An Olympic Size Loss For Obama
October 3, 2009 · carl · Print This Article
The reasons behind Chicago’s first-round knockout in the vote for the 2016 Olympic Games will be debated for some time, but one thing is clear — the swift defeat was a political blow for President Barack Obama and Mayor Richard Daley.
The two Democratic powerhouses staked personal as well as political capital on their hometown bid, only to see Chicago lose on the first ballot against Tokyo, Madrid and eventual winner Rio de Janeiro.
So quick was the rejection that Daley was not at the meeting center for the first round of voting. He was en route to the Bella Center, where the IOC meeting was held, when he heard Chicago had been bumped. They mayor had the driver turn the car around and went instead to a supporters party at a Copenhagen nightclub.
Obama, who had originally placed a priority on passage of health care reform over a trip to Copenhagen, was in the air returning to the United States when the vote was announced.
It was a worst-case scenario for the president, who was already facing criticism for getting involved in the effort even before the decision was made. Obama has found his public support slumping amid the controversial efforts to reform the health care system, the national recession and the war in Afghanistan.
Nationally, Republicans had been using Obama’s choice to quickly fly to Copenhagen as an effort to help his “Chicago Fat Cat Friends.” The GOP pointed out that the September unemployment for the country had risen to 9.8 percent while the president was trying to bring jobs to Chicago “seven years from now.”
President Obama, upon returning to the White House, met briefly with reporters to discuss the failed Olympic bid, congratulating Brazil and thanking the “thousands of Chicagoans” who worked to put together the city’s plan.
“I have no doubt that it was the strongest bid possible,” he said. “I was proud that I was able to come in and make the case in person. I believe it’s always a worthwhile endeavor to promote and boost the United States of America.”
He said the U.S. “obviously” would have been eager to host the Games, but the country’s athletes are “still very much excited” to compete in 2016. He also said he is very committed to the Olympic spirit, which he said represents the best of humanity.
Obama then shifted gears…Read the rest of this entry
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