Offended governor breaks tradition, won’t be in video

RENO -- Breaking a longtime tradition, Gov. Jim Gibbons refused to take part in the opening video of an annual satirical review of the people that make news across Nevada.

Sheep Dip organizers said they were told by the governor's staff that Gibbons was offended by the show's "Veto It" song written to the tune of Michael Jackson's "Beat It."

It's the first time in the Reno-area show's 46-year history that a sitting governor has not been in the opening video, said Dave Ruhl, president of Sheep Dip.

"He told one of our assistant executive producers, 'I don't care about your 46 years. You can start over again,'" Ruhl told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Sheep Dip had sent the governor a script for the video last September that contained what Ruhl called humorous lyrics written to Jackson's "Beat It."

The newspaper reports that the script places the governor at his desk at the opening of the video, saying: "Who put all these bills on my desk? I thought I was done. ... Jeez." (Looks at his watch) "Damn, I've got a hot date." (Pondering) "I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. ... I'll veto ... just veto!"

The divorce ending Gibbons' 23-year marriage to Dawn Gibbons is expected to be final by late February. Dawn Gibbons accused her husband of having affairs with a Playboy model and the estranged wife of a Reno doctor -- allegations he denied.

Gibbons vetoed bills a record 48 times last session. State lawmakers overrode 25 of the vetoes, also a record.

Gibbons spokesman Dan Burns said the governor found the original script for the video to be in "very poor taste" and he did not want to "mock the death" of Jackson.