Las Vegas Mayor Goodman rejects Obama invitation
Updated: Feb 18, 2010 04:25 PM EST
Mayor Goodman rejects invitation to meet with President Obama
2:15
President Obama singles out Las Vegas, Mayor calls him "slow learner"
3:29
President Obama landing in Las Vegas this afternoon
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) - Mayor Oscar Goodman has refused an invitation to meet with President Obama when he arrives in town on Thursday. Mayor Goodman called President Obama a slow learner after he told Americans not to blow money on a weekend in Las Vegas if they were saving to put their kids through college.
"I've got other things to do quite frankly for my constituents here in Las Vegas who rely on me to do the right thing as a mayor," explained Mayor Goodman.
Mayor Goodman has more important things like attend budget meetings during a major shortfall than meet with President Barack Obama when he visits Las Vegas Friday. That rejection comes even though he's invited by the White House.
"Were you surprised to get that invitation in light of comments you've made before and your opinion on him and what he says," asked Action News reporter Heather Klein.
"A little bit in the sense I would think they would know that I would say I'm not coming," said Mayor Goodman.
They say time heals all wounds but not this time. Mayor Goodman is not backing down after the president used Las Vegas the example of where not to go if you're saving money.
This is strike two for the mayor.
"We are hurting, we have people in foreclosures, we have people having a hard time feeding their families and we can't stand to have a flippant statement made," said Mayor Goodman.
"I haven't heard an apology, I haven't heard a response, all I do is get invitations," Goodman went on to say.
Invitations Mayor Oscar Goodman respectfully or depending on your point of view, not so respectfully declines. The mayor says his presence isn't necessary, its more protocol than anything else. However, he says all it will take is a simple phone call and he will be there ready to move on.
Who does Nevada think they are...TEXAS? Isn't there some kind of ettiquete pertaining to the acceptance of invitations from the White House? Seems that the willingness for one party to remain 'cordial' while the other remains wounded over a transgression should signal some degree of acquiescence on the part of the bigger man. Yes. "Someone" needs to take the high road here. I mean, it seems black and white to me.
ReplyDeleteOf course, Obama meant no direct harm or insult to the people of LV when he advised highschoolers to avoid squandering their college savings there, but how's he supposed to answer back? "I didn't mean it THAT WAY,OF COURSE Ya'll need the kids' money!"
No he can't be back peddling, with all of these parents and students looking on. And of COURSE he meant it that way! This is the kind of stuff these kids NEED to hear. Besides, "stupid" (did I say that?)adults who visit regularly aren't going to be heeding his advice anyhoo. Bing!