Author Topic: Nevada governor turns down Obama airport meeting (Read 2400 times)

Dos Equis · « **on:** May 25, 2009, 11:06:33 PM »

Good for him. Pretty dumb thing for the president to say. I would expect those kinds of comments from Biden, not Obama.

Nevada governor turns down Obama airport meeting
Posted: 09:05 PM ET

From CNN Political Producer Rebecca Sinderbrand

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Nevada's Republican governor has turned down an invitation from the White House to briefly greet President Obama when he visits the state tomorrow for a Democratic fundraising event, citing comments the president made earlier this year calling on companies that received taxpayer-funded bailouts to avoid wasting money on luxuries like company planes and Vegas vacations.

“While I appreciate the offer, I am not interested in a handshake and a hello from President Obama, I am interested in an apology and plan to undo the damage the President did,” Gov. Jim Gibbons said in a Monday statement.

He again called on Obama to publicly promote Nevada tourism, and to apologize for his remark that business leaders receiving money from the government "can’t get corporate jets. You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer’s dime,” blaming the president for the recent cancellation of hundreds of conventions and other meetings originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, and the loss of more than $100 million in revenue.

"President Obama is coming to Las Vegas to take millions of dollars in campaign cash for Senator Harry Reid, while the President’s own words have hurt working families in Nevada and damaged the economy in Nevada for businesses large and small,” he said. “Both men should be ashamed, because people are suffering through the depths of the recession while they practice the height of hypocrisy."

The White House, which had offered Gibbons the chance to speak with Obama at the airport, has not yet responded to a request for reaction to the governor’s latest statement. Last week, Gibbons said the president had turned down a request for a sit-down meeting.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/25/nevada-governor-turns-down-obama-airport-meeting/#more-53259

SAMSON123 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2009, 11:11:38 PM »

Obama's word have not hurt Nevada's economy..it is the depression, the wall streeters and the financial shenanegans that is killing every state's tourism and business

Al Doggity · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2009, 11:45:43 PM »

That's not quite how it went down.

Gibbons requested a meeting with Obama. Obama declined but offered to meet Gibbons for a handshake/photo op at the airport. Gibbons released a statement saying he declined the airport meeting because he wasn't interested in shaking Obama's hand, but wanted an apology.Obama wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to meet this dude.

Dos Equis · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2009, 11:52:34 PM »

Quote from: Al Doggity on May 25, 2009, 11:45:43 PM

That's not quite how it went down.

Gibbons requested a meeting with Obama. Obama declined but offered to meet Gibbons for a handshake/photo op at the airport. Gibbons released a statement saying he declined the airport meeting because he wasn't interested in shaking Obama's hand, but wanted an apology.Obama wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to meet this dude.

Sounds the same to me. Did you read the last sentence? "Last week, Gibbons said the president had turned down a request for a sit-down meeting."

Al Doggity · « **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2009, 12:07:59 AM »

Quote from: Beach Bum on May 25, 2009, 11:52:34 PM

Sounds the same to me. Did you read the last sentence? "Last week, Gibbons said the president had turned down a request for a sit-down meeting."

No, I missed that. Easy to do, I guess. If that line had been placed anywhere else in the story, it would have basically been a non-story... which it is.

I am confused as to why you felt the need to congratulate Gibbons, though.

Dos Equis · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2009, 12:22:39 AM »

Quote from: Al Doggity on May 26, 2009, 12:07:59 AM

No, I missed that. Easy to do, I guess. If that line had been placed anywhere else in the story, it would have basically been a non-story... which it is.

I am confused as to why you felt the need to congratulate Gibbons, though.

No biggie.

I like what the gov did because of this:

He again called on Obama to publicly promote Nevada tourism, and to apologize for his remark that business leaders receiving money from the government "can’t get corporate jets. You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer’s dime,” blaming the president for the recent cancellation of hundreds of conventions and other meetings originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, and the loss of more than $100 million in revenue.

Assuming the loss of revenue is true, Obama should do more than give the governor a perfunctory handshake.

