02/03/10

From CNS News (partly, the rest from my deranged mind)

Obama Responds to Anger Over His Second Slam on Las Vegas

OR...

Budget Advice From The Master

By Oskar Garcia, Associated Press



Las Vegas (AP) - President Barack Obama is known for having a way with words, but some lawmakers from Nevada wish he would pipe down about trips to Sin City.

On Tuesday, after sparking a firestorm of criticism from Nevada's elected officials for suggesting that people saving money for college shouldn't blow it in Las Vegas, Obama told U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in a letter that he wasn't saying anything negative about Las Vegas.

It was the second time since taking office that Obama singled out Las Vegas as a potential example of spending excessively.

"I was making the simple point that families use vacation dollars, not college tuition money, to have fun," Obama said, according to the letter released by Reid's office. "There is no place better to have fun than Vegas, one of our country's great destinations."

Obama said he always enjoys his visits to Las Vegas.

A White House spokesman referred to Obama's letter to Reid and said the administration had no further comment.

Perception and reputation are sensitive issues for Sin City as it struggles to find footing amid a two-year meltdown of foreclosures, bankruptcies and unemployment. Tourism is the Silver State's backbone, and several lawmakers said they were shocked that Obama singled out Las Vegas again after commenting last February that bailed-out banks shouldn't go to Las Vegas using taxpayer money.

"When times are tough, you tighten your belts," Obama said, according to a White House transcript of his appearance Tuesday at a high school in North Nashua, N.H. "You don't go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage," Obama said. "You don't blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you're trying to save for college. You prioritize. You make tough choices."

"Let me be perfectly clear:"

"When times are tough, you tighten your belts,"

You see, ladies and gentlemen, you may be tempted to take a trip to Las Vegas or to buy a boat sometime soon. You may even think that you have enough spare cash to pay for it, but you don't realize that times are tough and you have to tighten your belts like the president is telling you. Due to no fault of his own, the evil Bush/Cheney administration has forced him to spend massive amounts of money over the next 10 years. If you selfishly waste any of your money on yourself, you won't be able to send it to the IRS so the government can spend it. So tighten your belt, pack your own lunch, walk to work and help comrade Obama!