On Saturday’s Huckabee show on FNC, as the show was broadcast from Las Vegas, singer Wayne Newton appeared as a guest to discuss the economic situation in the city, and, when asked by host Mike Huckabee his reaction to President Obama’s remarks from last year attacking businesses for indulging in trips to Las Vegas, Newton did not mince words: "I think that it was the most irresponsible, arrogant thing I have ever heard a President of the United States say."
Fellow guest and Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons related that hundreds of conventions were canceled after the President’s words, costing the city a fortune in lost business: "There's no doubt that the people of Las Vegas, the city of Las Vegas were severely hurt by the President's remarks. About 400 conventions, business meetings, and that were canceled because of his remarks; $100 million was lost by the community at that remark. People lost their jobs. This city took a real blow when the President made that remark. He was wrong then, and then he said it again, and I don't understand why he keeps picking on Las Vegas."
Newton jumped in again and suggested that the President has been hypocritical in holding political fundraisers in Las Vegas: "He was not so incensed with Las Vegas, that he then decided to come here and do two fundraisers."
Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Saturday, May 22, Huckabee on FNC:
MIKE HUCKABEE: Wayne, when people think of Las Vegas, they think of Wayne Newton. You have been entertaining in this city for many, many years. When the President made the comments about "Don’t go to Vegas," did you take that a little personally?
WAYNE NEWTON: Of course I took it personal. I think that it was the most irresponsible, arrogant thing I have ever heard a President of the United States say.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
HUCKABEE: And, Governor, let me address this. Did you see-
FRANK CALIENDO, COMEDIAN: Let me, can I, can I ask a quick question?
HUCKABEE: Yeah, go ahead.
CALIENDO: How do you really feel about it? (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER) Whoa! Newton!
NEWTON: Down, big boy, down.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHTER)
HUCKABEE: Governor, you saw the revenues of the state. Did it have an impact, and, if so, to what level?
GOVERNOR JIM GIBBONS (R-NV): Mike, there’s no doubt that the people of Las Vegas, the city of Las Vegas were severely hurt by the President’s remarks. About 400 conventions, business meetings, and that were canceled because of his remarks; $100 million was lost by the community at that remark. People lost their jobs. This city took a real blow when the President made that remark. He was wrong then, and then he said it again, and I don’t understand why he keeps picking on Las Vegas.
NEWTON: May I jump in there also?
HUCKABEE: Certainly.
NEWTON: He was not so incensed with Las Vegas, that he then decided to come here and do two fundraisers.
(AUDIENCE APPLAUSE)
GIBBONS: I guess he can come here to take our money, but he can’t come here and let people spend their money.
