Republicans Criticize President Obama's March Madness Picks As "Clearly Political"

As a candidate for office, Barak Obama declared that he would put the needs of the country ahead of politics. And as President Obama has repeatedly stated that his policies are not beholden to the wishes of the Democratic Party but rather reflective of what's best for all Americans. The President's claim that he's apolitical, however, has been recently challenged by a number of Republicans who point to his March Madness bracket as "clearly and undeniably the product of political calculations."

Specifically, Obama detractors underscore that the President's picks to win the various games that comprise the men's college basketball championship almost always favor schools from swing states.

"The President portrays himself as a man above politics," stated Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa pointing to a blown up image of President Obama's bracket from ESPN.com. "But VCU [Virginia Commonwealth University] over UCLA. C'mon that just smacks of pandering."

Grassley was referring to the fact that when faced with a choice between two schools, Obama more times than not chose the one located in a swing state. He pointed out that this obvious political maneuvering occurred most often when the President picked upsets, situations where the lower seeded team was predicted to beat the higher seeded team.

According to an in-depth analysis commissioned by the GOP, Obama picked 9 seed Butler, which is based in the swing state of Indiana, over Louisiana State, located in the heart of a red state. Similarly, the President chose West Lafayette, Indiana-based Purdue (5) over Washington (4). Obama, claims the report, also predicted North Carolina (1) to beat Louisville (1) - a minor upset based on the current AP poll - because North Carolina is important to a 2012 run while Kentucky is not.

"It is clear that even while participating in the simple task of making a bracket our new president can't help but make carefully calculated, political picks," averred GOP Chairman Michael Steele. "It's sad that the President has sullied March Madness, one of the greatest American pastimes, by unabashedly politicizing the entire thing. This is not something that John McCain would have done."

Speaking of the former presidential candidate and Arizona Senator, Steele added: "Plus Obama had #11 Temple beating #6 Arizona State which was not only a clear nod to the swing state of Pennsylvania but an obvious and shameful dig at Senator McCain, one of this nation's greatest war heroes."

Republicans are carefully monitoring the President's other sports predictions in order to further prove their theory that Obama can't help but inject politics into everything he does.

"The NHL [National Hockey League] playoffs are beginning soon and you can bet that we will be vigilantly watching the President's picks," stated commentator Rush Limbaugh on his popular afternoon radio program. "Though knowing Obama's political nature, it's obvious that he is going to have current 6 seed Pittsburgh meeting fellow underdog Columbus in the Stanley Cup finals. Who he picks to eventually win the whole thing will probably depend on the polling data from that day."

"If Obama is going to mix politics with hoops how can we believe him when he says his budgetary decisions and foreign policy are not influenced by nefarious forces like beltway insiders, party hacks and Nancy Pelosi," continued Limbaugh. "People who put politics above everything else are disgusting, simple as that."

Democrats have responded to the Republican offensive stating that not only is the President's bracket wholly unpolitical but the GOP's attack shows that they are uninterested in constructively contributing to the national dialogue.

"Once again Republicans have shown their true colors by attacking something as silly as President Obama's basketball picks in order to distract the American people from the nation's more pressing concerns," remarked Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. "Moreover, I know for a fact that Limbaugh made a number of stupid predictions - who in their right mind would have Mississippi State in the Sweet Sixteen? - and is probably just sore that the President is roundly beating him in ESPN.com's Tournament Challenge."