Casino Tycoons Stack Chips For McCain

CBS Evening News: Sin City Bigs Bundle Cash For Republican, Fearing Regulations Under Obama

(CBS)  Las Vegas embraces 36 million people a year, each looking to get lucky - and get rich.

But the casinos aren't nearly so welcoming when it comes to Washington regulations - and in Campaign '08, they're leaving nothing to chance, CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports.

You might not know it, but America’s gambling obsession has become a major force in the U.S. economy. All that money pouring into casinos and wagered in sports betting amounts to $85 billion a year.

And the handful of tycoons, who control the gambling industry, are playing an unprecedented role: putting all their money behind Sen. John McCain in Nevada, a key battleground state.

McCain's Vegas team of five includes billionaires Sheldon Adelson, of Las Vegas Sands and longtime Democrat Steve Wynn of Wynn Resorts. They're acting as "bundlers," mega-fundraisers who, critics say, get special access.

One of their posh events last June carried a $1,000 ante; $10,000 got donors into a VIP reception with McCain; and $33,000 bought access to an even more exclusive reception.

The casino bosses wouldn't talk to us, so we got the scoop from Ray Poirier, of "Gaming Today."

“What’s different about this presidential election that would motivate them to get that heavily involved?” Attkisson asked.

"I don’t think they’ve encountered this kind of concern in the past," Poirier said.

Poirier says they worry Obama would be a big regulator - and cost them billions.

"It could bring problems with unions; it could bring problems with taxes," he said.

As for McCain - he too was once viewed as hostile to gambling after he tried to ban sports betting. He failed after the gaming industry flooded Congress with campaign donations.

"This is all about money!" McCain said in 2001. "This is all about $10 million in campaign contributions by the gambling industry."

Today, McCain is accepting donations from some of the same players. His office didn't return our calls, but according to federal records, his gaming-related donations reach $2 million dollars or more.

In contrast, Obama's gotten between $50,000 and $100,000 from one fundraiser with casino interests - the wife of resort owner Steve Wynn.

Like Vegas, politics is always a gamble. But it seems gambling industry honchos are hoping to better their odds by increasing John McCain's.

[tachoma-2009]

Wallstreet is already the biggest casino and we see what happens when you deregulate it. How can people who are already making millions complain about taxes and lost revenue?

[norepubs]

..Next thing you know is that McCain will pick up the ''crack dealer'' endorsment as well.....

[longtree-2009]

the lack of regulation is largely responsible for this terrible economy. republicans are historically against regulation and have been for the last 8 years. voters can now see what deregulation wrought on the american economy. voters can also see that wall street, large corporations and their ceos, banks and their ceos, lending institutions and their ceos, realtors and appraisers, should have been regulated.

[davidy007]

I hear the "Crack HO''s local 69" is coming out for MCPOOPY pants...

[tscc2]

Sell out!

[be_real]

Casino Tycoons Stack Chips For McCain



Sure McCain you are looking after the middle-class.

[toolmangler-2009]

Obama is getting dirty votes, dead votes and multiple votes from 1 person. I will never respect this type of man as President. NADA !
Posted by promise4me at 07:27 PM : Oct 24, 2008


Right!!!!
You ''do'' have respect for a guy with ties to the Mafia (Big Gambling) and other Crime families?
Ssssssshhhhhhheeeeeeesssssshhhhhhhhh

[musethalia]

I hear the "Crack HO''''s local 69" is coming out for MCPOOPY pants...


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Posted by davidy007

''McPoopy'' pants?? What are you, 9 years old???

[sheaminor]

well that says it all Jon "deregulation" McCain!

[toolmangler-2009]

So, we should just put any ol Chimp with no
experience in office
Posted by promise4me at 07:33 PM : Oct 24, 2008



Sorry to inform you (burst your bubble) Both candidates have the same experience being President as I do. This is where the term ''On the job training'' means more in the first term than the second. If they blow the task in the first term, they should not be allowed to run for a second term. We ought to have a vote on the also.

[rhs648]

You are just as brain dead as the other RePUSSIcans.
I think I am gonna hang out at the poll and wait for one of those dead people to come and vote. Or wait for the guy that comes in then goes out the door only to return an hour later to vote again under the same name. ROTFLMFAO

Posted by obiden08

The brain dead person is the person willing to allow voter fraud in the first place. Is that you?

[musethalia]

This election is going straight to the courts anyway you spell it.

Acorn is the biggest voter fraud in history, in any country. Our citizens fight and die for the right to fair elections....then we hear

Acorn is handing out free cigarettes and candy to those that register "Democrat"..those that register GOP or Independent" do not get the free cigarettes & candy.

Hello supreme court.

I am ashamed to say Acorns activities are even possible in our great nation.

Pathetic !

Obama is getting dirty votes, dead votes and multiple votes from 1 person. I will never respect this type of man as President. NADA !




