Full-Court Press by White House Fails
Compact Adolescent
Full-Court Press by White House Fails to Sway Committee
By ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON
The selection of Rio de Janeiro over Chicago for the 2016 Olympics was an
embarrassment for President Barack Obama, whose appearance before the
International Olympic Committee was the first by a U.S. president.
Mr. Obama revved up the White House machinery to aid Chicago's Olympic bid,
sending First Lady Michelle Obama and adviser Valerie Jarrett to Denmark
leading a delegation that included nearly a half-dozen top administration
officials.The White House announced only last week that he would join as
well. The widespread perception was that he wouldn't have decided to go
unless Chicago was virtually assured of a win.
But the city was cut in the first of three rounds of voting. "I believe it's
always a worthwhile endeavor to promote and boost the United States of
America and invite the world to come see what we're all about," Mr. Obama
said upon returning to Washington Friday. "And we obviously would have been
eager to host these Games, but...this nation and our athletes are still very
much excited to compete in 2016."
Some critics pointed fingers at Chicago Mayor Richard Daley for failing to
accurately tally Chicago's support before putting the president's
credibility on the line.
Others noted the role of Ms. Jarrett, the administration's liaison with the
business community. Ms. Jarrett, former vice-chairman of the Chicago bid
committee, directed a White House office devoted to the effort and had the
deepest knowledge of the bid's strengths and weaknesses. Attempts by her
spokeswoman to reach Ms. Jarrett weren't immediately successful. She didn't
issue a separate statement.
In brief remarks, Mr. Daley didn't discuss the specifics of Chicago's bid.
"I was shocked," he said. "I was disappointed. I couldn't believe it. Like
anything else in life, you move on." Mr. Daley couldn't be reached to
comment further. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Democrat from Chicago's North Side,
said the city's lack of a federal guarantee to pay for the Games -- which
other bidders had -- was a big reason for the loss. It is understood among
U.S. candidate cities that while the federal government provides security,
it is up to the city to secure private-sector sponsors and sign a revenue
guarantee.
Democrats broadly supported the president's trip. But supporters
acknowledged beforehand that the effort could cause problems for the
president. "I know the president is probably going to get a lot of
backlash," said Olympic track medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who was part of
the Chicago bid since its start and appeared with the Obamas at a rally on
the White House lawn last month. "I hope not. I think it just shows his
magnitude of strength and endurance."
Republicans used the IOC decision to say Mr. Obama should better choose his
priorities. Chicago's loss came the same day as a dismal U.S. jobs report.
"For this president, everything is a priority," said Rep. Pete Hoekstra, R.,
Mich. "He believes that he's got this Midas touch, that if he touches it,
everything will go fine."
Said Tony Fratto, deputy press secretary for President George W. Bush:
"Certainly the failed effort in Chicago along with a bad jobs report coming
out puts critics in a position to say, 'Why was he running off to Copenhagen
when we have more important issues to deal with?' This idea that other
nations will do something that's not in their best interests because they
like you is just silly."
Others said that because competing cities were sending their own heads of
state, Mr. Obama had little choice if Chicago wanted to stay in the running.
"It's better to throw the Hail Mary pass than get down on your knees and
concede the game," said Jack Quinn, former counsel to President Bill
Clinton.
Phil Amint
"Compact Adolescent" <not...@bright.duh> wrote in message
news:4ac7...@news.x-privat.org...
I heard that some liberal media outlets were saying that this was a ploy by
Obama to meet with General Stanley McChrystal. However I also heard that the
General was in London before that. Couldn't Obama have just gone to London
to meet with him? Why screw up the Olympics for America?
Bill Noble
"Phil Amint" <ap...@bulb.cfl> wrote in message
news:ha8h0g$fmh$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
>
>>
>
> I heard that some liberal media outlets were saying that this was a ploy
> by Obama to meet with General Stanley McChrystal. However I also heard
> that the General was in London before that. Couldn't Obama have just gone
> to London to meet with him? Why screw up the Olympics for America?
isn't it just possible that the olympic comittee thought that it was time,
after all these years to have the games in South America? What do you mean
"screw up the olympics for america" can you explian?
Wes
>isn't it just possible that the olympic comittee thought that it was time,
>after all these years to have the games in South America? What do you mean
>"screw up the olympics for america" can you explian?
We have held the summer and winter games three times each since 1896. I don't think it is
our turn again yet. We last held the summer olympics in 1996 and the winter olympics in
2002.
Chicago is the last city in the USA that I would ever want to host the games.
I hope Brazil does a fine job of hosting the games.
Wes
Curly Surmudgeon
> Why screw up the Olympics for America?
When did that happen?
--
Regards, Curly
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Beats the Rose Parade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVjBdnyiy-M
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Compact Adolescent
"Bill Noble" <nob...@nowhere.invalid> wrote in message
news:ha8jbp$1ft$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
Sure. He went to Copenhagen with his wife, Oprah, and a plane full of
delegates (little or no white folk on the plane BTW) to try to help sell the
idea of having the Olympics in Chicago. His wife makes some bithering speech
about what a great sacrifice it was for her to come over there, dropping
everything to do it.
