GOP Calls Obama Olympics Lobbying Trip Unnecessary

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is saying out loud what some of Washington is thinking: In the middle of a heated healthcare debate, what is President Obama doing traveling to Copenhagen to lobby for his hometown's 2016 Summer Olympics bid? During a telephone press conference this morning called by Steele to question Obama's lack of focus on the economy and jobs, the only two questions he faced were about Obama's bid to help Chicago beat out other world cities for the summer games. Here's the RNC transcript of the first question:

BETH FOUHY (ASSOCIATED PRESS): Good morning, Chairman Steele. Thanks for taking my call. Just to clarify, you said that you're concerned that the president and the Democrats have lost focus, and you did reference the president's upcoming trip to Copenhagen as an example of perhaps where he's lost focus, I just wanted to clarify if indeed that's the case, if you feel that's another example of him not concentrating on jobs and the economy and healthcare and so forth.

CHAIRMAN STEELE: I do very much, Beth. I think while it's a noble idea for the president to want to pitch his home city Chi-town for the Olympics, and of course America would be more than honored to host the Olympics in the future, I think that at a time of war, I think at a time of recession, at a time where Americans have expressed rather significantly their concerns and frustrations over the course of the spring and summer about healthcare, about the economy, about a host of domestic issues, even international issues, I think that this trip, while nice, is not necessary for the president. I think the first lady would have been and should have been the lead here and let her go and sell Chicago. But the goal should be creating, not job opportunities seven years from now but job opportunities today. I think what the president is doing is not necessarily helpful and does not, in my view, instill the confidence in the American people that the focus is on jobs, wealth creation, and moving us beyond recession to prosperity.

An audio version from the GOP is here.