Posted on 10/02/2009 3:45:41 PM PDT by canuck_conservative
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.” To a younger Obama, Chicago was the romantic can-do town of Reverend Wright, Michael Jordan, Oprah, and the Daley machine; to the world at large, it is something quite different, and far more unappealing.
4) 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 thought it was Micheal Jordan. You suprise me there.
I agree this is a lot of fun to watch.
But it really doesn’t affect the Baraqqi coalition of support.
Illegals, union members, dead people, and minorities don’t give a rip about the Olympics. Those groups will still turn out 97% for Baraq making him much more formidable than many here think.
Just like when the German tanks were bogged down at 40 below in Russia, the toughest fighting lies ahead.
Unicorns too, with silver and gold dander. This will save Chicago a lot.
Just made that pix my laptop background ... good one!
Well that coalition has for all purposes BROKEN DOWN and that break down has shown today. The IOC is simply saying: AMERICA, you have to clean house out, starting in 2010.
“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,”
Great point by Hanson. I hadn’t made that connection, but I’m sure Michelle’s ‘right hook’ comment reinforced the idea among IOC voters, who saw the Derrion Albert murder video, that Chicago is a dangerous, thuggish city.
Chicago probably would have lost anyway, but that comment could not have helped.
“...and will probably lose the Dem primary in 2012.”
If he doesn’t quit first! Count on Hillary as the 2012 nominee. Palin vs Clinton. That’s my predition. A truly historic election.
Death throws on the way. Don’t be surprised if a flurry of emergencies pop up and emergency measures are taken to fix those “emergencies”. They’ve got the Congress and the EOP. And they’re definitely not going down without a very bloody fight.
AMEN BROTHER! WE ARE ALL GETTING WORN DOWN BY OBAMA and the CHICAGO THUGS.
Thankee - not sure where I get some of these but they’re free to anyone here that wants them ....
We need to win an election or two to bring this home. The gubinatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey should be bellwethers.
I saw Burris make that very claim in a clip on Fox. It’s not on Google yet.
Disgusting old man.
What is EOP?
Take confort, 2010 is coming.
“.hand in their immediate resignations.....”
and prepare to run for public office - Senate, VP, Gov)
Too bad for oprah and michelle that the Girl from Ipanema (somewhere near Rio) has a more alluring appeal around the globe.
Pray for military intervention
If they wanted it done they should of asked Bush how to do it
What we have now, however, is incompetence on an epic scale abetted by the most incredible arrogance I have ever witnessed. The only thing that could save this administration now would be a dramatic shift toward the political center, and we all know that Obama's narcissism will never allow that.
Oh well, as others have said... pass the popcorn.
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