Last week, S&G unearthed a contribution from self-professed “too liberal” Sheldon Adelson to flaming homophobe Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). Turns out, she’s not the only apostle of intolerance with whom Adelson has crept under the covers. Last Sunday, the Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s Howard Stutz exposed that Adelson had funneled money to Sharron Angle (a veritable buffet of bigotry) through the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee and a Newt Gingrich-run PAC, American Solutions for Winning the Future. Protestations of “undue pressure” to the contrary, Angle turns out to have been willing to take that icky-poo gambling money if a PAC was used as a sort of fiduciary condom. Besides, her infamous refusal to accept donations from casinos had been (unsuccessfully) scrubbed from her Web site the moment she found out she’d need some extra dough to make it through to November.
In the past, Adelson has wept crocodile tears over the persecution of homosexuals in Iran. But when it comes to infringements upon human rights (like that quaint Yankee notion called “free speech”) in Red China, Adelson is wont to tell us to shut up and mind our own business. When MGM Mirage and Harrah’s Entertainment were risking political capital by backing domestic-partner legislation in Nevada, Adelson laid low — as did Steve Wynn, to his discredit. Adding insult to injury, both Adelson and Wynn were among the casino bosses who pooled 55 grand for the reelection of Gov. Jim Gibbons, who’d vetoed the domestic-partner law on the grounds that he didn’t believe in it. (Judging from his personal conduct as governor, Midnight Jim placed no stock in traditional marriage, either.) Luckily for forward-thinking Nevadans, legislators ultimately found the arguments of Harrah’s and MGM more persuasive than those of Las Vegas Sands rent boy Gibbons.
Anyway, if Adelson’s professions of broadmindedness influence your patronage, one’s money is better spent with Harrah’s and MGM, both of whom actually practice what they preach.
Except both MGM and Harrah’s often leave me feeling like I didn’t get my money’s worth. Which is kind of why I gave up avoiding the place and Wynn’s as well.
Unless you’re going to sit at home and craft your own things, you’re probably doing business with someone whose political beliefs you don’t agree with. For example, take a look at the food service industry and pretty much all the major fast food brands are donating to the GOP pretty strongly. Many people go to Target because of Wal-Mart politics and policies, but their donation to a Minnesota group that wound up taking an anti-gay bent the other month raised eyebrows in San Francisco (where they’re currently trying to set up shop.)
More than anything, I’m a little surprised that Adelson is still making campaign contributions. I figured after the sudden sucking sound in the bottom of his cash pool a few years ago, that he would cut back on bad habits like trying to swing elections.
Mike, normally I’d agree with you but Adelson’s attempts to publicly position his properties as gay-friendly and himself as some kind of equality champion while slipping cash to some of the worst gay-bashers in American politics is so shamelessly hypocritical that he deserves to be called on it. He wants their money but doesn’t give a rat’s patootie about their rights, judging by his conduct. At least his stance on labor unions is free of this self-serving disconnect.
“Besides, her infamous refusal to accept donations from casinos had been (unsuccessfully) scrubbed from her Web site the moment she found out she’d need some extra dough to make it through to November.”
That explains why, whenever I clicked on it, the site’s colors were more washed-out than before. Toward the end of October, the remaining text was so pale, it was hardly legible! 🙂
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Debbie Hayes, David McKee. David McKee said: New entry: Sheldon Adelson, beard. https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/stiffs-and-georges/?p=5104 […]
Many thanks to David for posting this. IMHO Not enough people are aware that Mr. Adelson pushes his politics beyond the line that most of us live by, the truth. His involvement in the dishonest and disgustingly effective Swift Boat attacks on Senator John Kerry during the 2004 election permanently sealed my wallet in relation to Venitian/Palazzo. One can easily cite those attacks as the beginning of a terrible trend in politics and money. Michelle Bachmann has a fleeting relationship with the truth as well, so it’s no suprise that Adelson donated to her. There are plenty of choices in Las Vegas, thankfully. My choice is to patronize resorts that are more low key in politics, and high key in treating all people the same.
I don’t want to harp on Sheldon’s politics *per se* but I do think that gay S&G readers (there must be at least one out there someplace) and their friends should know that, for instance, if you hold your commitment ceremony at Venelazzo’s The Chapel (https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/referenceguide-weddingdetail.cfm?id=55), your dollars are making a stopover in Sheldon’s pocket before winging their way to some of the most anti-gay politicians in America. To put a new spin on an old phrase, one might say that Adelson’s “gay-friendly for pay.”
Sheldon Adelson is the most dangerous man in the world, bar none. His business practices are equally abhorrent.
Adelson got MGM in trouble with NJ gaming board over MGM’s partnership with Pansy Ho whom Adelson cried “Mob ties”. Richard Suen who helped broker meetings between him and China’s leadership leading to Adelson’s Macau’s gaming license was denied compensation despite promises of lucrative payback. Adelson’s own brother Leonid was to receive 20% of any compensation paid to Suen since it was Leonid who introduced Suen to Sheldon/Bill Weidner. Despite an overwhelming jury verdict in favor of Suen, Nevada’s supreme court justices overturned the verdict. No surprises here.
Adelson … is pretty much untouchable in usa and behaves as if he is untouchable anywhere in the world too.
[…] Bonus Question: If Donald Trump’s negatives are going off the chart, will his pretend presidential “campaign” inflict collateral damage on his casino and lodging brands? (Too bad that Steve Friess is helping Sheldon Adelson perpetuate the self-serving myth that he is “gay-friendly” when Shel’s political contributions tell an entirely different story.) […]