Published Thursday, October 08, 2009

Obama no Olympic winner

President Obama's overnight flight to Copenhagen to join his wife and Oprah Winfrey in supporting Chicago's invitation to host the 2016 International Olympics turned out to be about as disastrous as it could be.

In winning the bid, the score was Rio de Janeiro -- one, President Barack Obama -- none.

Sadly, with the United States of America in a deep economic recession, millions unemployed, and money as scarce as common sense, critics were given ammunition to say, "Never has so much been spent to accomplish so little."

With special arrangements, added security, and overall expenses of the trip, it is said the cost to U.S. taxpayers could go as high as $1.2 million.

As I said to Mimi, when I first heard of the planned excursion, "I don't believe I'd do that. Either way it goes, that will be a high-priced mistake."

Even though members of the committee seemed to like First Lady Michelle's plea better than her husband's crisp, business-like appeal, truth is that when they came up for their turn at bat, they swung at nothing and did not connect with anything.

And to the astonishment of many, talk show hostess Winfrey -- there to add her influence to hometown Chicago's invitation -- did not get to first base. With tongue in cheek, someone suggested she might have swayed selection committee members if -- as was done for her studio audience -- "they were all told that underneath each chair there was a key to a brand new American-made automobile."

Anyway, let it be said: "Nothing went well." Chicago came in last.

As one commentator said the next day: "President Obama needed a win, but it was not to be."

You recall, when the trip was announced, the president said he was going over to rub shoulders with the selection committee. Maybe his being there "rubbed somebody the wrong way."