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Posted by promise4me

agreed - thing that makes me nervous is nobody seems to care about his ties to ACORN or his affiliation w/ Ayers and his terrorist BS - some are actually saying "So what, he was on a school board w/ him 30 years ago, that was 30 years ago" It wasn''t 30 years ago, it was recent - and when he was asked about it he skirted the issue and talked about Buffet, and never once has he denied ties to ACORN, he just ''ignores'' the question - he gave them 830K to recruit the ''dead/illegal/double'' vote - and theres a recent photo of Ayers standing on the flag - our founding fathers are rolling in their graves.

[toolmangler-2009]

Posted by promise4me at 07:39 PM : Oct 24, 2008


Nice try! No Cigar!!

[targaray-2009]

VOTE FOR CHANGE - 2008

[mandalay-bay]

Vegas Gangsters for McCain.

that figures


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Posted by johnbrown888 at 07:48 PM : Oct 24, 2008

LOL

[toolmangler-2009]

Lets have a "Bush_baby" amendment, A vote that would prohibit a second term unless the POTUS has a two third majority approval rating. Same thing for incumbent Congress men.

[targaray-2009]

Faux News VP:
" If McCain Worker ''Mutilation'' Story Is a Hoax His Campaign Is ''Over ''

[pvperson]

Vegas Gangsters, oil companies, evangelicals and nit-wits that still think Bush is a good president, wow, that''s quite a load you''ve gathered John, are you proud?

[republic1776]

If Bill Clinton came to your house, would you worry about him making passes at your wife.
Join, the Democratic Party!

[republic1776]

PVperson,
You better read history about war mongering Johnson.
and of course Jimmy Carter.
Obama will give us a "Jimmy Carter" kind of change!

[mccainhero]

You folks still trying to get mileage out of ACORN better check your own party''s dirty laundry. Here''s a clip from Olbermann''s show that does a good job of summarizing what''s going on in California with regard to Repub. vote fraud -- makes the small fry ripping off ACORN look like, well, small fry trying to rip off ACORN. Yeah, I know, you''re going to say Olbermann is a commie, yada, yada, yada, but you can google the names he brings up and get the same info -- even FOX had to report it! Enjoy, enjoy!

[mccainhero]

Ooops... forgot the clip!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_wTLzJKt1I

[mccainhero]

Ah yes, peanuts and Billy Beer...

[mccainhero]

Yeah, I''m surprised the story doesn''t mention the fact that McCain is a hardcore gambler... drops more in a night at the tables than most people on these boards make in a year! Must be CBS''s conservative media bias.

[ecs1749-2009]

"What war did Jimmy Carter start? I realize those were my drinkin and druggin years but I somehow must have slept through the war of Jimmy Carter.
I remember alot of free peanuts though."

And the 20+% inflation.

[Redoubt]

The CBS/Obama campaign says: Vote for Obama or the Casinos will steal your children! Ieeee!

[rudy654-2009]

The mafia in support of McCain.

[mccainhero]

Hey, I was in Ronnie Raygun''s US Navy, too. I remember no money for fuel, because it was being spent on Star Wars ***, and weapons systems that hardly ever worked (and I was one of the techs that worked on them, so I know what a bunch of *** we had!) because the weapons manufacturers were all hooked into the Raygun administration and didn''t have to worry about whether the stuff worked or not -- they just collected their checks.

[dennisam01]

Well I heard after his big loss in 2000 Mccain was at Foxwood or whatever the big casino is in Conn and won big or was aloud to win big

[mccainhero]

Bush''s vote for McCain is in the "Horserace" blog.

[mccainhero]

BTW, how is Bush voting early for McCain news, much less front page of the Sunday edition??

[walt1944-2009]

So, the mafia is in on this too!

And its pumping as much money as it can to John McBush McCain!

So much for straight-talking! So much for family values!! So much for leading a clean, honest campaign!!!

SIG HEIL, CHINA''S ALL TAPPED OUT; I''LL START WITH THE MOB NEXT!!!, BUSH!!!
sig heil, THEY PROMISED TO MAKE ME A "GOODFELLOW"!!, McBush!!!
sig heil, I''LL BE BACK, IN 2012!!!!, Palin!!!

[asteroi06]

I will fix their arses..i wont go to vegas again...you will be broke in a month. But really,why do these high rollers think the crowds at their casinos have fallen dramatically?? well duh.

[mccainhero]

Yeah, we were issued pre-WWII .45 cal. pistols and M14 rifles for shipboard security. We were patrolling the Persian Gulf, and escorting tankers, with WWII vintage .50 cals as our only close-in protection. Made me feel comfy cozy at night.

[scallywag8]

The Republican Party is the Mafia!!! A vote for them is a vote for crime.

[mydogdylan6]

Well Sure,

Gambling and Prostitution are the cornerstones of the McPalin''s family values agenda now. Didn''t you guys get the memo?

