Hot Topic (10/2): Obama's quest for Olympics a waste of money?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

G.O.P. Leader Raps Obama's Olympics Trip

By Adam Nagourney

Call it the Olympic smackdown.

In case President Obama was wondering, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Michael Steele, doesn't think it's a good idea for Mr. Obama to go to Copenhagen to make a pitch to the International Olympic Committee to bring the 2016 Summer Games to Chicago.

The occasion was a telephone news conference Mr. Steele held to offer an overall critique of Mr. Obama's health care proposal and his economic plan. Mr. Steele said the president should stay at home, but added that it was O.K. for Michelle Obama to go as his emissary.

"I think while it's a noble idea for the president to want to pitch his home city Chi-town for the Olympics, and of course America would be more than honored to host the Olympics in the future, I think that at a time of war, I think at a time of recession, at a time where Americans have expressed rather significantly their concerns and frustrations over the course of the spring and summer about health care, about the economy, about a host of domestic issues, even international issues, I think that this trip while nice is not necessary for the president," Mr. Steele said.

The G.O.P. chairman has become something of a point man against Mr. Obama's health care plan, and he repeated many of those arguments in contending that the bill should not be passed.

"This administration has been pushing like hound-dogs on getting a health care bill passed, pronto," he said. "If that's so important, Mr. President, than stay home and get it done."

The White House fired back. "Who's he rooting for?" asked Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary. "Was he hoping to hop a plane to Brazil and catch the Olympics in Rio? Maybe it's Madrid."

* * *

Do you think Obama should have gone overseas on this quest?

What do you think about this? 

Was this trip necessary? 

[IhartU]

I say we hold the Olympics in Iran.

[home-sweet-home]

I think it would have been better to let Michelle go.

Or at least take one plane.

[georgia362]

they just love to waste tax payer money what do they care since its not their money.

[MAXnBRYCESmom]

I think he should have stayed here and dealt with issues at hand instead of trying to secure the Olympic bid. I know he is from Chicago, and proud of this city, I am too, as are lots of people, but honestly, a lot of us Chicagoans don't want the Olympics here and are slightly annoyed that he is trying so hard to get them here.

[cherry41089]

Quoting MAXnBRYCESmom:

I think he should have stayed here and dealt with issues at hand instead of trying to secure the Olympic bid. I know he is from Chicago, and proud of this city, I am too, as are lots of people, but honestly, a lot of us Chicagoans don't want the Olympics here and are slightly annoyed that he is trying so hard to get them here.

I agree

[prettymama72106]

I agree that it would be nice to have the olympics here but there are bigger more important things to deal with. Having the olympics here could open up jobs and help chicago and the surrounding areas make money but also hurt the people that live here because we all know the prices for everything will become super high and wiht things the way they are who can afford it. So while again the idea that olympics being held here is nice I don't think this is the time to deal with it we have other issues that need to be dealt with and come first

[MAXnBRYCESmom]

And Chicago has been eliminated!! Wait, maybe I shouldn't be so happy about that, lol.

[Mommy_of_Riley]

A WASTE OF MONEY!

And look, Chicago got the LEAST amount of votes... it was eliminated so fast!

[sweetie00]

I think he was just excited to have his hometown in the running. If it were Seattle and I were POTUS, I probably would have done the same thing.  I don't see why not.

 LULA went, the Pres of Brasil. I am glad Brasil got it, though. My DH is Brasilian, and S.America has never hosted, so this is exciting for them, and rightly so.

Overall, I think the GOP just trashes everything he does, doesn't matter what it is. If he were a Republican, I'm, sure their feelings would be flipped. That is what is sick about politics.

[Grannygoli]

Quoting sweetie00:

I think he was just excited to have his hometown in the running. If it were Seattle and I were POTUS, I probably would have done the same thing.  I don't see why not.

 LULA went, the Pres of Brasil. I am glad Brasil got it, though. My DH is Brasilian, and S.America has never hosted, so this is exciting for them, and rightly so.

Overall, I think the GOP just trashes everything he does, doesn't matter what it is. If he were a Republican, I'm, sure their feelings would be flipped. That is what is sick about politics.

Totally agree.  It just makes complete sense.  Can anyone object to it with logical arguments?  I don't think so.