Al Doggity · « **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2009, 01:32:23 AM »

Oh, come on. You don't honestly believe Nevada would have been immune from the economic troubles the rest of the country is facing had it not been for Obama's statement?

I snatched this off of Wikipedia's entry about the 2009 Superbowl:

Quote

With all the cutbacks resulting from the severe economic downturn in the United States, the game was dubbed "The Recession Bowl."[27][28][29][30] Restaurants were slow in business and many parties, including parties hosted by Playboy and Sports Illustrated were canceled.[30] There were also 200 fewer sports journalists covering the game than at Super Bowl XLII the previous year.[30] According to the online broker StubHub, tickets with a face value of $500 changed hands the week of the Super Bowl for an average $2,500 – a 40% drop from Super Bowl XLII in 2008 and 16% lower than Super Bowl XL in 2006.[30] Ford, Chrysler and General Motors, the Big Three automobile makers, decided not to purchase television advertisements following the three companies' business struggles in 2008 and early 2009.

Do you believe that was all due to Obama's quote?

24KT · « **Reply #7 on:** May 26, 2009, 04:26:38 AM »

Quote from: Al Doggity on May 26, 2009, 01:32:23 AM

Oh, come on. You don't honestly believe Nevada would have been immune from the economic troubles the rest of the country is facing had it not been for Obama's statement?

I snatched this off of Wikipedia's entry about the 2009 Superbowl:

Do you believe that was all due to Obama's quote?

You gotta know times are tough when Hef cancels a party.

Soul Crusher · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2009, 04:39:32 AM »

Quote from: Al Doggity on May 26, 2009, 01:32:23 AM

Oh, come on. You don't honestly believe Nevada would have been immune from the economic troubles the rest of the country is facing had it not been for Obama's statement?

I snatched this off of Wikipedia's entry about the 2009 Superbowl:

Do you believe that was all due to Obama's quote?

I read that 400 conventions canceled events after Obama's speech blasting Vegas.

Deicide · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2009, 04:50:17 AM »

Quote from: Beach Bum on May 25, 2009, 11:06:33 PM

Good for him. Pretty dumb thing for the president to say. I would expect those kinds of comments from Biden, not Obama.

Nevada governor turns down Obama airport meeting
Posted: 09:05 PM ET

From CNN Political Producer Rebecca Sinderbrand

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Nevada's Republican governor has turned down an invitation from the White House to briefly greet President Obama when he visits the state tomorrow for a Democratic fundraising event, citing comments the president made earlier this year calling on companies that received taxpayer-funded bailouts to avoid wasting money on luxuries like company planes and Vegas vacations.

“While I appreciate the offer, I am not interested in a handshake and a hello from President Obama, I am interested in an apology and plan to undo the damage the President did,” Gov. Jim Gibbons said in a Monday statement.

He again called on Obama to publicly promote Nevada tourism, and to apologize for his remark that business leaders receiving money from the government "can’t get corporate jets. You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer’s dime,” blaming the president for the recent cancellation of hundreds of conventions and other meetings originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, and the loss of more than $100 million in revenue.

"President Obama is coming to Las Vegas to take millions of dollars in campaign cash for Senator Harry Reid, while the President’s own words have hurt working families in Nevada and damaged the economy in Nevada for businesses large and small,” he said. “Both men should be ashamed, because people are suffering through the depths of the recession while they practice the height of hypocrisy."

The White House, which had offered Gibbons the chance to speak with Obama at the airport, has not yet responded to a request for reaction to the governor’s latest statement. Last week, Gibbons said the president had turned down a request for a sit-down meeting.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/25/nevada-governor-turns-down-obama-airport-meeting/#more-53259

Wow, our resident fundy applauding the 'State of Sin'.

240 is Back · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2009, 06:06:21 AM »

Quote from: Beach Bum on May 25, 2009, 11:06:33 PM

Good for him. Pretty dumb thing for the president to say. I would expect those kinds of comments from Biden, not Obama.

He had a chance to give obama a few minutes of his ideas.

We now see his call for a meeting was just a move to get attention.

