Research Briefing

Obama’s International Celebrity Status Takes A Hit As International Olympic Committee Rejects His Cronies’ Chicago Bid In First Round Of Voting

FROM RNC CHAIRMAN STEELE:

“While I am disappointed with the IOC's decision, I look forward to the President returning stateside so that he can refocus his efforts on the growing unemployment crisis that was highlighted by today's monthly jobs report. Our country needs the President's undivided attention on the urgent issues facing American families today: rising unemployment, soaring health care costs, winning the war in Afghanistan and dealing with Iran’s nuclear threat.” – RNC Chairman Michael Steele

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING…

The Boston Globe: “Obama's Olympics Pitch Falls Flat” (Foon Rhee, The Boston Globe, 10/2/09)

• “President Obama's high-profile pitch failed utterly to land the 2016 Summer Olympics for his adopted hometown of Chicago.” (Foon Rhee, “Obama's Olympics Pitch Falls Flat,” The Boston Globe, 10/2/09)

Los Angeles Times’ Johanna Neuman: “Obama Loses Gamble -- Chicago Out Of Olympics Contention” (Johanna Neuman, Los Angeles Times’ “Top of the Ticket” Blog, 10/2/09)

• “[O]bama risked political capital to make a last-minute appeal to the committee.” (Johanna Neuman, “Obama Loses Gamble -- Chicago Out Of Olympics Contention,” Los Angeles Times’ “Top of the Ticket” Blog, 10/2/09)

Newsweek’s Katie Connelly: “Not only did they fail, they failed in the first round! It's a bad look for the President, especially coming on the heels of this morning’s depressing unemployment figures.” (Katie Connolly, “Losing the Olympics Bid is Good For Obama,” Newsweek’s The Gaggle, 10/2/09)

• Connelly: “The way I figured it, this White House is far too protective of the President’s strategically-crafted image to allow him to travel thousands of miles for only to fail on the world stage.” (Katie Connolly, “Losing the Olympics Bid is Good For Obama,” Newsweek’s The Gaggle, 10/2/09)

• Connelly: “I would have bet money that Rahm and Axelrod knew they had the numbers in the bag before they let him step on Air Force One. I was so very wrong.” (Katie Connolly, “Losing the Olympics Bid is Good For Obama,” Newsweek’s The Gaggle, 10/2/09)

• Connelly: “This is pretty embarrassing for the White House.” (Katie Connolly, “Losing the Olympics Bid is Good For Obama,” Newsweek’s The Gaggle, 10/2/09)

The New York Times: “[A] surprisingly early exit, especially because of President Barack Obama’s whirlwind trip to boost the bid of his adopted city.” (Juliet Macur & Lynn Zinser, “Chicago Loses Bid for 2016 Olympic Games,” The New York Times, 10/2/09)

NYT’s Peter Baker: “Yet as President Obama pitched Chicago’s bid to host the Summer Games of 2016 on Friday — unsuccessful, as it turned out — he put his own credibility on the line as well.” (Peter Baker, “For Obama, an Unsuccessful Campaign,” The New York Times, 10/2/09)

• Baker: “The president’s decision to come personally, just two weeks after saying he did not have the time because he was busy pushing health care legislation through Congress, was a risky gamble predicated on the theory that Mr. Obama’s star power overseas ...” (Peter Baker, “For Obama, an Unsuccessful Campaign,” The New York Times, 10/2/09)

The Washington Post: “The defeat represented not just a blow to Chicago and the U.S. Olympic Committee, but also to Obama, who took a significant political risk by flying here to lobby personally for his home city.” (Robin Givhan & Amy Shipley “Chicago, Tokyo Out of Running to Host Olympics,” The Washington Post, 10/2/09)

The Associated Press: “Not even the presence of President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama … was enough to help the United States' third-largest city.” (Nancy Armour, “Chicago Is The First To Go In 2016 Voting,” The Associated Press, 10/2/09)

