FLOTUS: Chicago needs Olympics because American kids are fat; Plus: The Jarrett whitewash
Michelle Obama wants you to know that the all-out Chicago Olympics bid is not for The Cronies.
It’s for…The Children!
Especially, says Mrs. O, the fat children:
We need all of our children to be exposed to the Olympic ideals that athletes from around the world represent, particularly this time in our nation’s history, where athletics is becoming more of a fleeting opportunity. Funds dry up so it becomes harder for kids to engage in sports, to learn how to swim, to even ride a bike. When we’re seeing rates of childhood obesity increase, it is so important for us to raise up the platform of fitness and competition and fair play; to teach kids to cheer on the victors and empathize with those in defeat, but most importantly, to recognize that all the hard work that is required to do something special.
Chicago can’t keep its children safe, let alone fit. How about letting another international city foot the massive bill and instead exposing hometown children to Olympic ideals by securing their neighborhoods first so they have somewhere to swim or ride bikes without fearing for their lives?
***
The White House blog has also posted a response to criticism of the crony Olympics bid on the Glenn Beck show.
Here’s the audacious Obama administration whitewash of Chicago’s fiscal ills:
RHETORIC: CHICAGO IS CLOSING THE GOVERNMENT SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO BE OPEN. Beck’s guest Caddell said, “Chicago is closing the government several days a week because they cannot afford to be open. They are going to go and reward — this is the biggest scandal.” [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]
REALITY: CHICAGO HAS HAD ONE REDUCED-SERVICE DAY IN 2009, AND WILL HAVE TWO MORE ON THE FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING AND ON CHRISTMAS EVE. On August 17, 2009, CBS Chicago reported, “If you planned to check out a library book, visit a city clinic or have your garbage picked up on Monday, you’re out of luck. The City of Chicago is basically closed for business on Aug. 17, a reduced-service day in which most city employees are off without pay. City Hall, public libraries, health clinics and most city offices will be closed. Emergency service providers including police, firefighters and paramedics are working at full strength, but most services not directly related to public safety, including street sweeping, will not be provided. That also includes garbage pickup. Residents who receive regular collection on Mondays should expect trash to be picked up on Tuesday. Some other customers may experience a one-day delay as collectors catch up. As part of the 2009 budget, three reduced-service days were planned for 2009, days which are unpaid for all affected employees — the Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve; and New Year’s Eve. The City Council recently approved moving the reduced-service day planned for New Year’s Eve to Monday. The 2009 budget anticipates saving $8.3 million due to the reduced-service days. In addition to reduced service days, all non-union employees were asked to take a series of furlough days and unpaid holidays, and most non-sworn union employees agreed to similar unpaid time off.” [CBS Chicago, 8/17/09]
The city has a budget hole of $700-$800 million (and rising). The Chicago public schools are $500 million in the hole. Hospitals are in cutback crisis mode. Daley leased out parking meters to raise $1 billion in cash. Furloughs have hit thousands of workers in city government and as well as the schools. And more can be expected if the Olympic bid is successful.
The White House also attempts to downplay both the appearance and reality of Jarrett’s conflicts of interest:
RHETORIC: VALERIE JARRETT WILL BENEFIT FINANCIALLY. Beck asked, “Is it possible that she is going to benefit if the Olympics come to Chicago?” Caddell responded, “Well, that’s the word. She has certainly had a lot of dealings going on in real estate.” [Transcript, Glenn Beck Show, 9/29/09]
REALITY: UPON ENTERING GOVERNMENT, VALERIE JARRETT DIVESTED ALL HER REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS EXCEPT FOR A SINGLE INVESTMENT THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OLYMPIC BID. Valerie Jarrett divested all her investment real estate holdings upon entering government except for a single real estate holding that she was unable to sell. This single real estate investment has been determined by White House Counsel and the independent Office of Government Ethics to present no conflict of interest in performing her duties as a White House advisor. It has nothing to do with the Olympic bid.