The president is trying to keep the dollar safe, dodge many world threats, etc. I'm sorry if he can's accept a quick meeting. Crybaby.

Straw Man · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2009, 09:17:11 AM »

The only problem I have with this statement is that it sucks that Obama even has to say it.

It should be obvious

"can’t get corporate jets. You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer’s dime,”

Dos Equis · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2009, 10:47:39 AM »

Quote from: Al Doggity on May 26, 2009, 01:32:23 AM

Oh, come on. You don't honestly believe Nevada would have been immune from the economic troubles the rest of the country is facing had it not been for Obama's statement?

I snatched this off of Wikipedia's entry about the 2009 Superbowl:

Do you believe that was all due to Obama's quote?

I don't think Nevada would have been immune, but 3333 said 400 conventions were canceled after Obama's comments. You don't think his comments contributed to those cancellations? Certainly sounds like it. Definitely poor judgment to make that kind of comment.

LurkerNoMore · « **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2009, 10:57:48 AM »

Sour Grapes huh?

Dos Equis · « **Reply #14 on:** May 26, 2009, 11:02:36 AM »

Quote from: LurkerNoMore on May 26, 2009, 10:57:48 AM

Sour Grapes huh?

? About what? The Nevada governor?

Soul Crusher · « **Reply #15 on:** May 26, 2009, 11:35:36 AM »

From the article:

He again called on Obama to publicly promote Nevada tourism, and to apologize for his remark that business leaders receiving money from the government "can’t get corporate jets. You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer’s dime,” blaming the president for the recent cancellation of hundreds of conventions and other meetings originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, and the loss of more than $100 million in revenue.

Hundreds of events were cancelled after the speech.

LurkerNoMore · « **Reply #16 on:** May 26, 2009, 11:44:03 AM »

Quote from: 333386 on May 26, 2009, 11:35:36 AM

From the article:

He again called on Obama to publicly promote Nevada tourism, and to apologize for his remark that business leaders receiving money from the government "can’t get corporate jets. You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer’s dime,” blaming the president for the recent cancellation of hundreds of conventions and other meetings originally scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, and the loss of more than $100 million in revenue.

Hundreds of events were cancelled after the speech.

Where is the list of these hundreds of events?

240 is Back · « **Reply #17 on:** May 26, 2009, 12:24:05 PM »

Gibbs just said that Obama is landing in Nevada today, and the governor is more than invited to meet him and talk about ideas.

If some governor is trying to dictate terms of the meeting - to the president - that's kinda laughable. You work with the president on the president's timeline - it's that simple.

Look, you're a governor and you are pissed at Obama. He gives you a window to talk about things - and the Governor declines - that's a load of crap. He is trying to say "I'm the guy that told obama no thanks!"

I'm wondering if this governor has presidential ambitions in 2012 lol...

240 is Back · « **Reply #18 on:** May 26, 2009, 12:26:24 PM »

LMAO... from the gov's website:

http://gov.state.nv.us/PressReleases/2009-05-25_Obama_Ltr_Decline.htm

he'll only meet if Obama will also meet with local business leaders. Oh brother. Talk about grandstanding. NKorea is shooting of missiles and blowing up nukes, the economy is in rough shape and dollar taking a beating in Chi and Russia... and this guy is telling obama how to spend his time, or he won't give him a meeting.

Oh brother.

Soul Crusher · « **Reply #19 on:** May 26, 2009, 12:29:35 PM »

Quote from: 240 is Back on May 26, 2009, 12:26:24 PM

LMAO... from the gov's website:

http://gov.state.nv.us/PressReleases/2009-05-25_Obama_Ltr_Decline.htm

he'll only meet if Obama will also meet with local business leaders. Oh brother. Talk about grandstanding. NKorea is shooting of missiles and blowing up nukes, the economy is in rough shape and dollar taking a beating in Chi and Russia... and this guy is telling obama how to spend his time, or he won't give him a meeting.

Oh brother.

Thats funny you bring up North Korea because Obama saw fit to go golfing yesterday rather than address that problem.