First Lady Michelle Obama with television talk show host Oprah Winfrey at the opening ceremonies of the the 121st International Olympic Committee Session and XIII Olympic Congress at the Copenhagen Opera House tonight. (Photo by Charles Dharapak / AP / Pool) DNKD119
by Mark Silva and updated
The first lady is wearing gold.
The first lady is carrying Chicago's torch for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games, for all the world to see in Copenhagen, by her last name, Obama.
It's a powerful brand name in Europe: Obama.
And the U.S. of A. is making something of a comeback on the continent, where public approval of the new American administration and its overtures to the world run high.
The first lady is traveling with another star known by her first name: Oprah.
Hers is a global brand name. The books that she touches turn gold.
"Everybody is very poker-faced like,'' Oprah Winfrey said of the people she has confronted in Copenhagen. Calling in to Gayle King's Oprah Radio Show on SIRIUS XM Radio tonight, she said: "I was just over talking to a bunch of delegates ...you know what I like [is] talking to the wives because they all watch The Oprah Show no matter what part of the world [they are from]. So...I'm going for the wives, [saying] 'Hello!!'
They have set a lofty stage for the arrival in the morning of the president of the United States, who will field questions from the International Olympic Committee, meeting Friday to decide who gets the '16 summer games -- Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid or Tokyo.
They could not have raised expectations any higher, a dangerous strategy in politics. The sheer star-power of the American delegation to Copenhagen has put the U.S. of A. "all in'' at a table where no one raises the bet. But it most likely was worth it.
The Obamas will fly home tomorrow, with Air Force One leaving Copenhagen before the IOC vote is cast. Oprah will leave town, too.
If all goes the way they hope it will with the IOC, all of the brand names will be burnished. Truth is, even if they lose this bet, the games may go elsewhere, but the names will go on. Oprah's show is gold. The Obamas' has a four-year contract. Theirs may have been a high-stakes mission. But losing will soon be forgotten. Winning never will be.
(Second photo by Charles Dharahpak / AFP / Getty Images.)
Comments
GOOD LUCK CHICAGO!
We're pulling for you.
.
Posted by: America (not including the GOP) | October 1, 2009 5:44 PM
Thick as thieves that are about to plunder the residents of Chicago and Illinois.
Posted by: Jeff | October 1, 2009 5:58 PM
Dear Mr. President Nobama, please return to your office, and do the job you were elected to do. We did not elect you to do "PR" for the city of
Chicago. You were hired you can be fired!.
Posted by: Paul | October 1, 2009 6:40 PM
Seems like a bit of an over-kill.
Posted by: irene | October 1, 2009 6:43 PM
Will Republicans boycott the 2016 Olympics if America (Chicago) gets them? It wouldn't surprise me, they're certainly goofy enough to do it.
Posted by: Annette Logan | October 1, 2009 7:07 PM
ALTERNATE CAPTION:
"Who's going to tell Gayle?"
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | October 1, 2009 7:45 PM
Dear Mr. President Nobama, please return to your office, and do the job you were elected to do. We did not elect you to do "PR" for the city ofChicago. You were hired you can be fired!.
Posted by: Paul | October 1, 2009 6:40 PM
********************************************
.
For heavens sake Republicans! It is President Obama’s home town we are talking about. Can't you nujobs ever shut your pie holes?
Which one of us would not do the same thing, if we had any prestige to use, and it was our own home town that was trying to win the Olympics bid.
The man loves Chicago, and he loves the White Sox. What the hell is this country coming to, if he can not make a brief trip, to try and boost the chances of his beloved Chicago getting the Olympic games in 2016.
Good luck to President Obama and Chicago. Be honest; we would all do the same thing, for our home town, if we were in his place.
I'll close with words of "wisdom" from Michael Steele, the gift that keeps on giving - to Democrats.
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/29/steele-olympics/
Posted by: Lance | October 1, 2009 8:02 PM
"Losing will soon be forgotten. Winning never will be."
Both will be forgotten.
Posted by: Bruce | October 1, 2009 8:07 PM
Doesn't the president have more important things to do?
Like run the country? Fight the rising unemployment? Read the bills he signs?
Posted by: Avery Brundidge | October 1, 2009 8:17 PM
Is it true that Chicago friends of Obama have speculatively bought up large tracts of land which are slated to become Olympic sites should the Olympics end up in Chicago? I've seen this alluded to on various websites, but have been unable to find specifics.
Does anyone know of specific sites with accurate information?
Posted by: Ben Tacheron | October 1, 2009 8:42 PM
Alternate Caption;
Hi ho's, hi ho's, it's off to work we goes.
mmm,mmm,mm
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | October 1, 2009 11:14 PM
when bush was going to his ranch for months of vacations nobody seemed to be bothered... republicans just losst it. In the end of the day what he is doing its gonna potentially create thousands of jobs in the long term. ah and to paul you were hired you can be fired, u should show a bit of respect to ur officials pal. republicans just prove that they have shifted far to the right with these silly comments
Posted by: Alex | October 2, 2009 4:43 AM
Big Deal, we won't have the Olympics in 2012, I'm sure by then President Jindal won't care.
Posted by: Maxwell | October 2, 2009 3:41 PM