I write in response to “Obama’s botched Olympic bid should not be a failure.†I feel that the columnist has failed to give adequate weight to Obama’s attempt and failure to win the bid for the 2016 Olympics. Additionally, I feel her pity toward the president’s failure is misplaced.
Personally, I hold the leaders of America to a very high standard — they have a great deal of responsibility and thus should only seek and hold their offices if they are competent to do so. That being said, I expect the president of the U.S. to be able to handle each and every aspect of his position.
Therefore, regardless of the demands Obama is facing pursuing the other items on his agenda or dealing with the other things on his plate, I would expect him to perform at his best when seeking the Olympic bid. Suffice to say, being a busy man under a great deal of stress is no excuse for a president. It all comes with the territory.
In regards to the weight of Obama’s attempt, I would like to point out this: our presidents often take the world stage in representation of America’s interests, and this president is certainly no exception.
By seeking the bid for the Olympics, Obama, our figurehead, carried with him the interests and reputation of the U.S. The fact that Chicago was eliminated in the first round of voting is a signal that the committee failed to recognize any advantages of holding the Olympics in the city: a blow to Obama’s reputation, and, as a result, America’s on the world stage.
Speaking in broader terms on what this failure means for Obama’s presidency, it could be said that he has overextended himself. In attempts to be a universally appealing leader, he has invested himself in every global issue he can get his hands on, and in the process, he has exhausted his credit with the world.
Essentially, by inserting himself into so many issues, he has cheapened the value of his input.
Suffice to say, no aspect of the president’s job can be said to be independent: it all reflects on his goals, priorities and competence.
James Cole Hatfield
civil engineering sophomore
Well put Cole, I would go even a step further and say that we don’t want the Olympics here anyway. Why would we want to put the Olympics in a city that’s already in debt and have to blow tons of money on elaborate ceremonies. I personally wouldn’t want this type of financial burden even in a growing economy and I can’t see why anyone would want to carry this burden now.