Posted on 09/28/2009 12:47:05 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President Barack Obama will make a whirlwind trip to Copenhagen this week to leverage his global popularity in a last-minute pitch for his hometown Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid.
The White House said Obama would arrive in Denmark Friday, hours before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) votes on the destiny of the Summer Games after a final battle between Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.
The trip represents a change of heart: the president had previously said the pressure of his under-fire health care reform drive would keep him at home, and nominated his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama to go instead.
But his reversal sets up a high-profile clash on the Olympian political stage between the US president and leaders from Spain, Japan and Brazil also expected in Denmark to push their nations' respective bids.
Michelle Obama will go to Copenhagen separately Wednesday, with Obama's longtime Chicago friend Valerie Jarrett, who now serves as a senior advisor and head of the White House office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport.
Both Obamas will make a presentation on their hometown as part of the Windy City's final pitch, the White House said.
"They will discuss why Chicago is best to host the 2016 Summer Games, and how the United States is eager to bring the world together to celebrate the ideals of the Olympic movement," the White House said in a statement.
High-profile backers of Chicago's bid, who had earlier said their chances would not be harmed by an Obama no-show, reacted with delight to his move.
"President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama symbolize the hope, opportunity and inspiration that makes Chicago great," said Chicago Mayor Richard Daley.
"We are honored to have two of our city's most accomplished residents leading our delegation in Copenhagen."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Obama Daley Stadium
Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama(L), seen here with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2007, will make a last-minute pitch in Copenhagen this week for his hometown Chicago's Olympic bid for the 2016 Summer Games. (AFP/Jeff Haynes)
Tokyo has my vote.
What an embarrassing loser!
US First Lady Michelle Obama, seen here on September 25. Michelle Obama will go to Copenhagen separately Wednesday, with President Barack Obama's longtime Chicago friend Valerie Jarrett, who now serves as a senior advisor and head of the White House office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport. (AFP/File/Eric Feferberg)
Aw Zer0,
Please stay home and talk to your Generals about who’s dying in Afganistan;
and prepare yourself for the biggest test of your foreign policy in talks with Iran;
You disgusting, weak kneed, socialict/communist, muslim, Piece of SH!T
Valerie Jarrett, who now serves as a senior advisor and head of the White House office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport.She's everywhere.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is greeted by U.S. President Barack Obama as he arrives at the Phipps Conservatory for an opening reception and working dinner for delegation leaders at the Pittsburgh G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 24, 2009. A sporting duel between the presidents heated up on Friday over who -- if either of them -- gets to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. Obama told Lula he will campaign hard to defeat Rio de Janeiro and bring the games to his hometown Chicago, especially after Brazil chose France over the United States for some fighter jet purchases. REUTERS/Chris Wattie (UNITED STATES POLITICS BUSINESS SPORT OLYMPICS)
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U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about the results of the G20 Summit at a post summit news conference after the conclusion of the summit in the Pittsburgh Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, September 25, 2009. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES POLITICS)
............Michelle Obama will go to Copenhagen separately Wednesday....................
Oh, fine! Now we have to pay for two seperate fleets of helicopters; four AF#1&2 747’s; two security details; two armored limos, all so Michelle, the broad One, can eat lobster in Copenhagen a few days earlier!
Is she taking the kids, or are we going to also pay for round the clock baby sitting and 24/7 SS details??
Talk about irresponsible spending! We are just a bunch of losers. Who voted for this Putz, anyway?
What the he!!. King Obama still on vacation. This turd will run up the deficit with all see ego trips around the world and all over the US. He is rotten to the core.
Yeh, because THAT is the most important thing going on on this planet? More important that protecting OUR troops in Afghanistan, or making a decision regarding helping them, or the ROP, or our borders? COME ON, Big Boy, let’s get in gear. You are the leader of the FREE WORLD. Let the drugs clear out of your brain and get going.
0bama really ought to know the limits of American power!
If BO's got nothing better to do than this . . . then MO stays home OR at the very least, they travel together. Enough with the cost of these overseas excursions designed to keep the Obama's entertained!
Really .... enough!
That isn’t pork, it’s massive DEBT for the City of Chicago, Cook County and surrounding areas. What a bunch of BS. The corruption in that city is massive. This is just another hook.
Funny, isn’t it?
0bama says America cannot “dictate to the world”, and yet he believes that as the Imperial President, he has the power to do just that!
US President Barack Obama will make a whirlwind trip to Copenhagen this week to leverage his global popularity....
Oh please!....He has to go somewhere where someone still thinks he’s worth 2 cents!
0bama is desperate for anything he can declare as a “victory”.
I hope he fails at this, too.
0bama says America is no longer the World Superpower, America no longer gets to have it her way.... let the international community speak up in agreement with him, then.
No Olympics for you, Barry! Next!
All you other Slim Shadys are just imitating
Yo, I.O.C.
tell this punk “magic negro” to take a hike.
ON WHO’S DIME, I ask rhetorically and sarcastically???
Like I said, wait until the working class black people on the South Side get pushed out of their homes by Daley. MAYBE, some of them will wake up then, but I doubt it.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs speaks at the daily briefing at the White House in Washington
Half a Million Turn Out in Madrid to Show Support for City's Olympic Bid
The centre of Madrid was tonight packed with 500,000 people who came together to show their support for the city's bid host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016. The huge show of solidarity came just ahead of the Madrid 2016 bid team flying to Copenhagen for the decision by the International Olympic Committee next Friday.
The city’s “Impulse Day” celebration took place in Cibeles Square. The crowds wore the colours of Madrid’s bid and held up cards to form a giant “Olympic Hand” - the logo of the bid.
The human mosaic was photographed from the air by helicopter and images will be sent across the world once again to underline the strength of support for the Madrid bid in all corners of the globe.
The city’s visible and colourful display of support was followed by a free concert from Spain’s David Bisbal and the fiesta included activities for everyone to enjoy including jugglers, face-painters and street artists.
The Mayor of Madrid, Mr Alberto Ruiz Gallardon said “What has happened here today is very important for the Madrid 2016 Olympic bid, because we have sent a strong message not only to the IOC members, but also to the whole Olympic Movement: that Madrid loves sport and want the Olympic and Paralympic Games”.
The official delegation starts travelling to Copenhagen tomorrow, and the Mayor has highlighted that they will travel “with a lot of strength, with all the support we have of millions of people, and convinced that we will bring the Games to Madrid”.
You Go Spain!!! What's Bambi going to offer the Olympics? Chicago Pizza?
sw
If it goes to Rio Obama will blame Geo Bush as everything is Bush’s fault.
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