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Obama's Olympic Disaster
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President Obama says he's glad he went to Copenhagen to make a bid for the Olympics, but conservatives say the high-profile failure has exposed the limits of Obama's popularity abroad, Politico reports. Some conservatives are even celebrating Chicago's loss. Below, Richard Wolffe on what went wrong.
Barack Obama is a sports nut. He watched ESPN for relaxation through the course of the long campaign, and wrote his 2004 convention speech while watching a game of basketball on TV.
But how much of a nut do you have to be to spend your political capital on trying to win the votes of a closed international organization with a history of bribery, where some 106 votes are spread among minor royals, aging sports stars and political hacks?
“Barack and I have looked at this—this is like a campaign. Just like Iowa,” the first lady said.
Ahead of President Obama’s trip to Copenhagen, the president and first lady seemed to regard the International Olympic Committee as a little like an Iowa caucus. "Barack and I have looked at this—this is like a campaign. Just like Iowa," the first lady said. “The international community may not understand that, but Iowa is like a caucus, and you can't take any vote for granted. Nobody makes the decision until they're sitting there.”
Because Obama had been such an expert at winning over a room of voters in Des Moines, surely the Danish capital would follow suit.
It did not work out that way. Chicago’s failure to clear the first round of voting in Copenhagen points to a fundamental misunderstanding of Iowa and the IOC. It took Obama almost a year of solid campaigning to understand Iowans, reach his swing voters, and win them over. A couple of hours of speech-making and schmoozing is not in the same universe as his efforts at caucus-building.
Besides, the IOC has been in campaign mode for several years; the schmoozing and fact-finding trips began long ago. If candidate Obama had landed in Des Moines in December 2007, he would have failed there, too—no matter how great a speech he might have given. The president could win more votes inside a loya jirga in Kabul than he did inside the IOC.
The fact that Madrid made it to the final round of voting tells its own story. No offense to my Spanish friends, but it’s no coincidence that Madrid is the favored city of Juan Antonio Samaranch, who ruled the IOC as its dominant president for 21 years until 2001, and whose son sits on the IOC committee.
The White House says the president should be given credit for trying to achieve something for his country. That is true. He approached the effort in good faith and gave it his best shot, with his wife working hard by his side. They argued that the Games meant a lot to them personally, to Chicago, and to America’s place in the world. The only problem was that every other leader made the same argument about their own candidate city and country.
Obama’s best shot was too little, too late, in an unpredictable situation with far too much downside. Expectations were so high back home that victory was an assumption. The rejection hits not just the Obamas’ hometown. It shows the limits of the president’s personal charm on an international stage—even if that stage is narrow and unrepresentative.
Now, at a critical point of the health-care debate, the president will be lampooned by conservatives for pursuing a parochial interest half way across the world—and coming up short. If the IOC can reject his pressure, what risk is there for them to do the same? Speaking to ABC’s Jake Tapper, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel—one of the diehard Chicago contingent at the heart of power inside the West Wing—warned his political opponents to back off.
“They shouldn’t try to make politics of this,” he said. “I think they should take some pride in the U.S.’s win, and you know we’ll make sure they get some good seats once Chicago does host the Games.” Good advice—for Brazil.
Richard Wolffe is a Daily Beast columnist and an award-winning journalist, and senior strategist at Public Strategies. He covered the entire length of Barack Obama's presidential campaign for Newsweek. His book, Renegade: The Making of a President, was published by Crown in June.
For inquiries, please contact The Daily Beast at editorial@thedailybeast.com.
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artois
IOC obviously a lot smarter than the American public!
bbc-ranger
It has little to do with politics and all to do with the more fascinating destination for the Games. Genuine followers of the Game would have long predicted the eventually winners. He was only trying to grind out few more vote, but in reality, the games were never meant for Chicago at this time.
Lets worry about our long fucked up economy and rising unemployment figure than this piece of Bullcrap that was never meant for us anyway. The Guy came into office at the must catastrophic imaginable time. I'm still surprise we are not in absolute economic turmoil.
reardongalt
bbc-ranger, this is a HUGE loss for Obama The Magnificent. It's a testimonial to the bull crap that the Left has been operating under, that if we just kiss every foreign ass we can get our hands on that somehow the whole world will love us. Obama thought he was going to go to Copen-hay-gen wiht Oprah and they were going to say, "Oh Wow Oprah, yeah you guys can have the Olympics." It just goes to show how clueless they really are.
Hell, it didn't even help to pronounce it Copen-hog-en. LMAO! Can you picture it? Obama, Michelle, and Oprah get off the plane, and say, "Why yes, it's so lovely to be here in Copen-hog-en, we're here to take the Olympics back to Chicago." And the head of the IOC says, "Hmm, I don't know Mr. Obama, didn't somebody just get beat to death with a 2x4 there? What if we win the Pole Vault? I don't want anyone to end up swimming with the fishes with a pair of concrete galoshes on just because they break a world record or something. Maybe we might want to think that one over."
PacificNWMark
Actually, Reardon, what's lost here is any remaining doubt of the motives of those like you on the right, who would cheer the loss of an opportunity like hosting the Olympics simply because Obama supported it. The bid that Chicago lost today would have meant thousands of jobs, and the opportunity to spotlight a great American city. And at this misfortune, you are 'LMAO' . Indeed.
You are pathetic, and - there's really no other word for it - anti-American. You make me sick.
reardongalt
If you can tell me how Chicago miraculously showed up on the list of possibles (what a coincidence!), I'll give the rest of your argument some kind of credence.
JohnnyA
Reardon, Chicago was on the list the last 2 times. Since this happens regularly, it cannot be either miraculous or a coincidence.
I congratulate Rio on there good fortune.
I congratulate you for cheering an American defeat.
reardongalt
"I congratulate you for cheering an American defeat."
Johnny, for the last 8 years we've had to listen to Democrats say the most vile things about Bush and the American Soldier. We weren't talking about track and field when Dick Durbin said this about Gitmo:
"If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have happened by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others - that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners."
You want to talk about "disgusting". Pol Pot? The Soviet Gulags? The Nazis?
You have got to be kidding me.
roger37
Reardong, we all know that you're a liberal that just gets his jollies provoking argument, so just shut up, OK?
Ignore him, folks. He's just a little man that sits in his Mom's basement and writes stupid things for his own amusement.
Reardong is a phony. Reardong is a phony. Reardong is a phony.
cesspool
Just a prelude to the 2010 elections here
velvetsmog
I thought you Republicans hated foreigners.
trueconserv
velvetsmog - we only hate socialists who want to reframe our constitution, embrace the Cuban leader and apolgizes to everyone. No wonder we lost, Obama didn't do us any favors.
Poetcourt
You're giving right-wing hypocrites WAY too much credit for sound solid, politics. They hate whomever they disagree with/dislike at the time those opinions are rarely based in intellect i.e. xenophobis, racism, misogyny, sexism, i can go on all day.
HiredGoons
but you love fascists who want to reframe the constitution, right?
case1234
Once again, can't any of you give Brazil credit for winning??? The first nation in South America. This was not all about Obama as the media would have it.
jpelhamtn
...yes, particularly smarter than the left wing American news media who delivered us this disgrace of an Administration. All talk-no action. All style-no substance. All hubris-no patriotism.
AlanD2
jpelhamtn: And conservatives who talk of succession or of the military coup are patriotic?
From John L. Perry's September 29 [2009] Newsmax column:
"There is a remote, although gaining, possibility America's military will intervene as a last resort to resolve the "Obama problem." Don't dismiss it as unrealistic.
"America isn't the Third World. If a military coup does occur here it will be civilized. That it has never happened doesn't mean it wont. Describing what may be afoot is not to advocate it.
"Military intervention is what Obama's exponentially accelerating agenda for "fundamental change" toward a Marxist state is inviting upon America. A coup is not an ideal option, but Obama's radical ideal is not acceptable or reversible."
HiredGoons
I have patriotism within reason, but I believe what you're referring to is atavistic jingoism. Just to clarify.
aackc1
"It shows the limits of the president's personal charm on an international stage-even if that stage is narrow and unrepresentative."
Don't worry that charm is wearing off in the states also...
I can't blame them for trying, it would have been nice to have the Olympics return the US. I am sure Bushie would have done the same for Houston.
HiredGoons
I don't think the Olympic committee speaks redneck.
XmenII
the writer is an idiiot.. Damned if he does Damned if he doesn't ... America is its own worst enemy..Obama should quit this lousy job and move to Copenhagen... Health Care and very few idiots...
HiredGoons
mmm... modernist design...
Natural-Selection
So, when does the jackassery, hypocracy and insider trading end and the administration begin? Can we start fixing crap back home and stop being the end all be all for the country and world?
birdygirl
Yeah, this is so much more embarrassing than starting an unnecessary war, killing 4,000 American soldiers--more people died in the WTC!--and slaughtering tens of thousands of civilians. Let's get real here--Bush was disaster, but Obama gets blamed no matter what he does. Where were all the critics then???
Smitty1981
Glad to see the liberal wackjobs aren't commenting in here....oh wait.
clearthinker
Selective memory on your part. Bush got killed by the press and protesting Americans way more than Obama.
