When the federal government spends $823,000 on a conference for 300 employees (yes, $2,743 per employee) it is more than the fleecing of taxpayers. It is complete and total arrogance. It is failed leadership. It is a waste of tax dollars. It is disgusting.

In October of 2010, the General Services Administration (GSA) held an extravagant 4-day conference at the opulent M Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. The conference included such lavish expenses as a $31,000 reception complete with a clown and mind-reader.

These clowns at GSA don’t need a mind reader to know that such outrageous behavior by government bureaucrats infuriates taxpayers. Congressman Lynn Westmoreland has taken a lead role in holding those responsible to account.

The GSA Inspector General continues to investigate those individuals responsible for this complete waste of hard earned money from American taxpayers. The debacle has resulted in the Administrator of GSA, Martha Johnson (Obama appointee), to fire two of her fellow Obama appointees and then resign. It happened on her watch. Robert Peck, Commissioner of Public Buildings Service of GSA, and Stephen Leeds, Johnson’s top adviser, were fired and are under Congressional investigation. All three of the officials are part of the administration of President Barack Hussein Obama.

The arrogance of such a ludicrous expenditure might seem astounding. However, consider the arrogance of a President that plays 90 rounds of golf in the first 3 years of his term as almost 25 million Americans are out of work. Consider the fact that this President took the private sector to task for spending their OWN money on conferences in places like Las Vegas during the very time that the GSA meeting took place. His demagoguery of the private sector continues to this day.

Also, look at the Obama’s multiple vacations on the taxpayer’s dime. The Obama’s have taken 16 family vacations all paid for with your money to such places as Aspen, Colo.; Hawaii; Vail, Colo.; Spain; Martha’s Vineyard; South Africa; Botswana; Panama City Beach, Fla.; New York City; Mount Desert Island, Maine; Yellowstone National Park; and the Grand Canyon; and Chicago on several occasions.

While teacher’s salaries have been cut for the last three years, the Obamas believe you want to see them jetting around the world on your dime. It’s like a TV reality show.

President Obama’s arrogance is more than evident with such lavish vacations. This behavior sets the tone within his administration. Such arrogance displays a complete lack of leadership. It creates a culture within his administration that permeates the entire government, producing such unbelievable behavior as an $823,000 conference in Las Vegas.

Those that work for the President take their cues from his behavior. They look to Obama to set the tone and establish the culture. The tone is arrogance and the culture is extravagance. He has told them “do as I say not as I do.”

While we should be outraged, we shouldn’t be surprised this President believes he is entitled to a life of luxury at your expense.

[Dennis R. Dorsey is a former senior advisor to GSA Region IV serving as a presidential appointee to the administration of President George W. Bush. He is also a former Bibb County commissioner. Dorsey resides in Fayetteville, Ga., and can be reached at drdorsey12@yahoo.com.]