Posted on 10/03/2009 11:09:14 AM PDT by Steelfish
October 02
A PR Nightmare for the Obamas [Victor Davis Hanson]
One can understand an American president’s lobbying for an American city to obtain the Olympics, but the blitz by the Obamas proved a PR nightmare. Let us count the ways:
1) Obama’s brand is trans-nationalism and an “America is not exceptional” multiculturalism. According to his worldview, it makes sense that a South American country — especially a powerful, ascendant country such as Brazil — should at last have its turn at hosting the Olympics. It did not seem consistent that a politician who had reached out to the Castros, Chávez, Morales, and Ortega, in parochial fashion, would lobby for his own hometown over a “yes, we can” Latin American initiative, especially one involving an exciting city such as Rio.
2) The Obama lobbying speeches were counterproductive. The world has its own inspirational narratives and is not impressed that much by the Obamas’ Chicago sagas.
It was accidental but unfortunate that the global viewers had seen some horrific YouTube clips of street fighting in the Windy City, and then were told by Michelle that her father had taught her how to land a right hook, and that it was a sacrifice for her to fly to Denmark to make the case for Chicago.
3) The Chicago bit was overdone. Obama should remember that there is a perfect storm brewing: The more we hear about Valerie Jarrett, Rahm Emanuel, Bill Ayers, and all his old Chicago friends, along with rumors about Tony Rezko–style backroom deals to cash in on Chicago real estate involving the Olympics, and continuing stories about Chicago’s street violence and corruption — the more it hurts the president to be identified as a “Chicago politician” who tries in heavy-handed fashion to implement change through the “Chicago way.”
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at corner.nationalreview.com ...
"Obama’s messianic appeal is wearing thin, both at home and abroad. I think that once Sarkozy essentially said to the world, “The emperor has no clothes,” the Obama facade crumbled. And here we are."
It’s such a nightmare I can’t wipe this grin off my face!
The Obama’s have a nightmare? What does he think we have?
Losing the Olympics for Chicago was the equivalent of the IOC throwing their shoes at Obama.
Like Iran.
im still waiting for Obama to turn into an American
It’s a twofer ... obama and chicago.
Now, my dear friends from Chicago. If you don’t want the rest of the country to have such an opinion of you, get to work and clean up the damned cesspool that the rest of the country perceives Chicago to be. Elect something other than a democrat. Elect something other than a daley.
The vote indicates a huge middle finger the world shown to them and I hope we can do a nice follow-up in 2010 and 2012.
Obama is Pissed! Someone will pay for this humiliation...watch and see.
For all the talk and adoration from the media it really boils down to him having no accomplishments, none positive anyway. Everything the man touches turns to $hit. Military deaths in Afghanistan up, the economy tanking under dem policies, France of all places showing leadership over the empty suit, etc. Even an ephemeral win for the MSM to spin would be of great importance to the obama cult.
I find it interesting that, as far as the left and the rest of the world is concerned, this business regarding Chicago and the Olympics is a bigger mark against Hussein than the truly dangerous things he is doing, domestically and abroad.
This is a result of having celebrities as leaders (rulers) and a republic governed by pop culture.
Since the SRM and the left are blaming the direct results of Hussein’s naivete and incompetence on Bush, you can predict the outcome of the next major terrorist strike here.
Reminds me of Clinton. At one point he could have had sex on the steps of the Capitol with a 15 YO (of either sex) and it wouldn’t have been his fault. Assuming it even made the news.
Nothing offends a malignant narcissist more than to strut and preen on the Big Stage in front of a World Audience and then have them reveal that they don’t like him.
A little more of this and Obama is REALLY going to go off the rails. Because aside from his being a Kenyan Communist-Muslim, he is also certifiably insane.
Unless you think that Hitler—a similar figure troubled with malignant narcissism—was really just an ordinary guy. But most people at the time thought that Hitler, although he certainly did pretty well as a political leader, was . . . insane.
Hitler just couldn’t stand being criticized or questioned or contradicted. And neither can Obama.
Need one of those smug Obama/Che images with the Olympic rings on his forehead and “FAIL” below. Can you do it for us?
Domestic violence could clean out the White House.
Yeah. But Hitler had brains.
That she called her trip to Sweden a sacrifice was DEVASTATING, not only to Sweden and the Olympic committee, but to all of us....how could ANYONE speck in such immature, selfish, degrading and truly inappropriate terms? It KILLS me that WE PAID for this woman with a chip on her shoulder the size of a gorilla to go to Sweden and insult everyone.
Worse, uhbama's barely kept anger combined with this absolutely ASTOUNDINGLY EVIDENT self love and appreciation came across so clearly I would say he has cooked his own liver, big time.
These are not good people. They are not even people who have really suffered and yet they act as if they survived the holocaust - and NO ONE is buying it. It reeks of self promotion crying out victim even as there is not evidence of abuse.
Adding the rings & text should be pretty straightforward (famous last words...) '-}
It was worth every penny to send them to Denmark to accomplish this olympic failure before the whole world.
Last Tuesday, I was in a bar with three conservative friends. We talked about 0b0z0’s Olympic “powerhouse”, go-get-it delegation. They were of the opinion that it’s in the bag for Chicago. I disagreed with them and told them it’s gonna be Rio.
