The Salahis Follies: Coming Soon to Vegas!

Someone help me out here. True or false: If you have the reputation of being the couple whose major claim to fame is gate-crashing the White House, wouldn't you want to sit down and be quiet? Wouldn't you limit your social exposure until your infamy faded away? Wouldn't the last thing you would want to do is to show up on anybody's red carpet?

You wouldn't. Not if you're Tareq and Michaele Salahi.

The infamous social climbers of the Beltway have accepted an invitation to be the official party hosts on Jan. 16 at the Pure Nightclub in Las Vegas. According to the Washington Post, the couple will receive an undisclosed sum for hosting. So once again, the Salahis are the benefactors of fame, and they will get some fortune, too.

Only in America -- and definitely in Las Vegas -- are tacky acts openly rewarded or overlooked, unless someone confronts them.

Sneaking a photo with the president and mingling with international dignitaries isn't like slipping into a friend's dinner party uninvited. The couple embarrassed the White House and breached national security. Bending the rules at the White House is not an adventure that justifies the eternal limelight of TMZ and Entertainment Tonight. Hair shirts may not be among the gowns and tuxes in the Salahis' closet, but wouldn't a bit of social repentance be nice?

The buzz of celebrity apparently holds too much allure for the Salahis and those who preen best in the spotlight. They couldn't resist a paid stint at a night club that has featured Brittany Spears' ex, Kevin Federline, former skater Tonya Hardy, Paris Hilton and rapper 50 cent. But despite what the Salhis may think, they are not rapper/actor LL Cool J, who will be featured Jan. 26 at Pure, or reality TV stars Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt, who will appear on Feb. 13.

Celebrity status of the nightclub variety never lasts, and the Salahis aren't rappers, skaters or spring chickens. They had better enjoy the red carpet and the opportunity to be the hottest couple in Vegas for one neon-lit night. Their celebrity status may not get much better than that.

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