Why Does Eva Longoria Want Me to Vote “Yes” on Question 7?

Just when I thought I’d heard it all, read it all and scrutinized it all about Question 7 – Maryland’s Expanded Gaming Referendum – and I had just about decided to vote “No” because I can’t see expanding the state’s economic reliance on gambling…

The unexpected happened.

Eva Longoria called to ask for my “Yes” vote on 7.

Eva Longoria! Eva Longoria who was nominated for a Golden Globe – Best Actress in a Comedy Series in 2006  — for Desperate Housewives.

Thirty-seven-year-old, graduate of Texas A&M with a degree in kinesiology, Eva Longoria.

So, I admit I didn’t listen to what all she had to say.  I had an auto-response to a robo-call – and hung up.

These days, 90% of the calls I receive on my “land” telephone line are advertisers, robo-calls — and  those calls where there is a 90-second scratchy silence followed by a voice that sounds far away asking for my ex-husband (who has never had that number) and then, in disappointment, for me, with the wrong last name.

I hang up automatically and think later. I hung up on Eva.

(Ten percent of the land-line calls are from my mother but I usually recognize her voice in the critical first three seconds.)

This time, right after I hung up, I thought, “Eva Longoria! What a nice-sounding voice.”

Then I thought, “I wonder what MGM Resorts International of Las Vegas paid Eva Longoria to call me to convince me to vote ‘yes’ on Question 7.”

Then I thought, “Just how much money is MGM going to spend on this anyway?”

(Of course, I recognize that gigantic gambling/gaming interests are hosing cash on both sides of question 7. It’s not just MGM – it’s Penn-National and others as well. But, still…)

Last week, the total spent on the Question 7 campaign from all sides was approaching $50 million. At that time, I speculated that the two sides would spend $75 million before November 6.

But that was before Eva Longoria.

Surely, she didn’t do the robo-call because she really thinks Maryland’s economy and public school system will benefit.

She’s from Texas, she probably lives in L.A. – when was the last time she even came to Maryland?

They paid her, right?

What does a Longoria robo-gig go for?

I’ll figure it out. Let’s see, according to “Wikipedia,” she got $30,000 per episode of “DH” in the 2004 season — the first year — dividing by the minute — factoring in eight years of inflation — discounting the aging factor…

Like a million bucks?

I’m sorry.  I know there is nothing inherently wrong with hiring Eva Longoria to advocate for expanded gaming in Maryland.

Theoretically and logically, however, it burns me. There is something evil about spending so much money to get people to spend much more money in casinos. Heck, right now MGM needs like $30 million just to get their investment back.

And they will get it back. I shudder to think about it.

Even holding my nose, because maybe there will be more money in Maryland coffers if 7 passes, I can’t do it. I can’t vote to expand the access of these gambling interests to the you’s and me’s of Maryland.

Let’s just say we’ve got the gambling we’ve got — and look elsewhere to put our state economy on a healthier footing.

Sorry Eva, I say “no” to 7.

About Karen O'Keefe

Karen O’Keefe has been a freelance writer in Atlanta, GA and Montgomery County, MD, since 1984. Prior to that time, she worked for a committee in the U.S. House, a public relations firm and as a Congressional press secretary. Since 2003, O’Keefe has been a regular news reporter and columnist for The Town Courier, an independent biweekly newspaper based in Gaithersburg. Her blog, “On Second Glance,” explores everyday life and current events with insight, grace and humor.

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