Atlantajan
"Disaster????" Oh, for God's sake. This site blows.
The headline on the front page says "Obama's pitch...backfired" and refers to this piece about how Obama "blew it."
That is ridiculous and is predicated on an assumption that Chicago would have done better without Obama's support. That is what "backfired" means. That, frankly, is rank bullshit.
The reason Chicago lost is because Chicago is in the United States, and IOC members, like everyone else, read the news and worry about American antipathy toward foreigners, not to mention absurd travel restrictions on people for no reason other than name or race.
That, not Obama, is why Chicago lost.
This appears to be just another in a long line of attempts by this awful site to pander to the right. It's subtle, but those of us who understand the language get it.
unsuiatlarge
I'm like you. The headline, the article, jeezus the whole premise: complete and utter bullshit.
bristolcities
You nailed it, Atl. It might have been nice if the US got the Olympics again, and maybe Chicago would have got a few perks out of it, but it was never a foregone conclusion that because the Pres. made a pitch it was supposed to happen. He took a shot against the odds. At least he had the courtesy to try.
Also agree the Beast is getting progressively right-leaning. Some days I end up skipping it all together. I liked the multiple perspectives it used to present, but at times the home page is filled with leading, anti-Obama screeds from barely disguised haters.
AuntBarb
Atlantajan
The media, and that includes TDB, claimed President Obama's losing the Olympics would equal losing all his credibility, political capital, and momentum.
Of course that's nonsense. I can understand TDB's resident right wing warriors falling all over themselves to gloat and agree with and spread this notion. It's likely, however, that the sensible majority in this country is yawning and continuing to focus on the topics of Afghanistan, health care, and the economy.
SaveFerris
Let's be honest, Obama only went because he thought Chicago would win and that he could bask in that glory. He took a political risk and it did not pay off. That's how everyone sees it. Rationalize all you want; everyone else sees it for the reality.
roger37
That's bullshit, too. The "glory" would have lasted a couple of days, and the effect of the Olympic construction and the games themselves won't be felt for a very long time.
President Obama went because it was the right thing to do, plus the fact that he's trying to repair our incredibly stupid, ethnocentric image in the eyes of the rest of the world.
devilsadvocate
You can't assume you've got something locked up before the game is over. This is true in more than just the Olympics. The quote from Rahm Emanuel is pretty telling. Perhaps other advisors had this perception as well. Of course I think Rio had an advantage since the city exists on a continent that has never hosted the Olympics before. Couple that with Brazil's increasing world influence and importance made it a more likely pick for an Olympics that will take place seven years from now.
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n--Y--johnniegbirdygirl
Question: How much money did it cost the American people to start an unnecessary war?
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n--Y--johnniegjpelhamtn
This would be the war supported by Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, John Kerry, etc. etc. etc. It may have not beeen necessary but it was voted for by all leading Democrats and Mr. Obama himself voted for the funding. This is such a tired left-wing argument...just admit everyone supported the war and all had the identical intelligence reports.
Smitty1981
Thank you birdygirl for helping elect a man that has never ran so much as a hot dog stand to try to fix our economy. Big thumbs up to you! Nice job.
Carole65
Question: How long did it take for you to come out with your retort? I expect your next one will be - "It's Bush's fault that the Olympics went to Brazil". Time to move ahead.............
byersl
Bush went to China and got drunk for four days. We paid for that. He was advocating the US getting the Olympics, what's wrong with that?
Allguns
WOW, what a arrogant statement by White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, He should remember to never celebrate until the fat lady sings or the last whistle has blown. To scold the Republicans and then claim victory before the whistle is blown is just plain arrogant. But that is the mantra for this administration to claim victory before they have finished the game.
jpelhamtn
Valerie Jarrett, the President's uniquely eloquent but corrupt adviser was quoted in theChicago papers saying... that she had personally told IOC officials there would be checks and balances in Chicago to make 'no corruption' took place in payments for Olympic venues. How revealing that Ms. Jarrett, a long time partisan in the Chicago political machine, felt the need to state what honest people would never state. Between Rahm, Valerie and others...just no end to the corruption on this Administration. www.reagantopalin.com
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n--Y--johnniegjpelhamtn
Most thinking people tried of Oprah 20 years ago.
velvetsmog
Is that why she's rolling in the dough and has astronomically high ratings still?
HiredGoons
tried = tired?
benbishop
Chicago, you dodged a bullet. I live in British Columbia and it's clear that this is the classic PPP, public private partnership. That is where the public puts up the cash and the private sector takes the cash. The Nazis (Samaranch and his legators) take billions in TV and other fees and the public pays for shoddy fall-down dormitories. The Olympics are dirty joke, if a joke costs two billion dollars. As with cancer I'd say "better you than me". Die early, die often.
velvetsmog
Agreed. While I was excited to see the games come to Chicago, I have seen its effects when I travel to Vancouver. It's a curse. Getting the games would have been an albatross around the President's neck for years.
