'60 minutes' using angry Ed to promote show

GOV. RENDELL's glowing praise this week for the media and legalized gambling fell into place yesterday like the spinning reels of a slot machine.

First, Rendell freaked out on reporter Lesley Stahl during a taped interview about gambling addiction for "60 Minutes" that will air tomorrow on CBS.

Then Rendell on Monday held his final news conference in Philadelphia as a public official, saying that the press can be irritating but vital for democracy.

Now CBS is teasing out details about Rendell's tantrum to drum up interest in tomorrow's show.

Rendell, who leaves office in 10 days, called Stahl an "idiot" and a "simpleton" in the interview.

Rendell spokesman Gary Tuma yesterday explained: "The governor feels strongly about many issues, and is usually willing to express his opinions."

Rendell, in Monday's news conference, admitted with no prompting that he sometimes gets angry and irritated with reporters.

Rendell, also unprompted, said his push for casinos in Pennsylvania is a "terrific success" with "fairly minimal" social costs.

Rendell was a bit more blunt with Stahl when she asked about gambling addiction.

The governor said that gamblers will gamble regardless of whether it's legal in Pennsylvania.

"You guys don't get that," Rendell exclaims, gritting his teeth and waving his hands at Stahl. "You're simpletons. You're idiots if you don't get that."

Did somebody at "60 Minutes" just say "Jackpot"?

Here is the conversation on gambling that set Rendell off:

_ Rendell: "It is a decent way to raise revenue where the upsides that are produced are significantly better than any downside that comes from it."

_ Stahl: "You said there were downsides to gaming. What are they?"

_ Rendell: "The biggest downside is some people lose their paychecks. But understand, Lesley, they're not losing their paychecks because Pennsylvania instituted gaming. Those people were losing their paychecks in Atlantic City, in Delaware at the racetracks . . . "

_ Stahl: "So why not lose it here?"

_ Rendell: " . . . or in West Virginia. You're not getting it. Those people would lose that money anyway. Don't you understand?"

Rendell, in his Monday farewell news conference, said casinos in the state have been a "tremendous success" that created jobs with minimal impacts by way of crime or addiction.

"We have literally only a handful of people coming into our free treatment programs, where they can get therapy and the state picks up the costs," Rendell said. "Those programs are dramatically underutilized."

On the media, Rendell offered this: "It's actually been a pleasure dealing with the press. I get angry with them at times but our press does a very good job of keeping people informed. As irritated as I get at times, I always remind myself that this is the way that democracy was intended to work."