GOP Un-American by Celebrating US Olympic Loss

Whenever President Barack Obama has traveled overseas and offered pointed and direct assessments of the United States, some critical, Republicans have ripped him for criticizing America, saying a president always should defend the United States.

So I want to hear the explanation of these so-called patriots for their giddy behavior over the United States' losing the 2016 Olympics.

Yes, the United States. The bid that was rejected Friday by the International Olympic Committee was NOT a Chicago bid. It was the official bid submitted by the United States Olympic Committee and was representative of the nation. Tokyo's bid was that of Japan; Madrid's was that of Spain; and Rio de Janeiro's was that of Brazil.

Republicans want to spin the decision as a massive loss for President Obama and for the Democrats, who always have controlled Chicago politics. Any red-blooded American who loves to see the American flag raised and the national anthem blasted when one of our own wins a gold medal should blast their giddiness over the loss.

I can recall growing up and crying along with millions of Americans when our hockey team beat the Soviets in 1980 to advance to the final game. Where were those Olympic Games? Lake Placid, N.Y. Euphoria spread all across the nation, not only because we beat the mighty Soviets but also because it took place on American soil.

When Carl Lewis and Mary Lou Retton dominated the 1984 Olympic Games, we all beamed with pride because they represented the U.S.

And when Michael Johnson stormed around the track to obliterate the world record in the 200-meter dash (since broken by Jamaica's Usain Bolt), we relished the victory as he took a victory lap around the stadium in Atlanta.

Americans love home-field advantage, and we always desire to show the rest of the world what we are made of.

I don't care if Republicans want to rip President Obama over his going to Copenhagen to make a pitch for Chicago. This isn't about politics. It's not about ideology. This is about America. OUR pride. OUR chance to shine. OUR loss of the Olympic Games.

So to all of the critics happy about our losing the 2016 Summer Games, turn in your flag lapel pins, and stop boasting of being so patriotic. When an American city loses — as New York did the previous go-round — we all lose. And all of you bums are the same as the America haters around the world.

You're un-American and should be shouted down for not backing your own country. So the next time one of you idiots bangs out a "buy American" or "support our troops" news release, remember this moment, when your cynical, callous and small-minded brains happily rejoiced at America's losing the 2016 Olympic Games.

Way to go, you modern-day Benedict Arnolds!

Roland S. Martin is an award-winning CNN analyst and the author of the forthcoming book "The First: President Barack Obama's Road to the White House as originally reported by Roland S. Martin." Please visit his Web site at www.RolandSMartin.com. To find out more about Roland S. Martin and read his past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM