The composition of the presidential delegation is political, as is the decision to have the Vice President and First Lady to skip the Opening Ceremony. But the President himself would never have been there.
Obama's got bigger things to worry about than Russia's homophobic law. Like, say, asylum to Edward Snowden. Irrespective to how you feel about what the intelligence agencies do, it's undeniable that his revelations have greatly altered they way they operate and what they disclose.
Russia has been flexing its expansionist muscles lately. Examples include Snowden, bullying Ukraine, and defending Syrian despot Assad, So let's be clear who's contemptuous.
I'm sure Obama will do a photo-op with the Olympians going to Sochi before or after the Olympics, either at the Olympic Training Center or the White House. No politician can resist that.
The German president isn't going either.
It's certainly a far better alternative than suggesting a boycott, which hurts only the athletes.
If you cannot understand why the law is contemptible, then we have nothing more to say to each other.
I don't expect him to attend, and after being out played by Russia in foreign policy he probably does not want to see any Russians.
In recent foreign diplomacy the U.S. should stay home so they can do less harm to our stature in the world.
What do you think? So now Obama won't go to the Olympic to support his athletes directly! That's a childish move. Supporting athletes directly is better than supporting them in your own territory. I think Obama seems to try to back out at Russia just because Russia passed a law! No wonder why Putin treats Obama with contempt!
