Saturday, August 28, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Democrat Keith sticking with Bush

Toby Keith says his political views have been mislabeled. Tai Babilonia and David Brenner are all smiles.

Country superstar Toby Keith wears his patriotism on his sleeve but usually keeps his politics under his hat.

So when a nosy reporter asked him Friday whether he would be in New York next week for the Republican National Convention, Keith could have played it safe.

"You got the wrong guy," Keith said, inviting more discussion on the subject.

When I caught up to him after a news conference announcing his new theme restaurant at Harrah's Las Vegas, Keith cleared the air about some misconceptions.

Because of his running feud with the President Bush-whacking Dixie Chicks, Keith said he's been mislabeled. "All I ever hear is that I'm some right-wing nut," he said.

The fact of the matter is, he said, he's a registered Democrat, but "a very conservative Democrat. I'll always support our troops, wherever the war is."

Without further prodding, Keith, whose 19 No. 1 hits include "Beer For My Horses," made it clear who he was backing in the presidential horse race. "I don't think we should be switching our commander in chief in the middle of a war," he said.

Building on the patriotic messages in Keith's music, Harrah's announced the 17,000-square foot restaurant and entertainment venue, set to open next summer, will offer comped food and drinks to active military personnel.

Taking the leap

Two-time Olympic figure skater Tai Babilonia says comedian David Brenner had her hooked at hello.

They have been almost inseparable since meeting in October in Los Angeles.

"I have to laugh, and there has to be humor in a relationship," said Babilonia, who teamed with Randy Gardner in two Olympics and won the world pairs figure skating title 25 years ago.

Babilonia spotted Brenner and his fellow comedian, Richard Lewis, at the Palm restaurant in Los Angeles and introduced herself.

"Later on, being the sweetheart that she is, she sent a note, and I tracked her down," Brenner said. After a first-date dinner at Dan Tanna's and a stop at Sky Bar, something clicked.

They have a commuter relationship; he headlines in Las Vegas, and she's working on the next incarnation of Legends on Ice.

Life is good for Brenner, with a new love in his life and a new resident headliner gig starting Friday at the Hilton Las Vegas.

"The Hilton's going to do a major revamp; I've seen the plans," said Brenner, who closes out his headliner run tonight at the Westin Casuarina.

The Scene and Heard

The "Havana Night Club" cast was abuzz on Friday over news that film star Kevin Costner had made arrangements to attend the new Stardust show tonight. Costner, a spy tells me, sent Cuban President Fidel Castro a letter urging an end to the red tape that jeopardized the troupe's trip to Las Vegas.

Sightings

Tommy Lee, in town for the Palms celebrity poker event, in a Rain skybox Thursday with Chuck Knoblauch, former New York Yankees infielder. ... Homegrown porn star Jenna Jameson, signing her book, "How to Make Love Like a Porn Star: A Cautionary Tale," on Friday at, um, the Virgin Mega-store (Forum Shops at Caesars). ... John Rzeznik, lead singer of the Goo Goo Dolls, at N9NE Steak House (Palms) on Friday.

The Punch Line

"You got a head like a $5 watermelon." -- Keith, while presenting a souvenir cowboy hat to Tom Jenkin, senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's Las Vegas, at Friday's news conference.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.