>>>Barack Obama Under Fire Over Trip for Chicago’s Olympic Bid<<<

[link to www.telegraph.co.uk]

The president left Washington last night amid the private misgivings of fellow Democrats that he might squander more of his diminishing political capital on a failed effort.

His hesitancy about going to Denmark – last week he said he was too busy – has also led to criticism of his decision-making while Republicans have questioned the value of the 24-hour mission with debates raging at home on the economy, health care and Afghanistan.

Others asked if he would be properly focused on the high stakes nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva, which concluded as he lifted off from Andrews air force base.

It will be the first time a US president has appeared before the International Olympic Committee to lobby for an Olympics. Mr Obama hoped to emulate Tony Blair, who helped London win the 2012 Olympics by travelling to Singapore for two days of meetings with IOC members, and Russia's Vladimir Putin who went to Guatemala to lobby in support of Sochi's bid for the 2014 Winter Games.

Presidents and prime ministers from the three other 2016 contenders, Brazil, Spain and Japan, were all due to support their countries' bids in person.

"If you actually go to Copenhagen and meet with the Olympic committee, you're really on the line to deliver," said Darrell West, a political analyst at the Washington-based Brookings Institution. "If he succeeds he is a hero, but given his personal involvement if he fails he doesn't look very good."

Mr Obama's stunning rise to the White House gave the impression of a man blessed by luck and talent, but the realities of office have seen his popularity ratings drop sharply.

"He had the golden touch but the varnish is coming off," said Mr West.

"He has to husband that political capital and not waste it on peripheral issues."

John Feehery, a Republican strategist who is originally from Chicago and supports the bid, said: "For Obama the upside is not that great because no one else in America cares if Chicago gets it. But the downside is that if Chicago loses people will ask why did we elect this guy who was supposed to restore America's image overseas if he can't even do that?

The risks outweigh the benefits.

"You could make a case he should go but the decision should have been made a while ago and other things should have been added to the trip.

The White House hasn't been very clever about this."

Republican critics have said that the salesmanship should have been left to Michelle Obama, who arrived in Copenhagen on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters at The White House before her departure, the first lady said she knew her husband's involvement raised expectations.

"You're darned if you do, and you're darned if you don't," she said.

"I'd rather be on the side of doing it."

Congressman Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, the leading Republican on the House intelligence committee, said Mr Obama's decision indicated that he had had muddled his priorities.

"The president can't make everything a number one priority, because the end result will be that there is no priority," he said.


WHAT ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN FIGHTING IN WAR!!!!!!!!

Last Edited by Cyndexia on 10/02/2009 12:55 AM