Obama's Olympic pitch
What's at stake as Obama travels to Denmark to lobby for Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Games?
Barack Obama fences with Olympic champion Tim Morehouse at a White House Olympics event.
(Pool/Corbis/Aude Guerrucci)
President Obama is gambling big on the Olympics, said Peter Baker and Juliet Macur in The New York Times. Obama is going to Denmark to make a personal pitch for Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Games, hoping to trump the presence of leaders from rival countries seeking the Games. "Crossing the ocean for a dramatic personal plea on behalf of his adopted hometown" could pay off -- but it could also make Obama look "parochial," and it could also become "a major international embarrassment if the committee rebuffs him and rejects Chicago in favor of Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo or Madrid."
There's also potential fallout if Obama succeeds in getting the Olympics "for his Windy City cronies," said Michael Goldfarb in The Weekly Standard. "Brazil is an emerging regional power," and the "electorally-based leftism" of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is a critical foil to the "subversive leftism" being pushed by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. "I doubt if Lula and 200 million Brazilians would be too pleased if the Yankee colossus derailed their Olympic bid at the last minute."
Let's not exaggerate the importance of the decision, due Friday, on what city will host the Olympics, said the Chicago Tribune in an editorial. "We hope Chicago prevails," as "a positive decision would be a vote of confidence for this city." Still, it won't be the end of the world if some other city gets the Games -- Chicago is already a world-class city.
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37 Comments
Posted by Matt , Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 11:31 am Oooooh, I bet Obama's really worried this could backfire politically. Do you sense the sarcasm?Only the moronic right would try to put a negative spin on a head of state attending an Olympic bid. This is how conservatives operate. Obama does something, no matter how mundane or innocuous, and its spun as his next Waterloo with far reaching consequences that could spread over continents.Goldfarb. What a douche.
Posted by Katherine, Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 1:11 pm Let's think about this. Obama must know that Chicago is the winner, or why would he risk political capital going there? AND, when did PITCHING HIS BUDDIES IN CHICAGO BECOME THE JOB OF THE PRESIDENT? Especially suspicious when Chicago kids are ganging up and killing each other. That would make any parent feel safe about sending their kids to Chicago. NOT. Mr President, I didn't vote for you to be a TV star or to get the Olympics in Chicago. I wanted a PRESIDENT and leader, not cheerleader. And you made fun of Sarah Palin for not being ready!
Posted by Cirel, Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 1:15 pm Right on. He wants Chicago to get the Olympics so his buddies get richer. Jezz, Matt. That is not right wing, that's common sense, buddy. Now who is the douche? This is not spin, it's COME ON, PREZ, DO YOUR JOB. Let the Olympic committee do its job. The country is out of control in debt, so fix that and leave the Olympics to the world. Total lack of leadership. Katherine, and he made fun of Sarah AND Bush for their lack of leadership. We need a president. Be one, BO.
Posted by Mike, Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 1:16 pm Does Obama ever do the President's job, or does he just fly around. How many days has he worked, as president, not Candidate Obama, but President. I voted for him and now i want him to get to work and LEAD.
Posted by Amanda, Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 1:31 pm I think he is doing his job by trying to boost the reputation and economy of the UNITED STATES, not just Chicago. An Olympic Games back here in the U.S. will be great for the whole country, and any political figure's involvement in making it happen is completely relevant and warranted, I think.
Posted by DB, Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 1:39 pm Oh yeah, the olympics would be a HUGE boost to the economy. It'd be like BOOM we're up and running! Annnnnnd... done. Cashforclunkersesque, eh?
Posted by Michael J. Gorman, Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 1:41 pm The jerks who will use anything and anyone to attack Obama are at it again, even with such a harmless and typically political thing as promoting the Olympics in an American city. Oh, yeah, isn't it shocking he's loyal to Chicago? You guys did not vote for him so don't give us that jazz, and who cares? Obama is doing an incredible job with the men he picked to work on our economic problems. He's opened international doors that W had slammed shut. He's fighting for a comprehensive health plan. Give the new guy a big round of applause.
Posted by Matt, Tuesday, September 29, 2009, 2:00 pm Cirel and Katherine. Don't know how much know about sporting history but securing the Olympics is generally perceived as a positive outcome for both the city hosting, and THE HOST COUNTRY.
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