So claim some famous and some notso famous Chicagoans is the reason the Windy City lost its bid for the 2016 Olympics Friday.
And the Chicago Sun-Times was more than willing to quote them all on Saturday:
"There must be" resentment against America, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said, near the stage where he had hoped to give a victory speech in Daley Center Plaza. "The way we [refused to sign] the Kyoto Treaty, we misled the world into Iraq. The world had a very bad taste in its mouth about us. But there was such a turnaround after last November. The world now feels better about America and about Americans. That's why I thought the president's going was the deal-maker."
Wow! Someone should tell Jackson America refused to sign the Kyoto Treaty in -- wait for it -- 1997! But there's more:
State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) said she saw firsthand the resentment against America five years ago when she was in Rio de Janeiro. "I feel in my gut that this vote today was political and mean-spirited," she said.
"I travel a lot. ... I thought we had really turned a corner with the election of President Obama. People are so much more welcoming of Americans now. But this isn't the people of those countries. This is the leaders still living with outdated impressions of Americans."
Wow! So when she travelled to Rio in 2004, there was resentment towards America. Wasn't that all supposed to change with the election of Obama?
Apparently not:
U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said she was approached by a consul general at the plaza as they waited for word Friday. "He said ... he was hearing that there wasn't enough time for Barack Obama to dispel the old image. ... But I don't know if that's it."
Well, if you don't know if that's it, why repeat it?
Exit question: will Bush Derangement Syndrome ever end, or will the left in this nation be forever able to blame the world's ills on our 43rd President?
*****Update: Allah at Hot Air reminds readers of a very inconvenient truth (h/t NBer sarainitaly) --
Chicago was selected as a finalist for the 2016 games last summer, when the Chimperor was still president. So much for Bushism poisoning the city’s chances.
Sara gives us the dates:
On April 14, 2007, Chicago was selected by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) as the United States Bid city, and on June 4, 2008, the IOC named Chicago as one of four finalists to host the 2016 Olympic games.
As such, I guess all this anti-American sentiment began some time between Obama becoming the Democrat's presidential nominee and now. After all, Hillary conceded on June 7! :-)
