A Misplaced Priority

by Charles Lemos, Mon Sep 28, 2009 at 10:12:08 AM EDT

The White House has announced that the President will travel to Copenhagen on Thursday in an effort to save Chicago's sagging bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. It is a misuse of the President's time and reflects misplaced priorities.

From the Washington Post:

President Barack Obama, who initially planned to let First Lady Michelle Obama represent the United States in Copenhagen this week, when the International Olympic Committee chooses a site for the 2016 summer games, plans to travel there too. The first couple will appear together at the venue-choosing summit, where Chicago will compete with three other cities for the '16 games.
The White House, which earlier had announced that an advance team was headed to Copenhagen to prepare for a possible presidential trip to Copenhagen, confirmed this morning that Obama will travel Thursday night. The IOC meets Friday.
A senior administration official told the Tribune Washington Bureau this morning that Obama will travel to Copenhagen Thursday night, and return following the Friday meeting. The first lady plans to travel Tuesday, and meet with individual members of the IOC on Wednesday and Thursday to make Chicago's case for the games. The president will join her at the full committee meeting on Friday.
"President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will both make presentations to the IOC during Friday's session,'' the White House press secretary said later this morning, in formally announcing the trip. "They will discuss why Chicago is best to host the 2016 Summer Games, and how the United States is eager to bring the world together to celebrate the ideals of the Olympic movement.''
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs voiced confidence in Chicago's bid for the games this afternoon.
"Obviously the president has mentioned this at meetings when we were at the U.N. and G-20,'' Gibbs said, asked about Obama's own "behind the scenes'' lobbying for the games. "He's going to continue to talk to people, in an effort to bring the 2016 games...
"Having spent some time in Chicago, it is a perfect place to hold the Olympics,'' Gibbs said. "It offers a great place for the world to see... I think, far and away, it's the strongest bid of the four.''

Chicago is competing with Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Both Madrid and Tokyo have agreed to support Rio de Janeiro's bid once those cities are eliminated from the voting. South America is fairly adamant about this. They want the Olympics Games in Brazil because South America has never hosted the Games and Latin America has hosted the Games only once in 1968. Since then the United States has hosted the Games twice, most recently in Atlanta in 1996. While the United States has hosted the Games four times, no other country has ever hosted the Games more than twice so far though London will host the Games for the third time in 2012.

Brazil views these Games as their coming of age and Rio is hoping to use these Games as Barcelona did in 1992 to remake its urban core. But beyond all this with Afghanistan, the ongoing healthcare debate and an unemployment rate set to hit 9.8 percent on Friday, a Presidential trip to Copenhagen in a last-minute attempt to save Chicago's bid is a waste of the President's time. I'd rather he go to Detroit and work with Mayor Bing on saving Detroit.

Tags: Chicago Olympic Bid, IOC, President Barack Obama (all tags)

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

Oh, C'mon! He's leaving Thursday night and returning Friday? I doubt that will torpedo any of his major initiatives. :-)

by LanceS 2009-09-28 10:28AM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

Unemployment will hit a 26 year high on Friday and he'll be out of the country for that.

by Charles Lemos 2009-09-28 10:37AM | 0 recs

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He'll be out of the country

trying to get investment that creates jobs to come to the United States. He's not going on a pleasure cruise in the Adriatic Sea.

But rereading your diary, I sense that you think Brazil should have the games and not the US and that the President is just wasting his time going there to fight for a lost cause. I can understand that because I do believe Brazil would benefit more from hosting them than we would.

Anyway Lula da Silva is going, as is Hatoyama. Perhaps upon hearing the other world leaders were going to Copenhagen, Obama felt obliged to go.

by DTOzone 2009-09-28 07:22PM | 0 recs

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I had the same thoughts...

except for the bit about trying to save Detroit... one should set realistic goals.

by Ravi Verma 2009-09-28 10:31AM | 0 recs

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Re: I had the same thoughts...

Shrinking Detroit (and Flint) is the answer. The one positive is that Copenhagen is a great city but the President is going there in December anyway.

Detroit 2032 sounds like a plan. That's an effort I could stand behind.

by Charles Lemos 2009-09-28 10:36AM | 0 recs

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Re: I had the same thoughts...

Hey, thanks for the cheap shot, asshole.

by Steve M 2009-09-28 11:12AM | 0 recs

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Re: Apologies...

It seemed like a wisecrack at the time, but I guess it was a cheapshot!

by Ravi Verma 2009-09-28 12:25PM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

I think it should go to Rio. It would be a nice cap to their development.

by bruh3 2009-09-28 10:32AM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

Obama has to go. All the other world leaders are showing up. If he doesn't go and Chicago came up short, everyone will blame him. Sorry, but that's the hard reality. Also, I think you're being too negative by saying it's already a foregone conclusion that Rio will win. Well, you never say never. he first rule of winning is to show up.