The White House has not identified which “single real estate investment” Jarrett has retained. Taxpayers have to take the White House at its word that the property “has nothing to do with the Olympic bid.” The other divestments do not absolve her of conflict of interest questions. She is involved directly in self-dealing — lobbying HUD with the Chicago 2016 bid chair Lori Healey to siphon federal funding for the $1 billion Olympic Village.
Jarrett’s former slum-breeding real estate firm, The Habitat Company, still stands to benefit from Olympic Village contracts:
The biggest building project by far would be the Olympic Village, to be constructed on land the city has agreed to buy for $86 million. The city will use an unspecified amount of property tax revenues to pay for infrastructure costs such as new streets and sewers for the development, which would be turned into a new residential community even if the city doesn’t win the Olympics.
Chicago hopes to sidestep Vancouver-type problems, Ryan said, by using multiple developers and lenders on the village development. “Vancouver selected a single long-term financial partner, and that’s where the problem came.”
Eleven developers have already expressed interest in the property, including Joseph Freed & Associates, Magellan Development Group, Related Midwest and a team made up of Enterprise Development, Fogelson Properties and Forest City Enterprises, of Cleveland. Another interested party is Habitat Co., whose former chief executive was Valerie Jarrett. Before becoming a senior adviser to President Barack Obama, Jarrett was a vice chairman of the Chicago bid team.
And, of course, she is the current de facto Olympics czar in the White House.
Jarrett presided over the gross deterioration of public housing. Many of the same city housing officials who stood watch over these failures are now on the 2016 bid committee with interest-conflicted developers like Michael Scott Jr. Martin Nesbitt, Jarrett’s old family friend and Obama’s finance chair, is currently on the panel and head of the Chicago Housing Authority.
The untold story is the “public-private partnership” racket between developers and Chicago government of which Jarrett was an integral part. As de facto Olympics czar, she has used White House authority, staffing, and budget to push for the mass redistribution of wealth from ordinary citizens to Chicago’s richest power brokers and real estate moguls.
Some “ideal.”
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Hey, maybe we can make them a deal: letting them bring the games to Chicago in exchange for scrapping ObamaCare. That can be their new health care reform package.
I believe they have crime angle covered. According to Gore Vidal, by 2016 Obama will have imposed a military dictatorship by then. I’m sure the new “shoot to kill” orders will keep things under control.
The kids are fat because they can’t go outside and play, like I did when I was young. The streets are unsafe and they would rather sit indoors and play video games, while Mom runs down to McDonalds. Dad isn’t around; probably never was, according to stats. Olympics won’t do a darn thing to help “the children”. What a lousy excuse, expressed to impress the ignorant.
Are we to assume now that everything else Glenn Beck said on his show today was the truth…ya know since the WH censors only corrected a few errors?
Bring it on.
Those “yutes” who beat the one other “yute” to death with railroad ties didn’t look too fat. What is Michelle Odumbo trying to say?
Our kids are fat because they don’t get any exercise at public school. The schools don’t have playgrounds anymore; someone might get hurt and sue the school.
Our kids are fat because the public schools are more intent on indoctrinating the students into the new world order of Leftism, Gaia, and Moral Relativism. Outdoor activity at school takes away valuable class time.
Our kids are fat because they don’t have a parent home after school to make them play outside and not watch 200 channels of TV or play video; both parents must work in order to pay the taxes and try to get by.
Our kids are fat because it isn’t safe for them to play outside anymore. Kidnapping, perverts, drug dealers, and other sociopaths infest our streets and parks.
Why does Michelle’s husband want to take summer vacation away from the fat children, which will hinder their opportunities to work towards a goal of being Olympic athletes? (Except for children like Malia and Sasha who go to private schools and get to enjoy their summers of course).
It requires funds to learn how to ride a bike?
That is a bizarre statement to say the least. Growing up in the 60′s and 70′s nobody around us had any money, certainly not like today’s helicopter parents or their pampered youth. With little supervision or equipment all we ever needed was an empty lot or schoolyard to get together pick-up teams of baseball or football. Any small wooded area or dead-end street served for a number of other adventures and games.
