Soon after taking office, President Obama rode populist anger and began lambasting corporations for paying large bonuses to corporate executives when the nation was hurting economically. When he was promoting his economic stimulus plan in Indiana, he also took a direct swipe at what he called "corporate excess" when he admonished corporate executives, "You can't go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer's dime." He has even said to corporate America, "Now is not the time to take a profit."

The result of his slap at corporate America and Las Vegas in particular badly hurt the convention business nationwide, including Orlando, and virtually shut down a multi-billion dollar industry. Many of those working in that industry are independent contractors and do not show up in the unemployment statistics. "Excess," he said, is what we need to sacrifice and in January of this year, he said "everybody in the country is going to have to sacrifice something, accept change for the greater good. Everybody is going to have to give. Everybody is going to have to have some skin in the game."

Now, first lady Michelle Obama has taken some of her closest friends and family on Air Force Two to an extravagantly expensive resort on Spain's Costa del Sol. Although Mrs. Obama and her friends paid their personal expenses, we are told 60 to 70 Secret Service agents accompanied her entourage. Now, that's what I call "audacity." When all the expenses are in, the trip will probably cost more than the president's annual $400,000-a-year salary. And you and I are picking up the tab.

As an independent producer of major corporate meetings who works in the major venues around the world, I can attest to the fact my industry is dead — killed by the president's remarks. His remarks also devastated the hospitality industry, which means service jobs are also lost. Nevada's Gov. Jim Gibbons and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman were outraged by the president's remarks, but disregarded by the president. When Gov. Gibbons was refused a sit-down meeting with the president, he rightfully ignored Obama on his recent Las Vegas junket.

Since the president has never worked for a corporation and considering his presidential performance thus far, I doubt if he understands the importance of leadership training and awards banquets. Yes, corporate America trains leaders to excel and rewards them for doing so at major conventions. They are imperative parts of growing business. There is nothing excessive about rewarding success.

I wonder how many struggling Americans accompanied Ms. Obama to Spain? Were they all Democrat donors, or were some of the opposition allowed on the trip? I would like to see a guest list. After all, we are paying for her excessive appetite; we should have a right to know just who her friends are.

Is this the "change" we voted for? I call it hypocrisy to the nth degree. It demonstrates the total disconnect the Obamas have from average Americans, or is Ms. Obama trying to stimulate the struggling Spanish economy?

It is just my opinion, but I feel the Obamas should pay entirely for this trip, including the travel and security and not the taxpayer.

Sylvia Sims is the owner of Sylvia Sims Productions, a producer of large corporate meetings. She resides
in Santa Fe.