As for the positives, hosting the games in the US will surely be an economic boost to Chicago and the USA. If Obama wins a second term, wouldn't it be nice for his legacy to leave with something positive like the Olympics attached to his administration? It would also be a big plus to the Democratic nominee in 2016.

by richochet 2009-09-28 11:08AM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

It's really not that serious. As already stated, he'll leave Thursday, and return Friday. In the mean time, he'll have the phone, internet, and probably communication options that we have only heard of in science fiction books. The only reason to object to him giving support to his home city and country is because they are looking for reason to criticize him.

by onlinesavant 2009-09-28 11:18AM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

Who can't agree. Obama will lose this bid and he will get his comeupance at the same time by default. Does he know what he is risking? He is America's face right now and with the unemployment we are experiencing, who needs another loss.

FDR was a great politician, but he never openly walked into comedown. It would have been more subtle and perhaps more effective of him to say a few words, and then back off.

by MainStreet 2009-09-28 11:20AM | 0 recs

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I am sure that Obama feels

that if he doesn't go and Chicago doesn't get it that he will ALWAYS regret that he didn't go and pitch for Chicago and the United States as all the other Presidents of the 4 countries in the running did.

I am sure that he is aware that Chicago may not get it but his view that he doesn't want that regret.

Unemployment isn't going to change any time soon whether Obama is in the country or not. By pitching for the Olympic games for the United States, essentially Obama is pitching for investment and jobs.

by puma 2009-09-28 11:57AM | 0 recs

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Re: I am sure that Obama feels

It's the loss of Chicago that is at risk here. It will put Obama on a low baseline with respect to the winning country, but more than not, it suggests, as Lemos emphasized, that his priorities will be seen as askewed. He needs to be working to help those families hit by joblessness, perhaps losing their homes, by developing programs to get them back to work.

He is now appearing to be little more than a Reagan who denied that homelessness was occurring as a consequence of his own recession. Democrats can't afford to pretend that the reality is not what it is.

by MainStreet 2009-09-28 12:06PM | 0 recs

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Obama was on vacation the

last time the unemployment figures came out and nobody got on his case because he was on vacation on that day.

I don't think that Americans are going to hold it against Obama for going to the Olympic board to pitch on behalf of the United States.

The expectations are that 180,000 jobs were lost in September which is the LOWEST loss in more than a year. Job loss is slowing.

It isn't out of touch pitching for the Olympics for your native country that will bring investment and jobs to our country.

by puma 2009-09-28 12:24PM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

lucky we all don't pay taxes....

by lori 2009-09-28 11:40AM | 0 recs

4a2fab88-ed3b-47a4-8f14-3ec8a24504ac_normal

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

Rio has a much better shot at getting this, looks like; but Obama, you'd think, has to know Chitown could get it, otherwise this is foolish.

by Jerome Armstrong 2009-09-28 11:40AM | 0 recs

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Perhaps it was leaked that if Obama

went to Copenhagen that Chicago would get it.

Who knows.

by puma 2009-09-28 11:53AM | 0 recs

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Re: Perhaps it was leaked that if Obama

Besides its a fur's piece to call from the white house to Germany , phone lines are really hard to come by.......

Why Germany is just a hoot 'n holler from here if you gallivant , it makes more sense...

by lori 2009-09-28 12:07PM | 0 recs

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Re: Perhaps it was leaked that if Obama

or Copenhagen , wherever he is going...

Who watches the olympics anyway..

by lori 2009-09-28 12:10PM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

The greater concern is appearance of being out of touch. If a bad unemployment number comes out, being abroad at the wrong time could really
wreck his approval ratings.

He's risking being like Bush 41 on this. Even if Chicago wins, Obama could lose in 2012.

by esconded 2009-09-28 11:57AM | 0 recs

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Are you serious?

Flying to pitch for the Olympics for the United States which will bring jobs and investment not only in 2016 but the years before is NOT going to wreck his approval rating at all.

The last unemployment info came out when Obama was on VACATION. Vice President Biden went in and spoke about unemployment. He could do that again.

Americans will see that Obama is going on behalf of the U.S.A.

by puma 2009-09-28 12:03PM | 0 recs

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Criticizing Obama

for being out of the country trying to bring job-creating investment to the United States at a time when the unemployment picture looks bad sounds like something that would be coming out of Glenn Beck's mouth.

by DTOzone 2009-09-28 07:14PM | 0 recs

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Are you going to ding Obama for golfing

on Sundays too?

Isn't that too a "misplaced" priority?

I disagree with you. Since Obama is the President of the United States and ALL the other presidents of the countries are going, I don't see it is a big deal for Obama to go for one day.

Besides he could swing over to Afghanistan the next day to visit with commanders.

Obama doesn't have to spend every single minute of his day focusing on health care, the economy, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran.

by puma 2009-09-28 11:49AM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

What are you doing to save the world this weekend?

I thought so.

by QTG 2009-09-28 11:59AM | 0 recs

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Re: What a clever question.

Perhaps we should also make it illegal for anyone without specific plans to save the world this weekend to have any opinions on Pres. Obama's priorities?

I think so.

by Ravi Verma 2009-09-28 12:24PM | 0 recs

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Re: What a clever question.

I hope he doesn't waste precious time taking more than 3 dumps a week. The lazy SOB.

by QTG 2009-09-28 05:03PM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

I would actually prefer to see the Olympics in Rio. But I understand why Obama needs to push for them in Chicago.