I based my opinion on the European psychology, having lived on and off in different West European countries. They don’t like to be pushed around by any other country, especially the US. They consider all other countries “inferior”. Saving their bacon is OK; otherwise, they flip us off.
Deep underneath the facade of “independence”, the elitism shines through. Although the have all kinds of races and nationalities on the IOC, they hate Africans with a passion. They don’t no what to do with their African minorities and they are quite afraid of them.
0dung0, M0dung0 and 0prungo were not adequate ambassadors to Europe. They are African-American, IOW, African and American, a deadly combination that warranted the death sentence for their cause.
Yeah, a major sacrifice for her having to travel non-stop in AF1, with no leg room, no place to lay her head down should she feel tired, lousy food. Then she probably had to suffer through inferior accomodations after arriving. Poor lady.
Just thought you would want to know.
The Daley machine is more pissed.
Oh yes! But Obama’s ego is Pissed off more!
Bears repeating, but I hardly think Chicagoans will ever stray away from their communist ideologies and criminal behavior.
It's a true democrat stronghold, through and through.
Hardly the environment that an American would want to be a part of.
I agree with you that Obama is conceited. But a small correction: the IOC met in Copenhagen. Copenhagen is in Denmark, just across the Baltic Sea from Sweden. The Danes have a better sense of humor than the Swedes. And I can tell you that the Danes will be making a lot of jokes about the arrogant Obama.
Wikipedia, although always taken with a grain of salt, refutes that etymology. Many other sites, dictionaries included, refute it as well. I’d link it but it wouldn’t seem appropriate.
Muy delicioso....
Savor the moment
Brazil deserved it anyhow as an up and coming South American nation and where the Olympics have never been staged
Yeah-you are so right....I had Sweden on the brain and even tho I know where Copenhagen is located, I went right ahead and posted, per usual, without re-reading. Just DUH! And thanks.
One thing that we both know is that the pointed finger is considered an act of hostility/aggression whenever given with an angry tirade.
Any other ideas?
You should have added, "America and American hating."
Joe Wilson said it here.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2171204/posts
Did he take his teleprompter?
I suspect that many IOC delegates were unimpressed by Michelle’s sacrifices to bring the Games to Chicago and her story about growing up in city’s South Side.
Princess Michelle seemed to argue that the IOC should award the Games to Chicago because, well, she’s from Chicago’s South Side, she overcame great hardships there to achieve her tremendous success, and she would be gratified if the IOC awarded the Games to Chicago since it would help others overcome the hardships of growing up in the South Side.
The majority of IOC delegates come from such places as Cameroon, Mongolia, Senegal, Uruguay, or Zambia. It’s hard to imagine that they find any aspect of her life — or the lives of the vast majority of Chicagoans — to have any significant degree of hardship. President Lula’s story was simply much more compelling.
It may be amusing to watch Barack and Michelle fail in their bid before an international organization, but I don’t think that those who are ideologically opposed to Obama should make too much of the IOC’s rejection of the Chicago bid for the Olympics. The IOC is neither conservative nor libertarian. It is comprised mostly of big government types who simply favored Brazil over the US.
The clincher is that the "S-word" is essentially the same in German and in Dutch as well as Swedish, and originally derives from an Indo-European word that sounds like all the others.
snopes doesn’t think so.
OBAMA (THAT BUMBLIN' CLOWN)
Tune: "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)"
Obama, Obama, that bumblin' clown
Obama, Obama, he will fumble around--and flub it
Bet your teleprompter he'll lose the games for Chicago, Chicago
So bad that Oprah Winfrey will have to frown
Olympics are slim picks, when Barry's your shill
You do things like lose out to Brazil
He had the task, Chicago to sell
I had to laugh, he came with Michelle
O Chicago, Obama let you down!
Obama, Obama, that bumblin' clown
Obama, Obama, he'll fumble around--and flub it
Bet your teleprompter he'll lose the games for Chicago, Chicago
So bad that Oprah Winfrey will have to frown
Olympics are slim picks, when Barry's your shill
You do things like losing out to Brazil--still
He had the task, Chicago to sell
I had to laugh when he came with Michelle
O Chicago, Obama--Obama sure let you down!
He’s trying to organize the International community. He is a citizen of the world, you see.
When I go to that FR page, I get this dialog popping up:
I've never seen that on FR before, but, obviously, someone at
store.barackobama.com still lays claim to that image.
I was intending to be helpful, but, I think I'll pass on this one -- sorry...
day-um.
0bama’s teflon is wearing thin and has some scratches in it.
And you know what you end up having to do with scratched up teflon.
Yep, the taxpayers will have to buy Obama a bigger bus because it’s getting really crowded under the current one.
I was wondering about this myself. He's all about playing us down, so he really shouldn't be surprise that he couldn't sell the virtues of Chicago to the IOC. IF anything, this should give him pause for thought.
"Obama’s messianic appeal is wearing thin, both at home and abroad. I think that once Sarkozy essentially said to the world, “The emperor has no clothes,” the Obama facade crumbled. And here we are."
I'm not sure he cares if he loses his appeal with us, because for him it's not about 'us', but I think he might be surprised to find that it's wearing thin abroad, and the very thing he thought would level the playing field, his 'trans-nationalism and America is not exceptional', is the very thing that sort of erased us from the IOC list, as we know, but he somehow missed that would happen? It should make him think about those ideologies, but I won't hold my breath.
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