Embers
I think you nailed it!
abobinmn
Chicago might have had a chance if our chief megalomaniac and his girl would not have lobbied the IOC for the 2016 Olympics. The IOC and rest of the world views us with contempt and scorn and those two are the epitome of such contempt and scorn. I'm beginning to think the conservatives are right about this guy. Soon the world will be calling him Nobama for gods sake
velvetsmog
Right. Because the world hates Barack Obama. If only we could get George Bush, our world's goodwill ambassador back into office. That man will never have an ounce of hubris in his body.
roger37
Uh, sorry, velvet. Obama's approval numbers internationally are astronomically high. I've been in Europe recently, and those people are really impressed that we could rise above our recent past and elect BHO to office.
Oh, wait, you're joking. Nobody who has ever been out of Possum Holler could possibly think W is a goodwill ambassador to the world. What a hoot.
Embers
You wouldn't be saying "Nobama" if you didn't already think the "conservatives" are right about "this guy."
birdygirl
The world views us with contempt because the Bush-Cheney gang lied to start this war. How can you possibly compare losing an Olympic bid to the mess W. left behind?
SaveFerris
You are the one doing that...no one else is. It was neck and neck between Chicago and Rio until Obama showed up and "told" the delegates to vote for Chicago.
AlanD2
abobinmn: If Obama had not gone, Chicago would still have lost. You and your conservative friends would now be blasting him for letting America down.
WiseHorn
Is this site becoming "FOX Daily Beat"? Obama tried to help Chicago...his city....even though they were NEVER a viable site and NEVER a real contender. Folks that think otherwise have no clue and need to get over it.
cesspool
seems the truth hurts wiseone, wait til 2010 for your real outrage please, it can't come soon enough frankly
velvetsmog
I'm looking forward to seeing your smug satisfaction shot down when Obama and the Democrats do fine in 2010. You underestimate this guy at your own peril.
WiseHorn
I'm not outraged..cesspool, which by the way, is what the Bush administration left behind and what you apparently crave.
jpelhamtn
NBC / MSNBC spent the whole early morning telling us Obama's 'star power' had turned the tide for Chicago. FOX was not taken in by this foolishness.
torodad
Such a compendium of rubbish! What planet do you people live on? The misbehavior of the Bush administration over eight years has made the U.S. deeply unpopular across most of the world. While the election of Barack Obama to the presidency was hailed abroad almost universally, he cannot single-handedly turn around the deep distrust and anger that his predecessor created. The U.S. is not going to win the Olympics again so long as the memory of the Bush crowd is fresh in people's minds.
Do any of you ever read a newspaper or magazine published outside of the United States? You need to stop taking pride in being totally ignorant about what the rest of the world thinks about you.
Thoughtful citizens of other countries admire the United States for the many things that it gets right. They also reserve the right to speak out when the U.S. gets things wrong. And Bush & company got so much wrong!
I cannot understand why anyone in his or her right mind blames the present U.S. administration for the negative outcomes of eight years of mis-government by the Bush crowd.
cesspool
I want the kind of health care plan Congress has -- Obozo promised us
velvetsmog
And I want you to make a cogent argument. Keep wishing I guess.
birdygirl
Do you even know how a bill gets written and passed? It's a long process involving a ton of people--it does not fly off the President's desk!
This guy's comment is a perfect example of the tragedy of the American educational system--too bad Reagan--and every Repub prez since--gutted it. Other wise, this guy would know what he is talking about.
HiredGoons
I detect a hint of racism in this comment. Bigot.
dcbooknurse
Fine. Go talk to the Republicans who are blocking any proposal that doesn't benefit the insurance companies.
Carole65
Bad, bad, bad Bush! What a mess we have from his 8 years.
But wait........ the fat lady hasn't sung yet for the present administration, but her warm up notes are just a little flat. Let's be hopeful that the music will get a little sharper..........
AlanD2
Carole65: I'm glad you've finally seen the light about Bush.
As for the fat lady, she's still got 7 years to wait. No sense in warming up too soon.
birdygirl
word.
SaveFerris
You are right. We should never question Obama - easier to just blame Bush. Health Care?Blame the Republicans (even though the Democrats have majorities in both houses)
finderj
Chicago or Rio....hmmm, let me think about that.
And the IOC? Crookedest bunch of whiney has-beens in recent memory.
And yes, i do remember the US elections and the aftermath.
Thank you.
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