Wale a rappin’ about Reid attackin’ Redskins owner
U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s crusade to pressure the Washington Redskins into a name change has prompted blowback from one of the team’s more prominent fans. The hometown rapper known as Wale says Reid is “super sketchy” following the Nevada Democrat’s latest push against team owner Dan Snyder.
Wale, whose last album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, hangs out with quarterback Robert Griffin III and is rumored to have a tattoo of former tight end Chris Cooley. On Friday, he addressed his 3.65 million followers on Twitter after Reid and 49 other Democrats released a letter calling on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to force Snyder to give up the team name they argue is racist.
“Anyone been following the Senator Reid Stuff???” Wale wrote, following with “I don’t respect it. He pointin fingers but he super sketchy. Senator Reid got a lot to say about other ppl bein racist. But I did a lil research. He sketchy.”
Reid “tryna use racism to make a bigger name for his self. I’m. Not into politics like that but it’s a right an wrong thing.”
Wale dug up the 2010 controversy where Reid apologized after being quoted in a book referring to President Barack Obama as “light skinned” and having “no Negro dialect.” Now, Reid “all the sudden is a crusader for what’s right in race,” the rapper said.
“Senator Reid don’t know anything about Washington team and I doubt he cares he just using a sensitive time to garner attention. Easy call,” the rapper tweeted.
Reid got the team’s attention as well. Redskins President Bruce Allen invited the Senate majority leader to a game this fall “where you would witness first-hand that the Washington Redskins are a positive, unifying force for our community in a city and a region that is divided on so many levels,” according to a letter posted on the team’s website.
Reid’s office did not comment Friday.
— Steve Tetreault
BEN CARSON FAVORED HERE
If Douglas County Republicans are a reflection of the mood of the party nationwide, then the GOP presidential nominee in 2016 might end up being retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson.
The Douglas County Republican Central Committee hosted a candidate event last week and asked those attending to express their preference for a GOP presidential nominee. Each attendee — from the most conservative county in the state of Nevada — was encouraged to circle their top three choices resulting in 339 votes cast overall.
Carson, who has said he would consider a run if no other candidate emerged to energize voters, won with 14.45 percent of the vote.
Carson is the author of a new book, “One Nation: What We All Can Do to Save America’s Future.”
Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval came in 13th with 2.95 percent of the vote.
Following Carson, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was second with 12.98 percent. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was third with 9.73 percent, followed by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul with 9.14 percent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee with 4.13 percent and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio with 3.83 percent.
Other candidates getting a smaller percentage of votes included former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
— Sean Whaley
ANTHONY, ROSS LOOK AHEAD
Long-term thinkers such as Las Vegas City Councilmen Stavros Anthony and Steve Ross aren’t pondering 2014, they’re looking at the elections in 2015 and 2016.
Those are the ones that matter to them.
Anthony, 57, mayor pro tem had planned to wait until Mayor Carolyn Goodman, elected in 2011, decided she’d had enough. Then he would be poised to run for her job.
But then that darn Nevada Supreme Court made that ruling that said if he serves 12 years on the City Council, he can’t run for mayor. If she runs for a second term, he is blocked from seeking the mayor’s job. Anthony was first elected in 2009, then re-elected in 2013. If Goodman, 75, doesn’t run again in 2015, he could run midterm.
Goodman is putting out the word that she’s going to run for a second term. If she changes her mind and doesn’t run, then Anthony will go for it.
If she sticks to her plan of two terms, Anthony said he’ll look at running for the seat held by Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown, who can run for a third term in 2016.
Councilman Ross said Wednesday he is “considering running for Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins’ seat in 2016, after the cowboy has served his 12 years and has to move along.
Term limits have forced politicians to think long range if they want a career in politics.
No longer can someone plant themselves in a seat and take root, serving term after term, thanks to political consultant Sig Rogich.
Rogich pushed term limits and then lived to regret some of the unintended consequences when friends such as County Commissioner Bruce Woodbury were pushed out of office.
— Jane Ann Morrison
TIME FOR SOME NAPS?
The Las Vegas City Council meeting was a particularly long one Wednesday, running from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
One must wonder about the scheduling and the silliness it created. At times, it was obvious council members were confused about amendments they were voting on, particularly in the package liquor ordinance.
But they weren’t as confused as two reporters in the back of the council chambers who kept wondering why City Attorney Brad Jerbic was saying it was necessary to ban beer and wine coolers. What’s so terrible about wine coolers?
Turns out he sought to ban the sale of beer and wine and coolers in souvenir and gift shops. Never mind.
Then while discussing the medical marijuana ordinance, they had to take a break because they didn’t all have the same version of the ordinance, which was presenting a challenge for the council members as they tried to adopt amendments.
Made you miss the Legislature where if an amendment is introduced, a new version is published so that the lawmakers and the public can review it. Helps to know what you’re voting on.
— Jane Ann Morrison
Contact Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @STetreaultDC. Contact Capital Bureau reporter Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801. Contact Jane Ann Morrison at jmorrison@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0275.
