Obama praises Olympic athletes
By REID J. EPSTEIN | 8/4/12 7:03 AM EDT
President Barack Obama morphed into the first fan in his weekly radio address broadcast Saturday, praising the nation’s Olympic athletes competing in London.
The flag-waving continues the president’s effort to tether himself to popular winning Olympians — he congratulated gold medalists Michael Phelps and Gabby Douglas from the campaign stump this week during stops in Ohio and Virginia.
While Phelps is world famous and Douglas is about to be, Obama made a point of shouting out a handful of lesser-known winners.
“I’m just as proud of all our athletes in sports that don’t always get as much attention,” he said. “The U.S. women’s eight continued its rowing dominance with another gold medal. Kayla Harrison won America’s first-ever gold medal in Judo, and Marti Malloy won a bronze. Kim Rhode became the first American to win individual medals in five straight Olympics with her gold in skeet shooting; and her teammate, Army Sgt. Vincent Hancock, won his second skeet gold.”
Focused on the Olympics, Obama’s remarks harkened on themes from his campaign. His language about teamwork and dedication is identical to phrases he uses to describe the middle class on the campaign.
“It’s that unconquerable spirit — that American spirit — that says even though we may have very different stories to tell, even though we may not look alike or talk alike or be dealt the same hand in life — if we work hard, we can achieve our dreams,” he said. “We can make it if we try. We are one people, with common values and ideals; we celebrate individual excellence but recognize that only together can we accomplish great and important things we cannot accomplish alone.”
He continued: “That’s why we watch. That’s why we cheer. That’s why we come together, for two weeks in summer, and swell with pride at the incredible things our fellow citizens can do.”
And Obama noted that his wife, Michelle, led the American delegation and “reaffirmed the special relationship we share with our strongest ally, Great Britain.” He did not make any reference to GOP rival Mitt Romney or his since-retracted criticism of London’s preparation for the games.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, delivering the weekly Republican address, also noted the nation’s Olympic athletes but spent the bulk of his remarks calling for income tax cuts.
Cantor (R-Va.) touted the House vote to continue the Bush tax cuts for all income levels and bashed the Senate for voting to allow them to expire on income above $250,000.
Cantor reminded listeners that during the 2010 lame-duck session, Obama and Democrats agreed to extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone.
“You know, it’s odd that less than two years ago President Obama actually agreed with House Republicans that a tax increase on our small businessmen and women would hurt our economy,” Cantor said. “This raises the question: Does President Obama now believe our economy is doing so well that we can afford to raise taxes on small businesses?”
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