Ron Hart: Blame it on Rio

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”

Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”

The Obamas took separate jets to Copenhagen to make a “great sacrifice,” one that they felt would sway the corrupt second- and third-world leaders who make up the International Olympic Committee in favor of the Obamas’ hometown of Chicago. The first president of color is in office now, but it turns out that color is not green.

When the Games were awarded to Rio de Janeiro, residents erupted with excitement and relief — the residents being tax-weary Chicagoans.

Some were upset with the president for investing the prestige of the Oval Office on a matter so fraught with caprice. I say if he wants to go do that, it is fine.

As many will remember, Bill Clinton was involved in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. I think Clinton won several medals during his presidency — mostly for broad jumping, as I recall.

It was tragic to see self-described “popular international” President Obama take such a big swing and miss. His considerable charms and personal presence were not enough to get Chicago to even the second round of this contest. And just think of the time he wasted. He could have been back home practicing with his partner, Chris Matthews, for their upcoming appearance on “Dancing with the Czars.”

With his health care takeover on the ropes and now the international community not yielding to his “rock star” charm (as an aside, most women who yield to a rock star’s charms usually end up with an STD), Obama may want to take a more practical look at the world and at himself.

There is a knee-jerk reaction by the left when people do not do what they say and instead act upon their own self-interests. The lefties are always shocked and call those people “greedy” or “selfish.” Yet in reality, we all act each day in our own enlightened self-interest. The Olympic rebuff might serve as a good lesson: the whole world, while often spewing pie-in-the-sky, feel good rhetoric like you, Mr. President, ultimately acts in its own self-interest. Your courtly manner and wide smile do not make a nation vote or act in a manner it otherwise would not.

Negotiating missile treaties with naivete jeopardizes our security. The belief that if the United States lays down its arms, those militant countries that hate us will do the same, is folly. As you deal with North Korea, Iran and Iraq, remember this lesson.

And as you deal with our economy and our trading partners, remember that they, too, will do what is best for them. That is why free and fair trade is ultimately the least racist and best manner in which to conduct trade. A scenario in which the best merchants, craftsmen and providers of products at the best price win is uniquely fair.

For a man who became president having never negotiated a deal over a million dollars (unless you count his personal home that he bought in a shady manner from corrupt political donor Tony Rezo), Obama may be learning something about reality. Personal charm and media-stoked popularity will never trump real-world realities.

I hope he learns this and does not boycott the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games because he views them as too religious, since Rio is famous for that huge statue of Jesus overlooking the city. I guess as long as the Ten Commandments are not posted on the statue, his Secular Czar will allow our athletes to go.

If nothing else, losing to Rio de Janeiro, a city known for topless beaches and bathing beauties, will teach Obama one thing: the starkly corrupt politics of Chicago will lose to stark naked women almost every time.

Ron Hart is a Southern libertarian columnist who writes a weekly column about politics and life. His e-mail RevRon10@aol.com and his book will be out in November. Order at www.RonaldHart.com

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