Michelle Obama: "It's a 'sacrifice' to travel to Europe...

[BishopMnA 0]

Oh ggggeeeeeezzz

Michelle Obama: It's a 'sacrifice' to travel to Europe to pitch for the Olympics. But I'm doing it for the kids.

By: Byron York

Chief Political Correspondent

09/30/09 5:12 PM EDT

In her speech in Copenhagen today, First Lady Michelle Obama said her trip to Denmark, along with the travel of her "dear friend" and "chit-chat buddy" Oprah Winfrey, as well as tomorrow's visit by President Obama, is a "sacrifice" on behalf of the children of Chicago and the United States. "As much of a sacrifice as people say this is for me or Oprah or the president to come for these few days," the first lady told a crowd of people involved in the Chicago project, "so many of you in this room have been working for years to bring this bid home."

"As first lady, as many of you know, I’ve made it a priority to bridge the gap between the White House and communities across D.C. and across the country," Mrs. Obama continued. "I’ve spent much of my first nine months trying to open the doors to the White House to kids who might not otherwise see themselves having access to these institutions, because that’s where I came from – communities like that where kids never dreamed that they could set foot in the White House, let alone live there…And Barack and I made a point of doing the same thing when we lived in Chicago – making the concerns of kids in all sorts of communities our own."

Mrs. Obama said bringing the Olympics to Chicago is especially important right now because "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," she said. In addition, with childhood obesity on the rise, "it is so important for us to raise up the platform of fitness and competition and fair play," the first lady said.

Finally, having the Olympics in Chicago would be important to "let people know that we understand that sports saves lives, that it makes dreams come true, that it creates visions in kids’ heads to make them think they can be the next David Robinson, the next Barack Obama, the next Nadia Comaneci, the next Oprah Winfrey," Mrs. Obama said.

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[natty bumppo 297]

Mrs. Obama said bringing the Olympics to Chicago is especially important right now because "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," she said. In addition, with childhood obesity on the rise, "it is so important for us to raise up the platform of fitness and competition and fair play," the first lady said.

they teach swimming and bicycle riding in school?

[Beth/ Paris Heart 2]

Mrs. Obama said bringing the Olympics to Chicago is especially important right now because "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," she said. In addition, with childhood obesity on the rise, "it is so important for us to raise up the platform of fitness and competition and fair play," the first lady said.

they teach swimming and bicycle riding in school?

Swimming I can kind of understand , but biking? Biking 101??? UGH!!!

[BishopMnA 0]

Apparently, learning how to ride a bike now requires federal funding...

[Peikko 1,575]

You don't think that this is important, or you just like to nit pick over the exact presentation? Seriously, she's not a politician, all she is trying to do is suggest that it might be nice for Chicago to have the Olympics and that sport is an important part of education. Honestly, is your hatred really that blind?

[onuche 0]

Well, what can i say, when people take simple words and try to insinuate whatever they have in mind. Its a shame. I guess they think she doesnt have better things to do than travel to europe.

You don't think that this is important, or you just like to nit pick over the exact presentation? Seriously, she's not a politician, all she is trying to do is suggest that it might be nice for Chicago to have the Olympics and that sport is an important part of education. Honestly, is your hatred really that blind?

[natty bumppo 297]

Mrs. Obama said bringing the Olympics to Chicago is especially important right now because "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," she said. In addition, with childhood obesity on the rise, "it is so important for us to raise up the platform of fitness and competition and fair play," the first lady said.

they teach swimming and bicycle riding in school?

Swimming I can kind of understand , but biking? Biking 101??? UGH!!!

swimming ... the Y and other community associations (pools) must not be doing the job. a swim team ... yea they are there ... only don't you need to know how to swim to make the team? oh ... how many schools actually have a pool?

wonder if biking 101 starts with tricycles ... then bike with training wheels ...

