Bookeristas have strong feelings about the Obamas' involvement in pitching Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics. I'm pulling for my hometown, but most bookeristas ain't feeling the bid:
Afrocity: "The Chicago Olympic Games From Start To Finish"
The moderate-conservative Republican blogger in Chicago, Ill. argues that President Obama needs to be more focused on the violence happening in his home base of Chicago's South Side: "New York rarely takes a backseat for anyone but thanks to the election of Barack Obama, a Chicagoan, the city has benefited from being the most mentioned in the news. While not an Obama supporter, I did find it fitting that Chicago produced our first African American president. As the nation’s 'Black Metropolis' she definitely deserved that accolade. However, I am troubled by what this all means for black Chicago should the 2016 Olympic games happen. Today as President Obama makes his way to Copenhagen, in a last ditch effort to pitch the Chicago games, there is a lingering faint smell of blood and death in the air. A boy, an honor student, was beaten to death in the fair city."
She continues her commentary about the president and Olympic pitching: "Where are the words of hope and change President Obama? Yes you can fly to Copenhagen with Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley to pitch for the 2016 Olympic Games. Yes you can speak out during a national press conference on the alleged shoddy racist treatment received by Professor Henry Louis Gates from the Cambridge Police Department. Yes you can give props to the Chicago White Sox and put down Republicans like Michale Steele during fancy $700 a plate dinners…But where is the outrage over what is happening in the great city that you community organized? For many of the residents in Chicago your presidency is not translating into real change they can believe in. Who can they pray to? Who will they light a candle for at the alter [sic]?"
Namaste: "Obama Plays Hooky, Goes To Copenhagen"
The conservative blogger argues that President Obama has misplaced priorities: "Last time I checked we were in the middle of heated debates about Obama’s urgent health care plan. Last time I checked we were also in the middle of a WAR. Oh and excuse me, but Chicago?! Last time I checked the man-child thugs were beating an honor student to death with a wooden plank in the Chicago streets. Teenage murders have been on the rise in Chicago for the last three years. All three of these clowns, Barry, Shelly, and Harpo are from the [W]indy [C]ity of killing fields. One would think they would leverage their celebrity to reverse the crime rates, especially among youth. This is the hypocritical liberal garbage that really grinds my gears. B/S and Harpo are more interested in preening than applying themselves where it might do some good. As for the inner-city Chicago constituents that helped put them in the White House? What do they care? All that really matters is their president is black. Hooray."
Clarence Page: "Violence Video Spur Bad Politics"
The moderate-liberal columnist argues that while Chicago has its problems, it is much preferable to Rio de Janeiro: "As Richard Nixon once said of presidential campaigns, there are no silver medals in this race. The competition for the games is intense and so is the opposition in Chicago. Chicagoans were about evenly split on hosting the games, according to a recent Chicago Tribune poll. The Internet crackles with critics of the Olympics, Daley, Obama or all three. Some raise the death of Derrion Albert and other young victims of school or street violence to argue Chicago might be too unsafe, too corrupt or too indifferent to the plight of its poor to host the Olympics. Unsafe? Compared to...Rio? Here's an Associated Press account of life in Rio during a week in early September: A police shootout 'stopped a commuter train and sent passengers fleeing for cover.' Officers conducted a drug raid on a slum, 'keeping 2,000 children out of school.' Police gun battles 'killed more than a dozen suspected traffickers.' Yet that was the same week the IOC released a report that gave high praise to Rio's bid for the 2016 Games. The sad fact is that most of the violence that plagues metropolises like Rio or Chicago occurs in parts of town to which tourists do not usually go. Tragically, this makes the pain of poverty and violence too easily ignored by those who could do something about it. Yet video and the Web have the power to break down the emotional walls that separate communities from one another, even when they transmit a misleading message."
Cultural Strategist: "Some Chicagoans Want Better Schools Rather Than The 2016 Olympics"
The conservative blogger in Atlanta metro, Ga. writes: Many Chicagoans hope city loses vote Friday Interestingly enough - today I read an article that indicated that the Chicago City Council has voted to cover any Olympic based losses using city financial resources. The first thing I thought of upon reading this was last year's protests in Chicago about school funding. How is it that the city council that could not find money to full fund their schools can find money for backing the Olympic games?"
Sandra Rose: "Obama Makes Pitch For Olympics While Children Are Dying In Chicago"
The conservative blogger in Atlanta metro, Ga. opines: "Last night Chicago police arrested residents who tore down an Olympic 2016 banner. Score another one for the me-president. Barack Obama will fly into Copenhagen tomorrow to make a pitch to bring the Olympic games to Chicago in 2016. Obama makes his pitch despite the fact that unemployment in his political hometown is in the double digits and crime is at an all time high. So far there is no word from Obama about the death of Derrion Albert, 16, who was beaten to death last week as he walked home from school. More children died violent deaths in Chicago this year than in any other city in America. But all Obama cares about is bringing the Olympics to a city where basic services like water, sanitation and power often don’t work. He doesn’t care about the children or the residents who don’t want the Olympics in their city."
More: "Some residents are so concerned about the burden that the 2016 Olympics will place on the city’s budget that they created a web page NotChicago.com. The sole mission of the website is to support the other cities that are vying for the Olympic games 'because we would very much prefer that the Olympics be held somewhere other than Chicago — anywhere but Chicago.' If Chicago does win the bid there will be plenty of police and National guards on hand to protect the International visitors. That’s more than they are willing to do for their own residents."
Bob Parks: "Michelle's Copenhagen Taxpayer-Funded Junket"
The conservative Republican blogger in Manassas, Va., on Mrs. Obama's arrival in Denmark: "Yes, she’s from Chicago. Yes, she’s the First Lady, but she’s also First Lady of the whole United States. Why do we all have to pay for a trip her hometown may or may not benefit from? Half of Chicago doesn’t want it, but we all get the bill.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are both traveling to Copenhagen this week to promote Chicago’s bid to host to the 2016 Olympic Games – and they will be making the 3,979-mile trip on separate airplanes. Taxpayers will pick up the tab for both jets ferrying the president and first lady separately to Europe.
Using the Congressional Research Service cost estimates and the inflation adjuster from the Bueau of Labor Statistics, the cost for the one-way 7.5-hour trip from Washington, D.C. to Copenhagen on the first lady’s plane would range from $29,532 (White House Military Office) to $107,717 (U.S. Air Force).
Obviously it will never happen with this First Couple of lottery winners, but maybe the next president and wife will respect forcibly-confiscated tax dollars as we do."
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