"Are you trying to kill the hospitality business? Because that's what you're doing."

Seems there is finally some logic-based backlash in response to John Kerry's proposed legislation preventing any form of hospitality activities for banks receiving TARP funds.

From Richard Johnson in the New York Post:

"At the end of the day, we are an industry of valets, caterers, florists, groomers and the like," said Shawn Sedlacek, whose VOX Group handled technical and marketing aspects of the Northern Trust event. "For every $100,000 that's spent on an event, $90,000 of that goes to human power. This backlash of 'don't do events' is going to hurt a lot of working-class people."

A rep for the National Business Travel Association said, "In this economy, businesses wouldn't be throwing money around if they didn't expect a return. This bill could really hurt a lot of the people the government is trying to help."

Jerry Tarde offers a balanced perspective on golf's place in the economy. He's not defending ill-timed excess, but instead suggests that our politicians not through the baby out with the bathwater. We'll only dock him a half-point for the platform reference.

Corporate sponsorship is successful because of the attractiveness of the golf audience, the global reach of the product (more than 200 countries), the positive image of our sport and players, and the business-building platform golf provides through pro-ams and entertainment opportunities for customers. It's not only good for your business, it has a widespread economic impact in communities where the events are played. As one example, the Deutsche Bank Championship on the PGA Tour has been estimated to generate at least $50 million in revenue annually to the region. And by the way, that region happens to be Barney Frank's voting district.

Then there's the charity argument. Last year, PGA Tour sponsors donated a record $124 million to charity, $1.4 billion since it began. The golf model should be copied, not pilloried.

New York Times columnist and Golf Digest Contributing Editor Thomas L. Friedman remarked to me the other day that when he speaks to members of Congress he asks them: " 'Are you trying to kill the hospitality business? Because that's what you're doing. No, I am not for bankers using taxpayer money to buy private jets, but if holding conventions or conferences or customer or employee retreats is part of how they advance their business, you don't want to kill that. It drives the whole hospitality industry in America, and that industry isn't fat cats; it's waiters and dishwashers, maids and cooks, event staff and hotel clerks -- blue-collar workers who belong to unions.' It starts to give some of them pause."