The Europeans took one look at these imposters and decided that there was no
way in hell that the Olympics would be played in the U.S. Does that clear
it up for you, or are you going to have a snappy comeback like "Rio" is in
America too. That's what that goof from Argentina would say.
Compact Adolescent
"Winston_Smith" <not_...@bogus.net> wrote in message
news:lqcgc59u1rlpri9d7...@4ax.com...
> "Compact Adolescent" <not...@bright.duh> wrote:
>
>>Sure. He went to Copenhagen with his wife, Oprah, and a plane full of
>>delegates (little or no white folk on the plane BTW) to try to help sell
>>the
>>idea of having the Olympics in Chicago. His wife makes some bithering
>>speech
>>about what a great sacrifice it was for her to come over there, dropping
>>everything to do it.
>
> Apparently she doesn't know the meaning of the word "sacrifice".
>
> Then again Obama said the "US was ready and eager to assume the
> 'sacred trust' of hosting the 2016 Olympics"
>
> "Sacred trust"? Making money for the IOC and the networks is sacred?
> What is the guy smoking? I don't think Mr. O understands the meaning
> of "sacred".
>
> These two are starting to sound as dumb as Bush and his mashing of the
> language. Oh, well, he's kept the mega-bailout financial plan, the
> war forever plan, and the torture and deny plan, so why not the speech
> patterns. Bush and O'Bush, two birds from the same flock.
Loony lib alert! Been sniffing your socks again? Stop that :-)
Strabo
>
> "Phil Amint" <ap...@bulb.cfl> wrote in message
> news:ha8h0g$fmh$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
>>
>>>
>>
>> I heard that some liberal media outlets were saying that this was a
>> ploy by Obama to meet with General Stanley McChrystal. However I also
>> heard that the General was in London before that. Couldn't Obama have
>> just gone to London to meet with him? Why screw up the Olympics for
>> America?
>
> isn't it just possible that the olympic comittee thought that it was
> time, after all these years to have the games in South America?
>
Some probably did. However, the choice of where to hold the Olympics
is supposed to be based on criteria other than pity.
>
> What do
> you mean "screw up the olympics for america" can you explian?
>
1. It's inappropriate for the president of the US to beg for the
Olympics.
2. It's even more inappropriate for the president to act as
public relations and sales for a US city.
3. Chicago was an extremely poor choice.
4. Obama's timing could not have been worse.
The association of the White House and the US with Obama's ties to ACORN
and Chicago crime and corruption, paint a negative image of the US.
This may effect future consideration for holding the Olympics in the
US.
Compact Adolescent
"Strabo" <str...@flashlight.net> wrote in message
news:_c_xm.15288$ma7....@newsfe04.iad...
Obama loaded up a plane of delegates that included Mayor Daley as perhaps
the only white person on the plane, and sent them to Europe to preach about
diversity. In racist Europe, the committee got freaked out as the delegation
deplaned onto Euro soil, and moved quickly to rid themselves of this motley
crew. Europe's diversity experience had only dealt with choosing light beer,
or dark beer. Red wine or white. Wheat bread or rye. It took a polling of
only 18 votes to throw the Chicago mob out of Europe on their asses. AND
DON'T COME BACK!!!!
Curly Surmudgeon
> Bill Noble wrote:
>>
>> "Phil Amint" <ap...@bulb.cfl> wrote in message
>> news:ha8h0g$fmh$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>> I heard that some liberal media outlets were saying that this was a
>>> ploy by Obama to meet with General Stanley McChrystal. However I also
>>> heard that the General was in London before that. Couldn't Obama have
>>> just gone to London to meet with him? Why screw up the Olympics for
>>> America?
>>
>> isn't it just possible that the olympic comittee thought that it was
>> time, after all these years to have the games in South America?
> >
> >
> Some probably did. However, the choice of where to hold the Olympics is
> supposed to be based on criteria other than pity.
>
>
>
> > What do
>> you mean "screw up the olympics for america" can you explian?
> >
> >
> 1. It's inappropriate for the president of the US to beg for the
> Olympics.
It is inappropriate for a U.S. President to beg period. Who did?
> 2. It's even more inappropriate for the president to act as
> public relations and sales for a US city.
Nonsense, that is the job of an executive.
> 3. Chicago was an extremely poor choice.
Why? It has infrastructure, labor and lodging.
> 4. Obama's timing could not have been worse.
Yes, it was too late to speak on the very day the decision was to be
announced. Being there was a good excuse to meet with the military
commander from Afghanistan however.
> The association of the White House and the US with Obama's ties to ACORN
> and Chicago crime and corruption, paint a negative image of the US.
Nonsense. Acorn is a trivial blip that opponents are trying to connect
to Obama. Without much success given the entrapment used by Fox.
> This may effect future consideration for holding the Olympics in the US.
You're grasping.