Las Vegas mayor talks Obama, D.C. trip
Mayor Carolyn Goodman said she chose not to join a crush of fellow mayors who gathered around President Barack Obama at the White House last week.
It had nothing to do with snubbing the president, who has ruffled feathers with Las Vegas residents for his tourism comments and was chastised by her husband, former Mayor Oscar Goodman.
The Goodmans were in Washington for the U.S. Conference of Mayors last week. The former mayor attended the conference with his wife but was not invited to the White House.
"It was for mayors," she said. "As you know, he had taken on our president because he had thrown us under the bus."
Her husband "came on behalf of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. He was out promoting Las Vegas in a broader venue."
During the mayors' White House tour, the president "came out and spoke for 15 to 20 minutes. He couldn't have been more gracious."
After speaking, he left the platform to shake hands with the visiting mayors and was engulfed, she said, "like an avalanche. It was like they were giving away free sandwiches and they hadn't had a meal in months."
The thought occurred to her, "Should I press through the crowd or be a polite representative of Las Vegas?"
She decided to wait until Wednesday when he visits Las Vegas for the second time in three months.
As she was leaving, White House staffers caught up to her with a request, "We hate to bother you, but ..."
"I was targeted," she said. They wanted to know if she brought the novelty poker chips emblazoned with her image. She had presented Obama with one during his October visit.
She handed over the remaining three she had out of the 200 she took to Washington, including "extra chips for (Obama's) daughters."
The poker chip request was flattering, she said. "I thought that was wonderful."
As far as the hurt feelings created when the president twice singled out Las Vegas, she said, "My feeling is we have a new time." She added, "Despite the economy, I think we are on his radar."
Her husband, however, doesn't appear ready to call a truce.
The drink menu at the newly opened Oscar's Beef Booze Broads steakhouse at the Plaza downtown features a whiskey cocktail named "No Bama."
SIGHTINGS
Celine Dion, participating in the customary lion dance to ring in the Chinese New Year ( the "Year of the Dragon") on Sunday in the new Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace. Dion returns Feb. 22. ... "Glee" star Naya Rivera, celebrating her 25th birthday with co-star Dianna Agron and family members at
1 Oak (Mirage) on Saturday. ... St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, partying at Surrender (Encore) on Saturday with friends. Also there: Porn icon Jenna Jameson and former UFC champ Tito Ortiz. Superstar DJ Steve Aoki was presented a custom birthday cake and received a "Happy Birthday" serenade. ... Matt Kemp, runner-up in voting for the 2011 National League Most Valuable Player award, at Tao (The Venetian) on Saturday with R&B singer D'Angelo. At one point, Kemp joined DJ Vice in the booth. Also at Tao: Josh Hopkins of ABC's "Cougar Town." He was in town with castmates for the "Cougar Town" screening hosted by Courtney Cox at Moon at the Palms Fantasy Tower. ... New Orleans Saints running back Darren Sproles, chatting up the X Burlesque cast on Saturday after taking in the show at the Flamingo. ... Actress Jessica Alba and her husband Cash Warren, at STK (Cosmopolitan) celebrating a friend's 30th birthday on Saturday. ... "The Bachelorette" Ashley Hebert and her fiancé, J.P. Rosenbaum, with "Bachelor Pad" Season One winner Natalie Getz at RPM (Tropicana) on Friday. About 20 cast members of "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" were in town shooting promos for the upcoming season of "Bachelor Pad."
THE PUNCH LINE
"I find it fascinating that your average automobile has a better navigation system than an Italian cruise ship." -- David Letterman
Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
