your convention in New York or San Francisco or Orlando and see what it costs."

Clearly no one was thinking of the poor casinos! Seriously though, it's a worthwhile perspective to consider. Nevadans voted for Obama (I was one of them!) and now feel betrayed.

If the TARP money prevents Goldman Sachs from going bankrupt and allows it to keep its convention booking in Las Vegas, benefiting all the casino workers whose jobs are in even more jeopardy than investment bankers, then I feel a little bit better about contributing my share to it.