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.

[docadams3]

Giancana and Trafficante are both dead, right?

[zgriner-2009]

Don''t you just love this unbiased headline: "Casino Tycoons Stack Chips For McCain - Sin City Bigs Bundle Cash For Republican, Fearing Regulations Under Obama" Makes it sound like something illegal is going on. You won''t find this headline: "How strawman donations help Obama"

[qb2626]

Thanks to the MSM we have not received required information to base our votes on. The 600 million Obama has in campaign dollars may be 25% illegal. FEC will report too late for the vote.
Where are the journalists to report on the alliances of Obama? If Rezko, Giannoulias, Wright, Ayers, Dohrn, and Frank Marshall Davis were friends of McCain it would be top & center reporting for us all to hear. But MSM has been in the bag for Obama. Sad because we missed the unbiased reporting. Journalists? What are those? Where are they?

[butterflyxo]

You know what, If Obama''s plan was so socialist, why is it that you don''t see the wealthy or CEO''s in an uproar about Obama? Instead he has top CEO''s and America''s wealthiest endorsing him. Warren Buffet, Eric Schmidt...need I say more??
The only person complaining about Obama''s tax plan is Joe the Plumber...who''s broke and who would end up getting a tax break. It''s mind baffling!

[butterflyxo]

Element51,
You''re Awesome! :O) I''m willing to pay more taxes as well to help 95% of this country! The stairway to success has lost it''s steps. The success I''ve achieved would not be possible in todays economic climate. The vast majority of America is struggling right now. Paying a little more in taxes is my way of being more Patriotic.

[zietzke-2009]

People who put their money where their mouth''''s are get it right.

Posted by O_The_POTUS -----------------

Wishfull thinking ? Check out the electorial map...

This one''s a wrap ! Better luck in 4 years.

[zietzke-2009]

I guess no one is looking at the electorial map.......OBAMA has already won !! I love Las Veges...Great town ! The bosses got this wrong....Oh well, They never loose for long !! See you at the Black Jack Tables at the Mirage.

[wsks]

Oh well, Vegas'' days are number anyway aren''t they? Who are they going to steal the water from, to continue? Not the mention the fuel people will need to get to Vegas. They only candidate that attempted to give Americans the wake up call, they need to hear was R. Paul., look where that got him.

[element51]

MajTHJ....I discovered early in my life that if I worked for someone else I would never have anything. But since I didn''t have the money to start my own business I became a teacher. I spent 26 years in the classroom and like to think that I had some impact on at least a few of my students. When I retired, I found that retirement is not all they say it is, so I started my own business. It has been very successful and I intend to work until I no longer can. I don''t need the money but I enjoy the everyday challenges that come with owning my own business. I will pay whatever tax is asked of me and if it is necessary to pay a little more I will do so. I am a democrat so I guess you will naturally want to call me names but I really don''t care. I have watched the neocon movement take over the republican party and I watched what Reagan''s "trickle down economics" has done to our economy. I have watched the rich get richer and I have not seen anything trickle down. If it worked the way Reagan said it would I would be glad but it just doesn''t work at all. Anyone who is making 250 thousand dollars and up should want to give back to a country that has been so good to them. This country is built on the backs of the middle class and the stronger they are the stronger the country will be. Without us, the rich eventually will nothing.

[element51]

MajTHJ....While we are on opposite sides of the fence, I have to partially agree with you on one issue. The welfare system is in desperate need of reform. I am not against helping people who are in need and I don''t want to see children go hungry or old people starve but there are far to many on welfare who should not be. I don''t know what the answer is but I think Obama needs to form a task force to study this problem and make some recomendations to congress for some changes. Instead of yelling at each other why don''t we work together to solve some of these problems? My father always told me that if I disagreed with someone to talk and try to come to some sort of compromise. He said you don''t always get everything you want but that something was better than nothing.