All of this was done (gasp!) without parents hovering around or some formal organization. There were quite a few cuts, bruises, stitches and even a few broken bones but in the end everybody survived and was better for it. No, the problem is not lack of money or organization but an excess of it. Nor do unruly thugs roaming the streets help, but unfortunately pointing out anti-social behavior is so, well, judgmental. And who would want hat?
If I lived in Chicago, I’d rather have a fat kid safe inside my house than a fit one beat to death outside.
What difference does the location of the games make to fat kids? They’ll be sitting on the couch watching cartoons and eating candy regardless.
Sadly, once again the great Obama-ette mirrors her husband’s arrogance in thinking that most Americans are dumb enough to believe this hogwash that bringing the Olympics to Chicago will help the children. Bringing the Olympics to Chicago will mean that most of the area kids will probably be watching it on tv, just like they would be doing if the Olympics were held in Brazil, Japan, Russia, or anywhere else in the world. If athletics is indeed becoming more of a fleeting opportunity, which I do not believe, then it is sad that children of today need to be taught how to play.
Same for me in the 80′s and 90′s, jsr. I don’t remember requiring any funds to ride my bike, well, except for 50 cents every now and again for an orange giant Mr. Freeze from the neighborhoold mini-golf course.
I’m so very tired of hearing the Obama’s pontificate on every friggin’ subject under the sun. Of course, they wouldn’t have to if they weren’t always constantly needing to spin away and make excuses for their corruption.
I’m sure some affiliate of ACORN’s collects giverment grants just to teach inner-city kids how to ride bikes.
I suspect most kids will be doing the same.
Meanchelle’s tripe about it being for the children ignores the fact that most parents wouldn’t be able to afford to buy them tickets to get into any of the events anyway.
Is this the same crack team of experts that vetted Van Jones?
Since this right hand advisor of Obama has NOT been confirmed by the Democratic senate, it can only be assumed she is too CORRUPT to pass such scrutiny.
True – and a lot of the thugs are not only violent sociopaths, but also obese.
Obama should aim for keeping Chicago kids alive first and then come up with the O-diet plans for ‘em.
I agree with part of her statement. I don’t see how childhood obesity rates would be affected much. But if our children see the importance of competition and fair play, it could help them understand the importance of capitalism. They might also come to realize that when the government gives bailouts and subsidies to some companies and not others based on politics, it is neither “competition” nor “fair play”, and it is not the way true capitalism is supposed to operate. But I suspect that this is not what Michelle Obama had in mind.
I echo most of the comments here about growing up. I was happy to have a bike and friends to play with OUTDOORS all day long. We dug tunnels, built forts, went fishing, chased girls with lizards, and usually had at least one dog tagging along with us. We fought constantly and made up constantly. I cannot remember watching tv in the daytime. And, I cannot remember any kids that were fat in those elementary school days, 1955-1960. We don’t need “fat kid excuses” to lobby for the Olympics. I, too, am getting very weary of “hearing the Obama’s pontificate on every friggin’ subject under the sun”.
Everything Democrats purpose to do is supposedly “for the children”. How soon before they make the argument that high taxes are good for fat kids because they make sure parents are too broke to overfeed their children?
I suspect they would consider it ideal if they could tax us 100% and then give us just enough food stamps each month, redeemable only on certain health foods, to survive. That would be a Utopia to them — as long as they were part of the ruling elite and the rules didn’t apply to them. Have you noticed that the people who are always arguing for higher taxes are the same ones who neglect to pay taxes? For some reason their own rules are meant to apply to everyone but themselves.
Geez …
Let the children live under the in-home dictatorship of their parents, for God’s sake!
RWR
http://www.rightwingrocker.com
Is there anyone keeping track of people who are under the Obama bus? So now fat kids are there too…
And yet we have the story linked on Drudge this week that a town is telling a mom that she and her son can NOT bike to school or walk to school. The mom and child want to get exercise into their day – and the school is trying to regulate behaviors of families OUTSIDE the classroom. Yeah sure – Dems have our health as their main concern……they really care about obsese children and adults…..only as far as they can buy their votes.