NBC’s Chuck Todd: “You know, it is a blow.” (MSNBC’s “News Live,” 10/2/09)

• Todd: “The instincts of this White House weeks ago was to not buckle under the pressure from all of their Chicago friends saying you got to go, you got to go, you got to do it, you got to do it.” (MSNBC’s “News Live,” 10/2/09)

• Todd: “Anybody from Chicago trying to call in a favor now from this White House is probably going to be thrown in at the back of the line after this.” (MSNBC’s “News Live,” 10/2/09)

• Todd: “I think the relationship between this White House and some -- some of the political power elites in Chicago is probably temporarily damaged.” (MSNBC’s “News Live,” 10/2/09)

Time’s Michael Scherer: “[I]t is a defeat …” (Michael Scherer, “Chicago, Obama, Family And Friends Lose First Round Olympic Votes,” Time’s Swampland Blog, 10/2/09)

• Scherer: “Internationally, Obama was offering up a test of his celebrity and influence. Domestically, Obama was inviting criticism for putting his own provincial interests above the national challenges he was facing. Obama lost on both counts …” (Michael Scherer, “Chicago, Obama, Family And Friends Lose First Round Olympic Votes,” Time’s Swampland Blog, 10/2/09)

Politico: “Chicago’s defeat comes after an unprecedented campaign by the Obama administration.” (Kenneth P. Vogel, “Olympics shocker: Chicago out,” Politico, 10/2/09)

Politico’s Ben Smith: “A Defeat In Denmark” (Ben Smith, “A defeat in Denmark,” Politico, 10/2/09)

• Smith: “The White House Staked, And Lost, Some Prestige On That One.” (Ben Smith, “A defeat in Denmark,” Politico, 10/2/09)

• Smith: “There's A Reason The President Is Rarely Dispatched To A Summit Whose Outcome Is Uncertain.” (Ben Smith, “A defeat in Denmark,” Politico, 10/2/09)

CBS Chicago: “O No!! Chicago Loses 2016 Olympics” (CBS Chicago, 10/2/09)

• “Even the president's star billing wasn't enough to put Chicago over the top …” (“O No!! Chicago Loses 2016 Olympics,” CBS Chicago, 10/2/09)

Fox Sports: “Chicago had several well-known lobbyists in Copenhagen. Foremost among them was President Barack Obama, who arrived Friday morning after an overnight flight.” (“Chicago Loses In Bid To Host 2016 Olympics,” FoxSports.com, 10/2/09)

• Fox Sports: “The president and his wife, fellow Chicagoan Michelle Obama, put their capital behind an enormous campaign to win the Olympics bid. Never before had a U.S. president made such an in-person appeal.” (“Chicago Loses In Bid To Host 2016 Olympics,” FoxSports.com, 10/2/09)

Drudge Report: “World Rejects Obama: Chicago Out In First Round” (Drudge Report, 10/2/09)

• Drudge Report: “The Ego Has Landed” (Drudge Report, 10/2/09)

BBC News’ Adam Brookes: “The shock of Chicago's elimination was greater for the fact that it came in the first round. And greater for the fact that President Obama had taken valuable hours from his packed and tense political schedule to travel to Copenhagen.” (“Live - 2016 Olympics decision day,” BBC News, 10/2/09)

Associated Press: “With Chicago well-known for public corruption and problems with public services, opponents had serious concerns about Olympics-sized hassles and bills, despite assurances by city officials that taxpayers wouldn't owe a dime.” (“Shock in Chicago's Daley Plaza,” The Associated Press, 10/2/09)

The Hill: “Friday's vote is a bit of a political defeat for Obama, who traveled to Copenhagen to stump for Chicago despite growing Republican criticisms that he stay home and focus more on domestic priorities.” (Tony Romm, “Axelrod: Olympics Trip Still Worth The Time,” The Hill, 10/2/09)