Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Mayor endorses gin to fourth graders
Las Vegas Sun ^ | March 02, 2005 | Dan Kulin

Posted on 03/02/2005 6:45:21 PM PST by nickcarraway

School officials say Goodman's remarks were inappropriate

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman told a group of fourth graders on Monday that if he was marooned on a desert island the one thing he would want to have with him is a bottle of gin.

And when a student quizzed Goodman about his hobbies he replied that "drinking" was one of them, said Mackey Elementary School Principal Kamala Washington, who was present for the mayor's visit.

Goodman was unapologetic for his comments that came during his visit to the elementary school in North Las Vegas.

"I'm the George Washington of mayors. I can't tell a lie. If they didn't want the answer the kid shouldn't have asked the question," Goodman said. "It's me, what can I do?"

Goodman was at the school with other special guests to read to the students as part of Nevada Reading Week.

The school principal and the president of the Nevada PTA said Goodman's alcohol-related comments were inappropriate for the young audience. And George Ann Rice, associate superintendent for human resources for the Clark County School District, said although she was unaware of the mayor's comments, if a school employee made similar comments disciplinary action would have been taken.

"It might be a written or a verbal warning but we would make it clear that kind of comment is absolutely unacceptable," Rice said. "We would remind the individual that employees are not supposed to share personal opinions in that manner, particularly when it's something that has the potential to offend a great many people."

Washington said the fourth graders didn't seem to pay attention to the mayor's gin and drinking comments.

"No one laughed. I think it just went over their heads," said Washington, who said she was surprised to hear Goodman talk about alcohol during the school event that she also attended.

"And when someone talks about drinking they think 'juice' anyway," she said.

Washington said the entire fourth grade at her school, about 85 students, were gathered to hear Goodman read three books and have a question-and-answer period.

"He was very good with the children," Washington said.

Washington said that when Goodman made the alcohol-related comments, "I wasn't really sure how it would be received, but we just went on to the next question and it really wasn't an issue."

Nevada PTA President DJ Stutz said that while it was wonderful that Goodman read to the kids, she thought the alcohol-related comments were inappropriate.

"Oscar's got a great reputation for being candid and social, it's part of his charm," Stutz said. "But every once in a while you ask, 'What were you thinking?'

"I do enjoy his candor but I do wish he would be more thoughtful in his approach sometimes."

Goodman said the comments did get him in trouble at home though.

"My wife wanted me to say her," Goodman said about what he would bring to a desert island.

Quips about drinking and drinking gin are commonplace in Goodman's public appearances, although usually those are in front of older audiences.

The mayor is particularly fond of gin martinis and became a pitchman for Bombay Sapphire gin in late 2002.

Clark County School Board member Sheila Moulton, who was in the classroom for the mayor's visit to the school, declined to comment on Goodman's answers.

"I will say he did an excellent job reading the story and I was very impressed with the way he explained things to the children," Moulton said. "It was 99 percent a great interaction."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: alcohol; drinking; education; gin; lasvegas; students; teens
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last
To: nickcarraway
"I'm the George Washington of mayors."

No, you'e the Jack Ass of mayors!

21 posted on 03/02/2005 9:27:22 PM PST by DCBurgess58 (We have a French knife in our back)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dan from Michigan
I shouldn't laugh, but ROFL.

Aww, c'mon, don't feel guitly - it's FUNNY! Personally, I'm LMAO!

And by the way,

Da-da-dum-dum-dum-dada-dada!
"It's time to leave and get another quart
Around the corner at the liquor store
The cheapest stuff is all I need
To get me back on my feet again"
Da-da-dum-dum-dum-dada-dada!

(chorus)

22 posted on 03/02/2005 9:50:48 PM PST by FierceDraka (The Democratic Party - Aiding and Abetting The Enemies of America Since 1968)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: FierceDraka
ROFL.

And if it's on a desert island, he can follow that up with "I drink alone...with his Buddy Weiser, his good pal Johnny Walker with his brother Black and Red, and his Old Granddad."

23 posted on 03/02/2005 10:11:43 PM PST by Dan from Michigan ("There out ta get me! They won't catch me! I'm #@^#@# innocent! They won't break me" - Guns N Roses)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Ramius
Anybody knows that bourbon would be a better choice.

Yep definitly :-)(I am not as think as you drunk I am)

24 posted on 03/03/2005 2:52:00 AM PST by freepatriot32 (Jacques Chirac and Kofi Annan, a pantomime horse in which both men are playing the rear end. M.Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Good thing he didn't mention a carton of smokes, or a target pistol and reloading supplies.


25 posted on 03/03/2005 3:04:47 AM PST by Larry Lucido
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RikaStrom

Bombay Sapphire in Vegas ping.


26 posted on 03/03/2005 3:08:34 AM PST by humblegunner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DCBurgess58; All

It's obvious that the mayor has never heard of the proverb that talking is silver but silence is gold


27 posted on 03/03/2005 6:12:04 PM PST by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

He "IS" my hero!


28 posted on 03/04/2005 12:48:51 PM PST by RIGHT IN LAS VEGAS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-28 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson