Romney Didn't Build That: His Olympics Were Bailed Out By Taxpayers

[bushisanidiot]

http://www.wbur.org/2012/10/19/romney-olympic-bailout

"Of the half-dozen Olympic officials interviewed for this article, none said that the games would have been a failure if not for Romney’s intervention. David Wallechinsky, a commentator for NBC’s Olympic coverage and the author of several Olympic reference books, said that Romney played an important role in budget and PR matters. But beyond that, “his involvement is greatly exaggerated.”

“A lot of people could have stepped in and made it work,” he told The Huffington Post. “Not to say he did anything wrong. He did what he had to do. What he did was fine. The way he portrays it, however, is absurd … The Olympic movement had survived two world wars, a terrorist attack, and boycotts. It could have survived a bribery scandal.”

Almost as soon as he arrived in Utah, Romney said he wanted an additional $8 million in loaned property and cash from the Mormon Church. The church’s involvement was already controversial.

Among those who were unhappy was Utah’s wealthiest businessman, Jon Huntsman Sr., father of the unsuccessful GOP candidate for president.

Huntsman Sr., a well-known church leader, criticized Romney for exploiting his ties to the church. He declared: “These are not the Mormon Games.” After claiming to have scoured the world for the best person, Huntsman said, “Mitt brings in one of his cronies” from Bain to be the number two person in charge of the games, adding him to a leadership team of Mormons that included Romney and the chairman of the games.

Romney realized the church’s largesse and the games sponsors couldn’t cover costs. So where did the private sector champion go for help? To the federal government, of course. He even became a registered lobbyist.

Romney, who opposed the auto bailout, went to Washington seeking a big taxpayers’ check to bail out the games. When he got wind of it, Sen. John McCain denounced the “staggering sums” that Romney wanted the federal government to spend on the games. This was years before McCain and Romney would tangle in the 2008 presidential primaries. “The American taxpayer is being shaken down to the tune of nearly a billion and a half dollars,” McCain told the Los Angeles Times. McCain vowed to stall or kill “this pork-barrel spending.”

This battle between Romney and McCain raged for two years. McCain said of Romney: “Never get into a wrestling match with a pig. You both get dirty, and the pig likes it.”

Inevitably taxpayers picked up a big tab for the Salt Lake games. While taking credit for “turning around” the Olympics, Romney got President George W. Bush to turn around and tuck $2.7 billion into his budget to cover the games’ deficit.

A former Salt Lake City council member, Sydney Fonnesbeck, had served on several Olympic organizing committees, including one with budget oversight. She told Huffington Post that the [Olympics Committee] became less transparent under Romney. “He closed ranks,” she said. “I certainly didn’t see a budget after Mitt came in.”"

[bluerum]

1. He didn't build it. No he did not. You know, this shit sandwich would go down

just a little easier if the mitt thief was paying more than 14% in taxes . You know - like most of the taxpayers who bailed him out.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. How about all the special fees

jammed down the throats of Utah home owners,F---en Church run operation. Wake up folks,this all of a long range plan.