[Peikko 1,575]

Personally, I am not really that 'in to' speeches of any sort but the point is this, it's quite clear what message Michelle was trying to convey, whether or not the speech was a little gauche in places - succinctly put, she believes that it would be good for children, Chicago and America to have the Olympics in that city. She also believes that sport should play an important role in the upbringing of children. So, the question is, is that a good message or a bad one? This whole bunch of ####### about her wishing bike riding was federally funded etc is ridiculous and betrays a very petty mind set.

[NickD 203]

Really a stupid program on our PBS radio this morning, a call in show. Who would you like to trace places with? Michelle Obama was one of them along with Hilary and a bunch of others. I switched it off, didn't want to hear that nonsense, but certainly wouldn't pick Michelle Obama, not only would I need a race and sex change, but would have to travel to Europe. Also wonder if they strip search her and make her stand in extremely long lines for 3-4 hours.

[natty bumppo 297]

Personally, I am not really that 'in to' speeches of any sort but the point is this, it's quite clear what message Michelle was trying to convey, whether or not the speech was a little gauche in places - succinctly put, she believes that it would be good for children, Chicago and America to have the Olympics in that city. She also believes that sport should play an important role in the upbringing of children. So, the question is, is that a good message or a bad one? This whole bunch of ####### about her wishing bike riding was federally funded etc is ridiculous and betrays a very petty mind set.

then she should fire her speech writer and get someone with a few functional brain cells.

attempting to bring the olympics to chicago ... wonder who the obamas are trying to pay back?

[Peikko 1,575]

Maybe she will.

As for the second question, that is much more interesting than whether or not Michele is advocating federal funding for bike riding lessons.

[Dave and Helena 0]

then she should fire her speech writer and get someone with a few functional brain cells.

attempting to bring the olympics to chicago ... wonder who the obamas are trying to pay back?

I totally agree. It would be nice for Chicago if they get the Olympics though. That way they would be known for something more than just being one of the most corrupt cities in the U.S.

[NickD 203]

Personally, I am not really that 'in to' speeches of any sort but the point is this, it's quite clear what message Michelle was trying to convey, whether or not the speech was a little gauche in places - succinctly put, she believes that it would be good for children, Chicago and America to have the Olympics in that city. She also believes that sport should play an important role in the upbringing of children. So, the question is, is that a good message or a bad one? This whole bunch of ####### about her wishing bike riding was federally funded etc is ridiculous and betrays a very petty mind set.

then she should fire her speech writer and get someone with a few functional brain cells.

attempting to bring the olympics to chicago ... wonder who the obamas are trying to pay back?

Olympics would be great for Chicago, but not in the downtown area as opposed, should be on the south side where all the trouble is, they can move the residents of that area to Texas.

[natty bumppo 297]

then she should fire her speech writer and get someone with a few functional brain cells.

attempting to bring the olympics to chicago ... wonder who the obamas are trying to pay back?

I totally agree. It would be nice for Chicago if they get the Olympics though. That way they would be known for something more than just being one of the most corrupt cities in the U.S.

think chicago will make salt lake citys (2002) olympic scandal look like a school boy prank in terms of scandals/ corruption?

[natty bumppo 297]

Personally, I am not really that 'in to' speeches of any sort but the point is this, it's quite clear what message Michelle was trying to convey, whether or not the speech was a little gauche in places - succinctly put, she believes that it would be good for children, Chicago and America to have the Olympics in that city. She also believes that sport should play an important role in the upbringing of children. So, the question is, is that a good message or a bad one? This whole bunch of ####### about her wishing bike riding was federally funded etc is ridiculous and betrays a very petty mind set.

then she should fire her speech writer and get someone with a few functional brain cells.

attempting to bring the olympics to chicago ... wonder who the obamas are trying to pay back?

Olympics would be great for Chicago, but not in the downtown area as opposed, should be on the south side where all the trouble is, they can move the residents of that area to Texas.

heard nuevo laredo has openings ....