Disappointed White House Struggles to Explain Chicago’s Defeat
With the stunning news that Olympic officials had swiftly rejected Chicago as host the 2016 Olympics, despite a personal, last-minute appeal from President Obama, the White House was left Friday with the immediate and difficult challenge of explaining what happened.
Did the president falter by making remarks that were emotional and personal, rather than giving specifics about his adopted home town? Is the defeat a sign that Obama’s global popularity has begun to wane?
White House advisers — many of them Chicago natives, with a personal stake in the bid — rushed into the back recesses of the West Wing to digest the outcome, and then emerged, looking glum, to comment.
“Obviously, it was disappointing,” senior adviser David Axelrod said on CNN from the North Lawn of the White House. “We wanted Chicago to get this. We wanted the U.S. to host the Olympics. The president made a very strong appeal, and it didn’t work out, but it was well worth the effort.”
What’s so embarrassing is that MSM sent news teams to Chicago to cover the President’s great victory only to discover that what Katie Couric termed the “Dream Team” (Barack, Michelle and Oprah) had turned into a nightmare.
Hat tip: Washington Post.
[1]
Since you asked, here are some reasons. Feel free to add:
1) Sacrificing eastern Europe’s defense– a beating heart of Olympic success stories.
2) Repeatedly insulting Britain– there goes most of the commonwealth.
3) Naive and childish speeches at the UN about how the world must be free of nuclear weapons– there goes everyone smart enough to realize they are free because of nuclear weapons
4) Actively undercutting tiny isolated democracies like Israel and Honduras– not a good move for the democracy-loving people– whoever is left.
5) Constant undercutting of America– coming back to haunt him.
[2]
Here is how it will be spun: George W. Bush has made the United States so unpopular in the world that it undermined Chicago’s efforts to host the Olympics. Even the Great Zero could not undo the damage done by Bush in time to save the 2016 Olympics for Chicago.
After all, we all really know it’s George Bush’s fault. Don’t we?
[3]
Whatever the MSM spins, Barak will own this defeat because, by him personally going there, he was trying to own it if the Olympic committee had chosen Chicago over Rio!
[4]
I give ya another one, aureliusx, Michelle Obama’s “sacrifice” remark.
Copenhagen is one of Europe’s JEWELS…considered one of the top 3 cities in all of Europe…and generally within the top 10 most beautiful in the world, and In 2008 it was singled out as the Most Liveable City in the World!!
So having Michelle show up and call it a “sacrifice” to be there, is like inviting someone over to dinner and having them say: “I’ll eat this slop if I MUST!” gee…thanks.
The Europeans realize this putz of a Prez has no use for ANYTHING other than himself. Now Michelle and Barry can go back to “sacrificing” at the White House.
[5]
The eurosocialists lived through one neville chamberlain, they don’t want another. Living in countries full of stuffed shirts, they have no trouble recognizing one.
[6]
Well, maybe something good will come of this.
Perhaps Obama will start to come back down to Earth. He’s not superman. Maybe he’ll realize the there are people in the world that just plain don’t like us.
It wasn’t Bush, it’s an underlying contempt and hatred for a country that the world is jealous of.
[7]
I just looked at Drudge. Sarah Palin’s book is selling at a record pace (becoming #1 best seller before a jacket design was even approved) while Obama suffers a major defeat and David Letterman is involved in an embarrassing scandal.
This shows there is a God. Three different people, each getting exactly what he/she deserves.
[8]
arrrrrrrrrrrrgh!
I just watched David Axelrod explain Obama’s Copenhagen trip like this:
“This trip wasn’t just to lobby the IOC, it also gave the President a chance to talk with General McChrystl”
HOW? (I hear you ask)
Because the General was in London…and Obama was in Copenhagen. They didn’t MEET, mind you…but since they were closer geographically it apparently made the phone conncetion better!
I am NOT making this up! THAT is the White House spin…he went to Copenhagen to focus on Afghanistan!
[9]
Why do we fall for these obvious ploys all the time by the left?
Look, they knew this trip would attract negative attention as would the failure to get the games and it would dominate the news.
Guess what we arent talking about? The Bacus HC takeover that was finished at 2AM last nite!!!
The country wont be ruined by the addtion of loss of the olympics but it sure will by the Democratic health care takeover.
We should be picking apart the aweful HC takeover bill and calling Congress in outrage – we arent…..
we got suckered again – sad
Why can’t we be the adults and focus on what matters?
[10]
here’s another cluestick for you, Barry.
The “international community” loved you, yes.
Why? For your winning smile?
No, because they knew you would weaken the remaining superpower. And they were happy to see you elected and launch your programs.
Do they now love America? No.
Are they satisfied with how much America has been weakened? No.
Do they give a rat’s ass about Michelle and the kids? No.
If you allowed Russia to annex Alaska and ceded Texas to Mexico, how long would they cheer you before coming back for more?
For an answer, consider how long France supported the US after we sacrificed hundreds of thousands of Americans to save their surrendering asses in WWII.
hmm… maybe 36 hours, tops. There’s your answer.
You can’t satisfy them. You can’t make them like you or America. And nobody gives a damn about your life story.
They like you as long as you weaken us. So there are your marching orders.
[11]
Coyote
Why can’t we do both —-> keep our eye on HC while still rejoicing in Rio getting the Olympics?!
[12]
Besides, there is bleed-over from Obama’s folly in Copenhagen, in that he has lost more political capital — capital that can’t be spent on getting HC through, don’t you think!
[13]
The baffling piece for me is why the WH has to explain anything? Had O not gone would have been better of course. But the fact is the US has consistently had a bid in for games over the years. We win some we lose some.
The fact that Axelrod felt compelled to provide an answer is a damn high form of both self interest and hubris.
“Nor is it the fish we get that counts. We could buy them in the market for mere silver at one percent of the cost. It is the chance to wash one’s soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of the sun on blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and egos, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you do not have to decide a darned thing until next week. And it is discipline in the equality of men-for all men are equal before fish. [...]” ~Herbert Hoover
Sadly O will miss the contemplative aspect of this event, but we can now add the IOC as a humbler to the list.
[14]
‘I just looked at Drudge. Sarah Palin’s book is selling at a record pace (becoming #1 best seller before a jacket design was even approved) while Obama suffers a major defeat and David Letterman is involved in an embarrassing scandal…’ -bc
It has been a good week, and an even better Friday.
[15]
“I am NOT making this up! THAT is the White House spin…he went to Copenhagen to focus on Afghanistan!”
—-
OMFG that’s pathetic on their part.
[16]
‘You can’t make them like you or America.’
The marxist is nothing like America, or at least not the one I know.
[17]
What’s more pathetic is the NYT is running with the spin.
[18]
We shall call this week: Blame it on Rio (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086973/)
[19]
KH, agreed. Though Demi Moore looks a lot better than SheWhoHasBigButt.
[20]
Coyote
Why can’t we do both —-> keep our eye on HC while still rejoicing in Rio getting the Olympics?!
Flare drops distract.
[21]
We didn’t get picked because of Bush was a racist.
Since we live in a busy world these days, I thought combine the 2 excuses.
[22]
The only things this proves is that
1 Sarah Palin is not fit for higher office in America
2 The IOC is racist and acted stupidly.
3. Bush has destroyed our image in the world so badly, not even the Holy One can repair it.
4. Add the economy into that category while you’re at it, too. The only reason we keep losing jobs is because Bush cut taxes and fought a war, and racism…