But I have to say, it's pretty surreal to read here that people think Obama can't afford to been seen working on anything other than fixing the economy. I didn't really buy that argument when it was advanced by Eric Cantor or John Boehner; I don't really buy it here either.

by fsm 2009-09-28 12:58PM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

Why does everyone think the Olympics will go to Rio? Rio hosted the Pan-American games in 2007 and they were pretty much a disaster for the city as nothing the city promised was finished. Rio will probably be promised a later games in 2020 or 2024.

Besides, the TV contract is up after 2012, and you can bet NBC/GE or Disney will not offer top dollar for rights to the games if they will not occur in prime time in the United States. Sure Rio is only an hour ahead of New York, but it is 4 hours ahead of Los Angeles. Chicago is right in the middle of the continent. The rights for 2016 also include the 2014 rights for Sochi, Russia, which means all tape delays and lower ratings. Money talks, and it points to Chicago.

by ctman1638 2009-09-28 05:20PM | 0 recs

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I disagree here

the Olympics are (usually) big economic booms for whatever city/country hosts them. Of course there are examples of it going the other way, Montreal is one.

If the Olympics are awarded to Chicago, the entire Chicago region probably will see a boost to it's economy, however small, it's important.

It worked for Salt Lake City.

I don't see it as a misplaced priority...perhaps just something he himself doesn't need to do...but being out of town when bad unemployment numbers come in is only a big deal if he's doing something that can't be at the very least spun to solve the problem...trying to bring the Olympics to the United States can help that problem.

by DTOzone 2009-09-28 05:42PM | 0 recs

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Stuff like this should be left to Mayor Daley

Events like the Olympics obviously bring some stimulus, but the $$$ involved are relatively small in terms of the overall economy. Figuratively, it's a pimple on an elephant's ass.

The President should be thinking big; things like this are taking him into the weeds. He's becoming very ubiquitous, and it's diminishing his Presidency.

by BJJ Fighter 2009-09-28 06:37PM | 0 recs

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He's from Chicago

he's not going to bid for Olathe, Kansas, he's going to bid for his hometown, where he himself came from and rose to power in.

This IS big, entire cities have been reborn from hosting the Olympics...and if he didn't go and Chicago lost, his critics would be saying "Gee, ya think he would've taken a few hours to go to Copenhagen and make the case to bring billions in investments and jobs to his hometown." In Athens, the Olympics ushered in an era of improvements to the transportation system in the city; new airport, expanded public transportation systems. In Barcelona, the Olympics put that city on the map and it became the fourt most visited city in Europe in the years after, billions in tourist money rolled in and the Olympic Village revitalized a once rundown neighborhood. It's totally worth the less than 24 hour trip to Copenhagen to make a plea for it. That said, I think it's going to Rio in the end, but still.

I always find it funny to see people complain he's too all ove the place. He's either not leading enough or he's leading too much. Never satisfied, some people.

by DTOzone 2009-09-28 07:04PM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

Just another example of American greed and aggression.

by Izzie Nutz 2009-09-28 10:40PM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

by Jess81 2009-09-29 08:06AM | 0 recs

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I'm thinking,

the word had to be leaked in advance. Staff wouldn't let him walk into the room if Chicago wasn't going to be awarded.

The world wouldn't want to embarrass the President either because it would be seen as a "Panama Canal moment" which would undermine his ability to be elected. Failure to be re-elected would mean that the US would get a president that makes W. seem sane. International types would be aghast at the prospect.

You put those two things together and I think the fix is probably in for Chicago.

by AZphilosopher 2009-09-28 11:57PM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

It is 18 freaking hours of an 8 year presidency(hopefully) for christ sake. You are as bad as Fox news who criticized him for going on a date with his wife.

Unemployment will be as bad on Thursday and Saturday. It's not like he is reading my pet goat while the country is being attacked.

This is the most ridiculous attack since "date gate" with Michelle in New York.

by alectimmerman 2009-09-29 09:40AM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority - Not the first time

Bank bailouts to protect Goldman, Citi & JP Morgan.

Health care reform to deliver Aetna Cigna and the other blood suckering health insurers a windfall.

Senate committee chairmanships to protect Leiberman.

FISA reform to protect the telcoms.

Torture investigation to protect the torturers.

Now, Barry is the super-mayor of Chicago or is it super-Governor of Illinois. It's way too parochial; way too pork barrell and beneath the dignity of the office. Send Billary, Biden or the Secretary of Commerce.

What's next, will he soon be lobbying for World Bank to hold it's next meeting in Chitown? How about an ABA mtg or a Shriners convention?

Sherrod Brown, please announce that you will primary this guy in '02! Please! Please!

by martinlomasney 2009-09-29 10:05AM | 0 recs

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Re: A Misplaced Priority

I seriously would only expect an attack this moronic from Fox News. "The president stopped to take a crap. He missed ten minutes he could have been working on health care!"

go after him for abandoning single payer and not supporting the public option enough, but come on. You morons sound like Hannity with this trivial attack.

by alectimmerman 2009-09-29 04:19PM | 0 recs