[majthj]

I say all businesses need to cash in and set home on the porch - after all if they''re rich they don''t need to work and see where all your tax breaks come from. What is it with democrats that knock people that have worked hard and become successful?? I just don''t get it?? Who do you think creates jobs - has Obama got you so brainwashed with his hollow promises that you can''t even reason things out.. Who do most of us work for - a business or civil service? Would you be better off without a job????
He has his supporters convinced he has all the answers to the economy - he''s never worked in private industry - only not-for profit - how could he possibly know anything about business?? He brags about his experience running his campaign - yes, from donations, not a regular private industry job. Hey, I''d do great too spending free money...

[element51]

NEEDERBAUR....That''s quite a list you have there. It''s interesting to note that you include Al Quaeda on your little list. Interesting because they just came out and endorsed McCain. Isn''t that strange? Could it be that you are just making ***** up? I think you are. I don''t see one iota of verification in your post. This stuff is really getting boring. Why don''t you listen to Rushie tomorrow and maybe he can give you some new lies to play with. They''re paying that fat arse piece of ***** 2 million dollars a month to keep you trolls going. Maybe he''s not doing his job. Why don''t you go and apply. Maybe he could use an ASSistant.

[pastdue1]

And why wouldn''t they want McCain, he is one of their best customers and certainly one of their biggest benefactors in Washington.

[majthj]

I worked for the wealfare system for 16 years and I can tell you first hand - you could NOT get a person to get off of welfare, we had the resources to help but at the end of the day they were financially better off than those of us that were on the other side of the desk. Just look at Chicago and Detroit - in 30 years have those cities improved - hell no, check the stats - more murders in Chicago so far this year than KIA''s in Iraq - there''s a war in Obama''s backyard...There is medicaid for every child in every state if the parent is truly poor but the parent has to apply for it. I was a medicaid case worker as well.
The more people are given freebies the less they do for themselves..

[majthj]

The top wealthest pays the most taxes - more than all of the taxpayers combined in the US year after year...
So Obama''s plan is to punish people that are successful - it will back fire..People are getting fed up with the Robin Hood mentality..

[majthj]

chicagoguy: While your focus seems to be on the businesses that, by the way provide jobs and fuel our economy, you close a blind eye to the democrats in Washington: Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and oh yes, NAFTA - that''s where most of the jobs went re auotmotive industry. How is Obama going to bring the jobs back to Michigan and Ohio?? Is he going to repeal NAFTA - he told Canada thru one of his guys _ Don''t worry we won''t touch NAFTA. Obama has yet to say how he''s going to create more jobs - he just tells people how he will spread the wealth and take from those that do work. Your democratic controlled congress and senate have the lowest rating of any in the history of the US - lower than Bush. If Obama is going to spread the wealth to the lower wage earners - where is the money going to come from to pay back the 850 billion the democrats just pushed thru and want another 150 billion?? You''re trying to tell me Obama has an answer for our economy - only if they stock the bowling alley in the White House with massive printing machines and print currency 24/7 cause we''re in a recession - meaning growth has stopped..

[white-marsh]

VEGAS GAMBLING TYCOONS JOIN FORCES WITH JAMES DOBSON''S EVANGELICALS BY INCREASING NEGATIVE ATTACKS AGAINST SENATOR OBAMA WHILE INCREASING CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR MOLASSES McSAME.

Am I the only person to find it strange that the Hypocritical Evangelical Christian-Right is in bed with Vegas Gambling Tycoons for a McSame-Palin disaster?

GOD Bless the Untied States of America!
GOD Bless the Obama-Biden Leadership Team!

[toolmangler-2009]

Made you think, didn''t it?

[toolmangler-2009]

it would spell the end to both republican and democratic parties.
Posted by tincup356 at 01:31 PM : Oct 25, 2008



Absolutely. Don''t forget, the communist party is registered also.

[chicagoguy49]

I find it amazing that the republican party can maintain sway over such a large percentage of the American public when their policies are driven by support of the top 1% of the wealthiest in America. Wake up people the Republican party is not concerned with the "common citizen". It is and has been for many years the party of fear, support of the richest, support of corporations at the expense of the working class, the wedge of bigotry and hate for those less privileged than themselves, etc etc. They have somehow convinced middle class people that a Democrat in office will ruin their shot at the proverbial American Dream. Wake Up!!!