Obama's Olympic loss
Will the president pay politically for backing Chicago's failed bid to host the 2016 Olympics?
Barack Obama makes his final Olympic pitch.
(Reuters/Corbis/Kevin Lamarque)
President Obama's opponents just struck gold, said Kenneth P. Vogel in Politico. The International Olympic Committee rejected Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Summer Games shortly after Obama traveled to Copenhagen to make a personal pitch for his hometown. "Chicago was considered a favorite along with Rio de Janeiro, but the notoriously unpredictable committee eliminated Chicago in its first round of voting." (Rio de Janeiro was selected to host the Games)
The early elimination means that Chicago didn't just fall short, said Dan Amira in New York magazine. "It was the least popular choice among the four finalist cities." There are "a million reasons" why the IOC might have snubbed Chicago, "including the fact that half of Chicago didn't want it—but because of his unprecedented involvement," it's Obama's "power and influence" that really took a beating.
Sure, "this is pretty embarrassing for the White House," said Katie Connolly in Newsweek. "But ultimately, it’s a good thing for him." The Olympics are notorious for going way over budget, and the infighting among local cronies is never pretty. And with support for the Olympic bid "lukewarm" in Chicago itself, subjecting the city's citizens to seven years of disruptive preparations was "a recipe for serious disgruntlement."
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24 Comments
Posted by Virginia red, Friday, October 2, 2009, 1:46 pm See what the world thinks of you now Obummer? Time for the liberal bloviaters such as Katie Connolly to start making escuses for you and your failed attempt. Truth is, many in C'town did not want the olympics there. When will you listen to the people you serve? Now bring your ass home and take care of the issues that really affect all of the american people and not a few of your rich C'town minions. i.e. Mayor Daley, and Oprah. Remember Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and healthcare reform? Americans do. Come home and do your job.
Posted by J.COOPER, Friday, October 2, 2009, 1:48 pm Obama is a joke and way over his head. He is once again showing how he just does not get it. How many faux pas is the press going to overlook. The Obama s are way out of their league. I wonder who he is going to blame now for his latest failure. This is just the beginning of the debacle of his presidency. He now is getting a taste of what is ahead of him.
Posted by Nate, Friday, October 2, 2009, 2:07 pm Rabble Rabble Rabble! Settle down, geez.
Posted by W. Parr, Friday, October 2, 2009, 2:41 pm Katie says, But ultimately, its a good thing for him. The Olympics are notorious for going way over budget,... This sounds like our Congress and the current adminstration. Since when do government projects ever NOT go WAY OVER BUDGET?!?!?! If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait til it's free!!
Posted by KenHouston, Friday, October 2, 2009, 2:42 pm Yes WE can. No HE can't.
Posted by Johnny Reb, Friday, October 2, 2009, 4:00 pm Just one more thing he's failed at. So glad he spent his time on this instead of that whole economy, jobs and healthcare bit.
Posted by Matt, Friday, October 2, 2009, 5:01 pm Honestly, do you think in a week people will even a remember that this happened b give a shit.
Posted by kam, Friday, October 2, 2009, 5:10 pm The sycophants never get it. The world doesn't revolve about obama, but he thinks it does. This was about the Olympics...not about him and his corrupt Chicago cronies. Bo should pay attention to the new high in job losses. After all, he rammed through the stimulus package to prevent this unemployment from happening. It's his administration not Bush's. Bo is responsible for more nuclear threats from Iran and NK. They don't love him. Bo is responsible for spending more money than all other presidents combined during their first 8 plus months.
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