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Mayor upset by questions about criticism of Obama
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Apr. 10, 2012 | 10:53 a.m.
Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman's critical remarks about President Barack Obama drew heat from Las Vegas residents Thursday night and prompted the mayor to storm out of a meeting.
"I'm not going to be called a racist," Goodman said on his way out of the Doolittle Community Center, on J Street south of Lake Mead Boulevard.
When a reporter asked him what had happened, Goodman said, "I'm not going to tell you. Find out in there."
People at the meeting in the city's historically black community of West Las Vegas said Goodman was criticized for saying he wouldn't welcome the president during an upcoming visit.
Goodman's comments this week were triggered by Obama's remark that people saving money for college shouldn't waste it in Las Vegas.
The criticisms of the mayor included racially loaded accusations. It's likely the exchange will add heat to a rally scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Las Vegas City Hall, 400 Stewart Ave. The event is being held by people angry about Goodman's tirade against Obama, the nation's first black president.
Assemblyman Harvey Munford said Goodman lost his temper after some residents asked whether his statements about Obama were racially motivated.
"They felt it wasn't done in good taste," said Munford, D-Las Vegas.
Munford said saying the first black president isn't welcome suggests "he doesn't count," and feeds the perception that Obama isn't afforded the deference given to white presidents.
"You never shun the president. He was elected by the people."
Munford said he is among those who feel Goodman owes Obama an apology.
Residents in attendance weren't amused by Goodman's tirade.
"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," said barbershop owner Angela Richard, 45.
"He shouldn't have left in such a rush. A lot of people had something to say," said Tammie Cherry, 46.
Cherry said Goodman "wasn't speaking for us" when he criticized Obama. She interpreted the president's statement as straightforward talk about saving money.
"Any of us here, we all know how to budget," she said.
Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861.
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Slow Learner?
After Oscar's comments last time regarding the President, almost every Federal fund or assistance for Las Vegas has been denied? Who is the slow learner? Keep your mouth shut!
Get it straight:
Goodman built his career DEFENDING SERIAL KILLERS.
He built his career defending serial killers.
Killers of many innocents. Murderers of family members of people who inconvenienced the people Oscar defended.
"There's no such thing as the Mafia."
--Oscar Goodman
And we wonder why he's a drunk?
What Obama fails to realize is how uninformed the average American is, and how the media is willing to take things out of context to get ratings.
1. For you Obama supporters who keep saying that the President gave good advice.. He wasn't giving advice. He thought you people knew this much already. He was talking about responsible spending in GOVT.
Rough quote:
"You don't buy a boat when you are struggling to pay the mortgage and you don't blow a bunch of money in Vegas when you are trying to save up for college, and you expect your govt. to do the same."
AND YOU EXPECT YOUR GOVT. TO DO THE SAME. He wasn't giving you taxpayers spending advice, he was commenting on responsibility in govt.
It's irresponsible how the media repeats quotes out of context. They do it to Obama, they did it to Palin, they did it to McCain, Bush, Clinton, etc.
How about you so-called journalists start reporting the whole quote you effing losers?
2. For the Obama bashers, again, read the whole quote and then argue the merits of the comment. I thought you conservatives were FOR responsible govt. spending?
He's trying to get a panel together to talk about reducing spending and he's getting nothing but "no" from the Republicans.. Have I fallen into an alternate universe? Get it together people!
The first time he made a Vegas quote, it was quite stupid as this is a legitimate business destination. This last "gaffe" is a media creation.
Goodman's comments this week were triggered by Obama's remark that people saving money for college shouldn't waste it in Las Vegas.
More accurately, the president said:
"You don't blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you're trying to save for college."
Now, that was the actual quote. Now wasn't that hard?
Spend money in Vegas, but don't blow your wad (something Sherman and Thomas and Vin haven't done for decades, hence, their unresolved anger).
Who cares what our ginned-up mayor thinks, who told our schoolchildren that his hobby is drinking?