Good news little kids. Continue to eat and sloth all you want now, because you’ll be so motivated by watching synchronized swimming and other mundane sports on TV in …7 years… you’ll be able to shed those pounds immediately.
The brain patterns of this group continue to amaze and delight me.
How much do the liberals care about the children or anyone else? Very damn little from where I stand. The only beneficiaries will be their rich cronies who have lined their pockets for 45 years with our tax dollars and we have let them get away with it.
I received an email this week showing Hiroshima as it was after the A-bomb was dropped and then what a gleaming metropolis it is today. The same email went on to show Detroit as it looks like today. I imagine that Chicago (at least the Valerie Jarrett portions) would look much the same. Empty, gutted and burned out buildings and homes looking like something from a post-apocalyptic movie.
What a sad, but true indictment of liberalism and the failure of Democrats and black ‘leaders’ to do what is right for people. We as taxpayers have contributed trillions of dollars to the “War on Poverty” and have photographic evidence of the ‘war zones’ in those urban areas to prove it. Makes me sick to my stomach.
Let’s clean house in 2010 and finish the job in 2012.
That would be good, if we could find politicians who aren’t as corrupted as the ones now in office. It’s a rare find when a true statesman leads the nation and have people who care more about the country than their bank accounts and power. I’m concerned that all we will get in 2010, and 2012, are the same people, different names; same speeches, different words.
I can NOT believe that the White House blog, using MY tax money is attacking a television news organization. They are calling Fox News liars right there on the White House web page! This is too much. These people are in full “take over” socialist mode and must be stopped!
That’s a good one! Her husband was a community organizer, he couldn’t improve the south side of Chicago. But hey I am sure if the Daley machine gets the 2016 Olympics, finally things on the South Side of Chicago will finally get better/SARC
What happens when the Oylmpics turns them down? Because they know exactly who they will have to deal with.
Funds for learning to ride a bike? Did she make that statement in front of a group of first-graders?
And that swimming thing…last time I visited Chicago, there was this big lake next to it. Is it still there?
Gee, where’s that stimulus money earmarked for bike paths and playgrounds? and will have the soda tax to discourage drinking those high sugar drinks. Now the flawed thinking is that the Olympics will make fat kids skinny? Can’t wait for their next bright idea.
Laree, Al Capone did more to control crime in Chicago than Mayor Daley or obummer. This is not ment to be sarcastic….
Chicago (ironically the Home of Community Organizers) has the biggest cluster of “Community Organizers” in one loacation, than probably anywhere else in the world..yet their “Communities” are delapidated, crime, ridden sewers.. and the next generation of thug Chicagoites is going to be even worse.
Great Job!!!!! (Sarcasm)
what a joke!
you don’t need money to play some sports- just look at soccer and baseball. in africa- if the zero remembers where that is- they manage to play soccer with rags tied into a ball.
if things keep going the way they are- we will be doing the same.
Got up this morning and went to Rush’s site. Listen to this phone call, that Rush offers for free:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_093009/content/01125114.guest.html
We’ve been on that path for years now. It started with the war on drugs, and 9/11 had a steroidal effect.
You should have seen the GOP convention. The entire building was surrounded by a fence (not just a flimsy chain link, either) and sharpshooters were stationed all around the roof.
I was looking at pictures of Pittsburgh, and found it amazing to think that is actually American soil.
It’s frightening to see how much force we tolerate all in the name of being safe. We should be embarrassed to pretend we’re still a free country.
If the government man comes to give your kid a bike …. don’t take it!
The perfect sales couple with the Chiclet smiles, expensive clothes, and 19th century “progressive” Marxist product. Come on Rio!
This is another illustration that the Obamas are just front/pitchmen for the real hub of power – George Soros and his cadre. Without them he is just another charismatic revolutionary waving Mao’s Little Red Book on the street corner. Shows the real power of dirty money.
What do you expect since gun ownership has been in the political and judicial crosshairs since corruption ran rampant in politics? If politics were not so corrupted to the bone, I doubt gun control would even be a blip on anyone’s radar of liberty. Government at any level fears an armed public…
And gee, I wonder why. Cockroaches fear the light as well.
