Maybe Secretary Gutierrez Should Have Sent A Telegram

The latest victim of American Airlines’ cancellation fiasco: U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who had to scratch an appearance today at a Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce luncheon. “We couldn’t control tornadoes, storms, or American Airlines,” said chamber honcho Cici Rojas, explaining why Gutierrez was stuck back in D.C. The secretary was to have helped launch the National Hispanic Business Information Clearinghouse, a new online tool supporting the startup and growth of Hispanic businesses. The site’s funded in large part by Colorado-based Western Union, whose CEO Christina A. Gold pinch-hit for Gutierrez during today’s luncheon at the Fairmont.

UPDATE: Business analyst David Johnson reports that Gutierrez’ Hispanic chamber no-show wasn’t really American’s fault. Seems that once all the AA delays started happening, the secretary’s people had booked his Thursday D.C.-Dallas flight on US Airways instead. Then weather problems wound up delaying the US Air flight, and Gutierrez was stuck at the Washington airport.