[mydogdylan6]

They''re gonna make Maverick an offer he can''t refuse

[joetheplunge]

Now is time to get to the bottom of things JoeThePlunger-com will do just that at his website you can see just how low Sara goes and How High John Can fly. You will see this guy Joe the Plunger not Joe the Plumber will go to Vegas and Root this Poop to the top if needed

[mccainhero]

Actually, here are the payouts:
LooseLines Sportsbook posts the best odds on Senator John McCain with +600 odds (a $100 wager pays out $600) and BetUS Sportsbook posts the best odds for Senator Barack Obama at -600 odds (a $600 wager pays out $100)!
I don''t think many people are putting wagers on Obama with that payout.

[mccainhero]

Well, the odds are driven by the number of people betting for each candidate to win. With Obama''s payout so bad, because his chances of winning are so good, no one is betting on him so his odds of winning go up.

[mccainhero]

Ooops -- I meant to say his odds of winning go down.

[nwihoosier]

Peace and Love
Fellows, fellows, fellows, put down the beers for a minute. "Star Wars" never existed, idiot, but the threat of Star Wars''cost was another brick in the wall of doom for the Soviet Union. You remember them, well, you might if you put down the beer for a few hours. OK experts, who controlled the purse strings for your weapons? The democrap congress, dummies. OK pick up the beers it doesn''t matter.
Peace and Love

[ofbyfor3]

Obama is getting dirty votes, dead votes and multiple votes from 1 person. I will never respect this type of man as President. NADA !
Posted by promise4me at 07:27 PM : Oct 24, 2008

Baloney! If you are referring to Acorn, these are only ATTEMPTS at registering people. How do you equate ''attempted registrations'' with ''fraudulent votes''?

When you pay ''volunteers'' and set quotas, you''re going to have to expect some fudging (not that I''m excusing that, but let''s be real). Also, Acorn flagged the suspicious attempted registrations, as required by law in most states--they weren''t necessarily trying to pass them off as legit.

And I also think it''s quite possible that SOME of the Acorn volunteers may have been McCain supporters (a la ''Operation Chaos'') who may have tried to pull this nonsense just to try to make Obama supporters look bad.

[smclimans]

Today on my way to lunch, I passed a homeless guy sitting
on the sidewalk with the extra advertisement
"Vote Obama, I need the money".
I laughed.

In the restaurant,
the waiter had an Obama ''08 button with his Obama necktie.
Again I laughed.

When the $12 lunch bill came, I explained to the waiter
that I was testing the Obama wealth redistribution concept.
He stood there, dumbstruck and MAD, as I told him I would be
giving his tip to the homeless guy outside who needed it more.
The waiter trotted off pissed, while the homeless guy
was thrilled that he receieved money he didnt EARN!

Just a short lesson in Obama socialist economics.
Great story, huh? (and true) just happened
Try it yourself in the next few days!


ANYONE WHO THINKS I WAS BEING MEAN,

I got the "spread the wealth" idea from OBAMA

[ofbyfor3]

The brain dead person is the person willing to allow voter fraud in the first place. Is that you?

Posted by rhs648 at 07:44 PM : Oct 24, 2008

Show me proof of documented widespread voter fraud in the last 3 Presidential elections.

Attempted fraudulent voter registrations are NOT the same as ''voter fraud.'' Nice try.

[rp44_63]

This certainly doesn''t bide well for McBush - If anyone out there thinks casinos are honorable or not induced with the wrong connections - you''re kidding yourself.

This is an all out attack to BUY McBush''s support. I''m going to laugh my *ss off on November 5th and when the entire world knows that Obama is our President.

A billionaire like Steve Winn true colors come thru when he feels threatened. Afterall - we''re talking about tighter regulation of one the most corrupt industries of our time - Are We As "honest" Americans really against tighter regulation on such an idustry?

All you have to do is look at the banking industry and you clearly see what happens without adequate safety checks in place.

Vote Right - Vote Obama/Biden

[inventagod2]

Mafia for McSame...

[andrew_693]

churches, whorhouses, casinos, terrorist camps, islamic jihadists, white supremacist camps, oil tycoons, pedophiles and all kinds of GOP criminals, you will no longer run our country starting november.

[ofbyfor3]

Why arent the CBSnazis reporting the biggest story of the day, that GW Bush voted early for McCain/Palin? I know some reporters from our local paper, and they said that this Sunday''''s headlilne will be "GW Bush votes early for McCain/Palin."

Posted by ConDumbistan at 08:32 PM : Oct 24, 2008

I already heard that. So let the lame duck cast his vote. His day is done and his legacy is toast.

[rp44_63]

Casinos take advantage of a person''s desire for financial freedom. Casinos make most of their money off people who can''t afford to lose what they have. The "whales" of "mega rich" that frequent casinos lose only a fraction of their income while entertaining themselves - compared to the amount the middle class or povery level people lose while trying to hit it "lucky".

After all - Las Vegas, NV - Has been historically referred to as - Lost Wages, NV