Help DU this poll and send Steve Wynn a message

[Jim Lane]

14. Sorry, but I disagree

Presumably, the commission's duty is to consider all applicants fairly, and select the one that presents the best proposal, taking into account location, financing, local effects, and a host of other factors.

Your argument is that one of those other factors should be an applicant's political views. That's where I disagree.

Consider, hypothetically, if South Carolina passes a similar casino law and also has Wynn competing against another applicant. The commission established by the State of South Carolina announces that it's awarding the license to Wynn because he's politically conservative and has denounced Obama, and that he should therefore get the license instead of some liberal. What would be the reaction on DU? Calls for lawsuits, impeachment, mass protests, whatever -- and rightly so. Using a licensing proceeding of this sort to reward political supporters and/or punish enemies would be grossly improper.

If it would be improper in a red state, it would be improper in a blue state.

I haven't voted in the poll. I have no information about the comparative merits of the Revere and Everett applications. My belief, though, is that the decision should be made on the basis of those merits, not out of vengeance toward people who exercise their right to disagree with us.