Michelle Obama says "gloves are off" in Olympic bid

Reuters ^ | Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:43pm EDT | Jeff Mason

[elizabethgrace]

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama has a message for other countries seeking to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games: in the fight the "gloves are off."

The Chicago native heads to Copenhagen this week to promote her hometown in its bid to stage the Summer Olympics, paving the way for her husband, President Barack Obama, who will make a quick trip to Denmark on Friday to try to seal the deal.

"This is very cool for me," the first lady told reporters in a rare briefing in the White House's state dining room on Monday. "I could've never imagined that I would be leading the team to try to win the Olympic bid."

Mrs. Obama, who has charmed audiences around the globe since her husband's victory in the 2008 presidential election, joked that she was ready for battle to secure victory against competitor countries Brazil, Japan and Spain. "I met with the first lady of Brazil ... We sat next to each other at dinner, and I adore her," Mrs. Obama said, referring to a shared meal with Marisa Leticia Lula da Silva at the recent G20 summit in Pittsburgh.

"I said, you know, 'I'm gonna hug you now and then I'm going after you in Copenhagen!'" Mrs. Obama continued. "And she said, 'You too!' So, gloves are off."

[elizabethgrace]

[FlingWingFlyer]

Spoken like a true Chicago thug!

[hsalaw]

"I could've never imagined that I would be leading the team to try to win the Olympic bid."

The First Frump is quite the elegant speaker, too.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Troops are dying in Afghanistan, McCrystal has only spoken to Obama once and he’s sitting up there trying to give Chicagostan the Olympic Games.

[two23]

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/video_derrion_albert
just a little home town spirit

[HiTech RedNeck]

And Iran is sabre rattling. What a doofus! It would make sense just to send Michelle for everything, after all she’s the jock.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

...in the fight the "gloves are off."

..how about that Afghanistan fight? ...remember?

[americanophile]

...as long as the dress stays ON, honey!

[1066AD]

White House adviser Valerie Jarrett said both trips were being funded by taxpayers as official business

I wonder how long Michelle will stay over in Copenhagen - maybe for a little weekend vacation ?

[Nachum]

The list, ping

[Jet Jaguar]

Gloves are off. And stuffed under her dress.

[goodnesswins]

Yeah...well, we can’t believe it either...Mrs. Classassless....

[coconutt2000]

Someone should tell her that for many of the countries who want to host this event it will mean a revitalization of their economies and tourism industries, and employment for tens of thousands of their citizens, thus indirectly feeding children who would otherwise eat less or eat less well.

We can call this the “Spread the Olympic wealth around” policy. It will be completely in-line with the Obama administration’s policy of “spreading the wealth around”.

[Oldexpat]

Go RIO.

[freekitty]

Don’t the Obamas ever think about someone other than themselves?

[freekitty]

Best post.

[freekitty]

Yep, that’s the Obamas and people like them legacy.

[444Flyer]

"SHOW ME THE MONEY!"

[two23]

"Mrs. Obama, who has charmed audiences around the globe since her husband's victory in the 2008 presidential election---"