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I always felt it was fortunate for the Olympics to attract Mitt Romney, no matter what the circumstances that brought him here. He worked tirelessly, for no pay, personally gave millions, and helped bring in not just a spectacular Games but also a substantial profit.

The Olympics as organized by Tom Welch and Dave Johnson would have been, based on what I saw of their bidding personalities, glitzy at best and cheesy at worst — and almost assuredly elitist. And there's no question that they played the gifts-for-Games game with a gusto that was at times embarrassing.

But to villify them in print as crooks and to paint the days after their departure as darker than a Carbon County coal mine is as unnecessary as it is unfair — and all the more unsavory when it makes those who came after them look that much better.

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Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.