The president of the United States raced to Denmark on Thursday to lobby to have his hometown, Chicago, host the 2016 Olympics — and came home with his tail between his legs.
The whole episode was as unbecoming as it was unnecessary.
Let’s face it: Obama’s vaunted charm and rhetorical skills go only so far.
Despite the president’s dramatic personal drop-by, the International Olympic Committee chose Rio de Janeiro to host the games.
True, that selection wasn’t so surprising: South America has never hosted the Olympics. But no one expected Chicago — a frontrunner, with Rio — to be voted out on the first round of balloting.
Particularly, in light of how much groveling and America-bashing the president did (and has been doing to appease foreigners almost since he took office).
In Copenhagen, Obama said he hoped to use the Olympics to improve America’s image. (Memo to the prez: America has nothing to be ashamed of.)
And when an IOC member cited the “harrowing experience” of visitors to the US, the president let it slide — saying merely that he’d make sure Olympics visitors felt welcome and came away with a sense of America’s “incredible diversity.”
Harrowing experiences, indeed.
America welcomes over 50 million visitors a year; many become permanent residents and citizens. How do they treat foreigners in, say, Iran or North Korea — or even some parts of Europe?
Yet for all of Obama’s sucking up, he left empty-handed — and with the dignity of his office cut down a few notches.
Yes, Obama’s sales skills are impressive. But even he will have a tough time persuading folks to act against their own perceived best interests.
Whether it’s the Olympics. Or health care. Or Iran’s quest for nukes.
At some point, substance matters more than style. And the sooner Obama learns that, the better for all concerned.