Obama Goes for the Gold and Loses
President Obama took a risk, traveling to Copenhagen Oct. 2 and making the pitch for Chicago to host the 2016 Summer Olympics. He was the first American president to appeal directly to the International Olympic Committee for an American city to host the games. And just hours after Obama boarded Air Force One back to Washington, the IOC eliminated Chicago in the first round of voting.
Because the Olympic bid was for Obama's hometown, and because so many members of his inner circle were backing the effort, the selection of Rio de Janeiro over Chicago and the other two finalists - Madrid and Tokyo - is a  personal blow for the president. It immediately raises questions about his standing in the international community. Rio was considered the front runner heading into the final meeting, which only increased the pressure on Obama. If Chicago overtook Rio, it would have been Obama's victory.
But now Republicans and other Obama critics are likely to suggest he does...
Because the Olympic bid was for Obama's hometown, and because so many members of his inner circle were backing the effort, the selection of Rio de Janeiro over Chicago and the other two finalists - Madrid and Tokyo - is a  personal blow for the president. It immediately raises questions about his standing in the international community. Rio was considered the front runner heading into the final meeting, which only increased the pressure on Obama. If Chicago overtook Rio, it would have been Obama's victory.
But now Republicans and other Obama critics are likely to suggest he does...
