by Mark Silva
It seems that President Barack Obama is intent on sending the First Lady to Copenhagen, without presidential backup, for a U.S. bid for the 2016 summer Olympics.
And it seems the first lady has a strategy:
"There won't be a dry eye in the room," says Valerie Jarrett, the Obama family friend and senior White House adviser who plans to accompany Michellle Obama at the Oct. 2 International Olympic Committee vote on Chicago's (and a few other venues') bid for the big games.
"I'm sure that it will touch the hearts of each of the IOC members," Jarrett said in an interview with Bloomberg News' John McCormick, an old friend of the Swamp.
Jarrett declined to say what the first lady will tell the IOC, but the stakes for the first lady's home city couldn't be higher: "It will be a huge economic engine for Chicago, but it will have a ripple effect throughout the country," Jarrett told McCormick.
Michelle Obama will lead the U.S. delegation to Copenhagen, where the IOC will choose among Chicago, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.
With so many fellow Chicagoans in top White House jobs, including Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and senior adviser David Axelrod, Jarrett said the bid is a constant topic. "We talk about it every single morning together as we meet," she said.
Although the president isn't planning to attend the Copenhagen session, Jarrett said he is still working the phones.
"Every vote counts and so he'll be reaching out to everyone and trying to make it clear to everyone how Chicago is absolutely the best possible place to host the Olympics," said Jarrett, explaining that Michelle Obama will meet in Copenhagen with IOC members, especially ones known to have questions about the U.S. bid. "Our hope would be to be able to spend as much time individually with IOC members who perhaps are on the fence and convince them.''
See John's report on Chicago's Olympics bidat Bloomberg, and tell him the Swamp sent you.
Comments
Countdown to the rabid foaming at the mouth Wingnut hatred of all things Obama.
5...4...3..2...1 ding Ding Ding!
.
Posted by: I wanna be a Republican idiot | September 17, 2009 7:56 PM
Well, here I am, albeit a few hours behind schedule.
A dry eye in the house? What the ^&&^^? That's absurd.
The Obamas have a really inflated sense of their own importance.
Posted by: beth | September 17, 2009 10:14 PM
Buh bye Chicago Olympics. We didn't want ya anyway!!!!
Posted by: Bobbie Mobbie | September 18, 2009 7:19 AM
The Michelle Obama approach is to cry? And then, remind everybody she come from Chicago? Genius, I tell you, Genius.
Rick
Posted by: Rick Caird | September 18, 2009 8:08 AM
The Republican approach: Hey International Olympic Committee, did we tell you how much Republicans hate foreigners! Wait, let me rephrase if the foreigners look like David Beckham or Anna Kournakova we could care less what language they speak and if they are here illegally. If you are brown and dirty then get the heck out you're changing the complexion of the America I used to know!!!
Posted by: GOP Talking Points | September 18, 2009 11:40 AM
Ditto
By, By Chicago Olympics-------------
Posted by: Inky | September 18, 2009 11:59 AM
Valerie Jarrett has an inflated idea of what Michelle Obama can do.
Watch land purchases/sales for the Olympics in Chicago.
Let's see who gets to make some property deals.
Posted by: Jordy | September 18, 2009 12:25 PM
I hope Chicago doesn't get the olympics, especially since they think sending this racist woman would be a benefit.
Aren't there white men on the olympic committee? If any of them ever read what this racist woman has written, just her being there would be enough to give there vote to any other country.
Posted by: noneoftheabove | September 18, 2009 2:11 PM
Valerie Jarrett, surprised the Obama's put any fait in her with her Chicago Political background
Posted by: Inky | September 19, 2009 6:30 AM
Make them cry - typical liberal solution to addressing an issue. Give them with emotion, not facts.
Posted by: Terry | September 19, 2009 9:05 AM
Go Chicago ! Chicago 2016 = Diversity Games, Green Games, High Profile Games.
This is about the United States having a coming out (re-image) party and Chicago as the back-drop. It's funny to think how people go after others, but do not realize THIS IS BEST WE HAVE TO OFFER.. IF NOT, YOU RUN FOR OFFICE & we will pull out all of the skeletons from your closet. All the Stars are lined up for CHICAGO 2016 !
Posted by: Al | September 19, 2009 4:35 PM
CHICAGO 2016 = Diversity Games, Green Games & High Profile Games ! This is about the United States welcoming 15,000 athletes, millions of viewers via TV & having a coming out 're-image' party. For those of you that feel it is ok to go after others, should choose to Run for Office & then we will pull out all of your skeletons in the closet. This is the BEST WE HAVE TO OFFER. GO CHICAGO 2016 !
Posted by: Al | September 19, 2009 4:40 PM
I have just returned from spending the last two years in Europe. People over there are now starting to realize how corruption works in Chicago politics. They now do not trust anything that comes out of the mouths of any of our politicans.
BTW.. people in Denmark dont even know who Oprah is, so why is she going?
Posted by: Corrupt Illinois Politicians | September 24, 2009 4:13 PM
Illinois remains among states that have failed to ratify ERA. With Oprah and Obama pushing Chicago for the Olympics, connect Title IX, which has made it possible for US Women to win their share of gold, and PATRIOTISM. Georgia and Utah, where recent Olympic gold has been mined, proudly stand with Illinois in the rejection of Equal Rights for their female citizens. The President announced today that he will tag along with the Mrs, Winfrey and tear-jerkers traveling to Sweden for the bidding presentation.
Posted by: SWPAnnA | September 28, 2009 11:26 AM
How typical of advice these people get in other areas is this ignorant assessment of their likely effect on the USOC? Even without the flattery, no-one with a brain would invite the thinking world to a city with infamous politics, and that also hosts 30-80 murders/year in its public school system--now illustrated by video and available for viewing worldwide.
Posted by: Vera | October 4, 2009 9:29 AM
Now that the Daley balloon of inflated optimism is depleted perhaps he'll look to Chicago's crime among youth and pursue that Olympic challenge with the same energy and money.
Posted by: Urvancat | October 8, 2009 12:02 PM