Check out Chicago streets downtown!

[mucifer]

The week he was elected president, Barack Obama's hometown hung banners in his honor in the Loop. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley's campaign committee paid for the banners. (Jose M. Osorio / Tribune / November 6, 2008)

Consider the power of the Barack Obama brand. Almost overnight, he has exploded as a global phenomenon, lauded by average people and those in power.

Then look at Chicago. Still haunted by images of factory soot, stockyards and gangsters, the city's international identity is trapped in the past.

That's why the city's boosters are rubbing their hands together. They are excited by the prospect of using brand Obama to sell Chicago as a destination for corporate offices, tourists and the 2016 Olympics.

"We couldn't pay for the marketing we're getting," said Rita Athas, executive director of World Business Chicago, a city-funded agency charged with attracting and retaining businesses. "I hope this finally makes Al Capone dead. … The buzz is now about the history-making president we have here."...snip

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun-brand-obama-chicago-nov23,0,4439572.story




Pretty sweet!

[polichick]

1. Makes me wish I still lived there - even if it's ridiculously windy this time of year...

That's a terrific shot!

k&r

[jaxx]

5. Me too!

That pic is just great.

[Captain Hilts]

10. I got blown off my bike in Toronto two weeks ago. Same deal!

[liberal N proud]

2. Trapped in the past?, I always thought Chicago celebrated it's colorful past

I would rather visit Chicago that New York (sorry New Yorkers). I feel safer on the streets of Chicago than many other cities.

Chicago is a great fun city to visit.

I don't think I would want to live there though, but it surly would be better than living in the Cleveland area.

[mucifer]

4. Chicago is a compilcated place lots of great stuff. Lots of murders, too.

I do hospice work and drive all over the city and I'd love to see some things change. We will see what the future has in store for us.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Rostenkowski, Farrakhan, Cabrini Green, Daileys, "Ayatolla Jane," Capone...

[psychopomp]

7. Geez, how about all the great people who came from Chicago?

Anyways, that wasn't what I wanted to comment about. I just wanted to say that if it wasn't for my friend from Chicago's observation, I wouldn't have noticed that all the Obamas were wearing Chicago Bulls red and black on election night!

[Captain Hilts]

9. We're talking of why the city wants to shift its image. It doesn't want to shift from the good

things.

[bluecollarcharlie]

12. Im not from ChiTown but i think your post is excessivly irritating...

....who cares about Rostenkowski, Farrakhan, et al? There is always someone to ruin a party. Gotta dredge up the bad past.

[Captain Hilts]

18. I LOVE Chicago, but the post was talking about turning around its image, which I'm for...

but, as the article said, the city is known for gangsters, etc.

It is.

[mdmc]

6. In the ghetto of Newburgh "YES WE DID!"

bootleg shirts and hats are for sale all over the place.

[mucifer]

8. Here in Chicago they are selling Obama swag at walgreens. ( Tho that might be

all over the country). Of course walgreens Obama swag is made in China and the official Obama swag is union made in the USA.

[mdmc]

13. yup

in the local bodegas they cut the "made in China" tags off. The shirts come in big plastic bags that have the size written on them in marker.

No Obama stuff in NY walmarts, though I admit that is just a guess...might have to look into it... I don't shop there but my employer does...

[KittyWampus]

11. I find it overdone and a little creepy.

[1776Forever]

14. Not only did Barack's Brand change Chicago but look what it did around the world for the entire US!

Yes, he is a phenomenon and a great one! I had prayed to God for the last 8 years for a person to come to take over the evil of the Bush Administration and now I feel that President Obama is an answer to my and many other prayers.

[slackmaster]

15. Doubleplus good!

Oldthinkers don't bellyfeel blackwhite.

(Anyone who doesn't understand my statement should see http://www.newspeakdictionary.com/ and naviate to the 1984 Newspeak Dictionary)

[high density]

17. Yes...

This is taking "W - The President" bumper stickers to a whole new level...

[ellie]

16. I love Chicago!