Great call!
Thanks for the link, I didn’t’ get to listen to Rush yesterday. I love this woman’s passion and heartfelt cry for help for our nation. I’ve forwarded this link to everyone on my email list and urge everyone here to do the same.
the cockroaches running our government must be wearing sun shields and sun glasses. They get bolder and more corrupt every day.
Curious how “FLOTUS” is one letter away from “flatus”…
Something smells…
I think it’s possible thatthere are
O-cronies in Chicago that have mandated the O-lympics … otherwise out comes the whitey tape or some other damning evidence that will scotch 2012.
this is all about $$$…$$$ that the chicago mafia including jarrett and emanuel can make building the infrastructure for the games and then housing all the visitors around the world that may or may not come. It will do little for those “fat” kids since they won’t be the ones training for the games.
Way back when I was in 8th grade, our school was challenged under the Presidents physical fitness program (no he never made speeches or flew all over the country visiting schools otherwise mine would have been one to come to) we exceed the standards and were recognized by Presidential letter. Now that is a program dear leader could do and spend almost nothing on and be somewhat effective. But know he’ll spend almost a million just to show his mug to get something most of chicago doesn’t want!!
…like sulfur, and it’s coming from you-know-where.
Now does she really wanna talk about ‘fat’ with Oprah backing her up?
If Michelle Obama is so into sports, why is her tailgate so huge?
Another Chicago teen beaten nearly to death but other teens. http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/10/teen-attacked-in-edgewater.html
Olympic Slogan, “Chicago welcomes the world with bats at the ready.”
the beast is lying, the only reason she wants the olympics in chicago is wrapped in payback paper. and with jarrett by her side there can be no doubt. jarrett is the epitome of corruption, payback is prominent in this scam.
I’d rather see the Olympics held almost anywhere than in Chicago.
Well that does it for me–if the White House said it is so it must be so:
I am sending my check to the FLOTUS/VALERIE JARRETT Chicago Olympics Bid today! Good people have some compassion and LOVE; someone has to bail out Ms. Jarrett’s condemed property-it might as well be you.
—
Obama Loves me yes I know mm-mm-mm
You mean, give Chicago teens the opportunity to beat an Olympic athlete to death? I can see that happening. Gotta show who da man!
Another kid was beaten overnight.Hope the Olympic Committe watches the news.
Teen boy in critical condition after beating in Edgewater Teen boy in critical condition after beating in Edgewater .www.newsonfeeds.com
Sounds like Chicago children are getting quite a bit of exercise fleeing for their lives or whacking each other with railroad ties. Maybe they should spend a bit more time indoors…in handcuffs.
If Chicago gets the 2016 games, look for these new additions to the sports calendar:
The 3-meter board – In a sixty-second period, the athlete gets to swing a 3-meter piece of lumber around willy-nilly in a crowd. Points are awarded for the number of fatal or near-fatal blows to the head of the innocent crowd members. Bonus points are awarded for the level of taunting made after a successful strike.
The 1000-meter ghetto steeplechase – Participants will socialize and create terror until police sirens are sounded. The athletes must then evade capture and/or recognition by police or concerned citizens until they reach their designated safe place. Instant disqualification if the participant’s face is caught on high-quality film.
The urban decathlon – The athletes will participate in the following ten events:
1. Smoke crack and/or snort cocaine.
2. Become a communtiy organizer.
3. Befriend admitted terroritsts.
4. Become an elected state official.
5. Write one or more autobiographies.
6. Vote “present” on important issues.
7. Get elected U.S. Senator.
8. Swear in, then start run for president 10 minutes later.
9. Get spouse well-paying job that did not exist 2 hours prior and get sweetheart real estate deal from alleged crooked developer
10. Run successful campaign for U.S. president.
These events will definitely leave a lasting Chicago impression on the Olympic Spirit.
What? No bowling? It wouldn’t be a “special” Olympics without bowling. Even IOC spokesperson B. Obama said so.