Steve Chabot : Gold Medal Fool

Former Ohio Congressman Steve Chabot continues to wade deeper into retirement every time he opens his mouth, or in this case, his keyboard. Chabot, on his campaign blog, this week attacks the President for his decision to fly to Copenhagen to try and secure the 2016 Olympics for the City of Chicago.

Now some say its fine that he goes, and that it will create jobs if Chicago gets the Olympics (7 years from now).  Others argue that at a time of war and recession this is a distraction from much more important, pressing issues (and after all look at that huge carbon footprint Air Force One will leave hauling a bunch of Chicago cronies over the ocean to Copenhagen and back). 

Chabot consistently falls into the Fox News recycling bin and types up content that the cable channel has been pimping for days. In one, simple paragraph, Chabot makes himself look not only foolish, but excessively petty - even by Chabot standards.

Claiming Obama's trip, even if successful, wouldn't produce jobs for seven years shows how little he understands the economy or the impact an event like the Olympics has on a region well in advance of the games. People don't just show up with suitcases in 2016 and compete with whatever is there. If Chicago gets the games, it's pretty likely there will be shovels in the ground as early as Halloween. New lodging, sports facilities, technology infrastructure, and transportation improvements are simple examples where immediate work will be needed to get ready for the games. This work will create thousands and thousands of jobs overnight. And because of our proximity to Chicago, it's likely some Ohioans will see benefits as well. Plus, the improvements don't go away once the torch is extinguished. Look to Atlanta for examples of what the Olympics can do to a city - a world class public transportation line, exciting and functional public space, and vibrant neighborhoods where vacant buildings once stood 13 years ago.

Chabot doesn't stop with the jobs "argument." He suggests...well, he says "others argue"...that because we're at war, that the President should just stay in Washington, roll the dice, and hope we get the games. Of course, it's pretty unlikely Chabot was equally critical of President Bush taking frequent vacations back-and-forth to Texas on Air Force One while in office. And Obama isn't even clearing brush. He's looking for every opportunity to grow the economy and get people back to work - a concept lost on the GOP who haven't been able to articulate an economic agenda that doesn't revolve around tax cuts for the wealthy.

Finally, Chabot takes a lame closing shot at Chicago's leaders suggesting they're all cronies looking to live-the-dream by kicking it on Air Force One. Very tired. Very predictable. Very Chabot.

Steve Chabot needs to take a little time to see how bad things got on his watch. To suggest that the president is distracted and unable to manage his time is laughable. Chabot hasn't been able to focus on anything other than revenge since the polls closed in November. While Steve Driehaus and President Obama have been hard at work looking to create every job possible, Chabot can't get past creating the only job he cares about - his own.