Warren Buffett is irked that the mailers quoted his words and used his image in a campaign he perceives is anti-Native American. (Image: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe campaign mailers were created by a group with ties to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts. They bear Buffett\u2019s image and quote his words about casino gambling being \u201ca big loser for everyone.\u201d But Buffett told the Herald<\/em> Wednesday that the rest of the language is \u201cinappropriate\u201d and a \u201cdog whistle\u201d that plays to racial prejudices.<\/p>\n\u201cI would never have approved my name and photo being associated with an ad so worded,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to the Herald<\/em>, the mailers warn that authorizing casino gaming would open the floodgates for \u201cIndian casinos\u201d to be built across Nebraska. These enterprises would not pay taxes, it adds.<\/p>\nGaming by Default <\/strong><\/h2>\nThe picture it paints is somewhat distorted. If approved, the three ballot measures would amend the state constitution to authorize casino gaming at Nebraska\u2019s licensed horse racing tracks. But it would only permit Native American casinos by default, since under federal law tribes are permitted to operate class III gaming on their reservations provided it is offered commercially elsewhere in the state.<\/p>\n
However, in this case, the tribes would need to negotiate compacts with the state that would likely lay out terms for some form of revenue-share payments.<\/p>\n
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The mailers were devised by a group calling itself Keep the Good Life Inc., which has launched a media blitz opposing the ballot measures, and last week received a donation of $250k from Ricketts.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\nCEO of Ho-Chunk Lance Morgan called the mailer a \u201cpurposeful scare tactic.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact it has racial overtones is disturbing,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s a tactic from a bygone era.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not About Horses? <\/strong><\/h2>\nThe campaign to place the measures on the ballot was almost entirely bankrolled by Ho-Chunk Inc., the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, as well as the Nebraska Horsemen\u2019s Benevolent and Protective Association. Ho-Chunk has owned the Atokad Park racetrack in Sioux City since 2012.<\/p>\n
Pat Loontjer, executive director for another opposition campaign, Gambling with the Good Life, said she suspects Ho-Chunk\u2019s goal all along was to open up casino gaming for the tribes under the guise of saving the horse racing industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou got to look at who\u2019s putting up (the money),\u201d she said. \u201cThose are Indians. It\u2019s an Indian petition. I don\u2019t believe they care diddly about the horses.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Warren Buffett is no fan of gambling, and the billionaire investor won\u2019t be backing gambling expansion next week at the ballot in his native Nebraska. But the Omaha resident has taken exception to a mailer opposing expansion for its \u201canti-Native American\u201d tone, The Omaha World-Herald reports. The campaign mailers were created by a group with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":153851,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,18456],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Warren Buffett Weighs in on 'Racist' Nebraska Casino Opposition<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n