Adelson not exactly keeping a low profile

Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson has a higher profile these days than even his famous casinos in Las Vegas and Macau.

The generous supporter of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has made headlines once again for keeping a high profile during Romney’s visit to Israel. In addition to being a major supporter of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Adelson also publishes a major free circulation newspaper in Israel that reflects his super-conservative politics and alliance with the head of state.

Adelson and wife Miriam had every right to take a prominent seat at Romney’s speech in Jerusalem over the weekend, but it’s no surprise that high profile has drawn increasing media attention, most notably and critically from the Boston Globe editorial page.

“Adelson’s breakfast with Romney shows how billionaires can buy a seat on the world stage,” the Globe’s headline chides.

Observes one of the nation’s most respected newspapers, “The extent to which a billionaire can buy his way onto the world stage was on dismal display when Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate who is a fervent opponent of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, took his seat beside the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, at a fundraising event this week.”

The editorial notes Adelson’s lavish spending on the pro-Romney “Restore Our Future” super PAC, his public vow to spend up to $100 million to defeat President Obama, and his right-wing Netanyahu house organ.

Jabs the Globe, “The Federal Election Commission bars super PACs from coordinating directly with candidates. Apparently, there’s no stricture against sitting next to one.”

Adelson was just looking after his investment, I suspect.