A worthwhile effort

Even though Chicago lost its bid to host the 2016 Olympics, I have come around, and changed my mind this week about President Barack Obama's decision to go there to make a personal pitch.
 
Days ago I joined the moaners who wondered how Obama could possibly have chosen this as a priority for his time when this very week his administration was tackling the thorny engagement of Iran, the preparation of sanctions against the Iranians, as well as an assessment for a way forward in Afghanistan. Both situations will likely dominate his presidency and test his leadership during his entire time in office. Next to dealing with Iran and Afghanistan, the decision to lobby for Chicago's shot at hosting the Olympic Games seemed petty.

 But Pat Buchanan turned me around on this story by making the case that if Chicago lost and Obama hadn't tried to win it for his adopted home city, he would have been criticized for not helping out. That it was a pitch for American jobs, jobs from the time a decision would be announced this year through 2016. Indeed, it is clearly an opportunity so rich that the king of Spain, the president of Brazil and the prime minister of Japan all saw fit to make the trip to Copenhagen as well.
 
Let's not forget to mention that Obama took Karl Rove's advice and met with Gen. Stanley McCrystal to discuss Afghanistan during this less-than-24-hour journey.
 
Obama will be criticized now for failing to win the Olympic Games for Chicago and for all of America. He did, after all, put his political capital on the line, and he failed to deliver. But even with the uproar it created, I think it was worth the try.
 

WHAT IS THE FALLOUT FOR OBAMA NOW THAT CHICAGO LOST THE GAMES? Ask A.B. returns Monday, October 5th. Please join my weekly video Q&A by sending your questions and comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thank you.