Outside the Beltway

Mike Ditka: I Should’ve Run For Senate Against Obama

Doug Mataconis
18

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Former Chicago Bears Head Coach Mike Dikta regrets not getting into the 2004 Senate race against Barack Obama:

The former Chicago Bears football coach, a Republican, says that if he had run for the U.S. Senate from Illinois in 2004, he would have beaten Obama and ended his political career then and there.

“Biggest mistake I’ve ever made,” Ditka said during a public appearance in North Dakota. “Not that I would have won, but I probably would have and he wouldn’t be in the White House.”

Ditka, now an ESPN football commentator, publicly flirted with a Senate run in 2004, but decided against it.

Obama aides past and present scoff at Ditka’s presumption.

“Mike Ditka only pretended to run for Senate so he could publicize his restaurant,” tweeted former presidential aide Tommy Vietor. “And Obama would’ve smoked him.”

Well, at the very least Ditka would’ve been entertaining, and far saner than Alan Keyes.

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18 responses to “Mike Ditka: I Should’ve Run For Senate Against Obama”

  1. rudderpedals Avatar
    rudderpedals

    Looking at it from Mr. Ditka’s perspective, things worked out great. He can look forward to a lucrative future peddling prostate remedies and reverse mortgage schemes.

  2. Woody Avatar
    Woody

    Saner: Unquestionably true, but oh my what a low bar
    More Entertaining: Much more of a contest, if I recall Keyes’ campaign accurately.

  3. Rob in CT Avatar
    Rob in CT

    “Mike Ditka only pretended to run for Senate so he could publicize his restaurant,” tweeted former presidential aide Tommy Vietor. “And Obama would’ve smoked him.”

    Sounds so familiar. So many of these guys are grifters. In it for the book deal or the Fox gig or whatever.

    But whatever. Coulda, shoulda, woulda but didn’t. Cry in your beer, Mike.

  4. anjin-san Avatar
    anjin-san

    Living proof that talk is cheap.

  5. grumpy realist Avatar
    grumpy realist

    But if he had, we wouldn’t have a benchmark on the Crazifiction Factor.

  6. mantis Avatar
    mantis

    As a longtime Chicagoan, Bears fan, and Ditka fan, I must say this:

    “Mike Ditka only pretended to run for Senate so he could publicize his restaurant,” tweeted former presidential aide Tommy Vietor. “And Obama would’ve smoked him.”

    is completely true. People knew he wasn’t serious, and he would have lost miserably–but not as bad as Keyes–if he had been. Ditka was a good coach, but would be a terrible politician.

  7. PJ Avatar
    PJ

    “Not that I would have won, but I probably would have and he wouldn’t be in the White House.”

    Was there any mention in “League of Denial” that concussions leads to delusions?

  8. Todd Malone Avatar
    Todd Malone

    But what if Ditka was only 14 inches tall? Who would win them? Obama or mini Ditka?

  9. Franklin Avatar
    Franklin

    Sort of makes you wonder if any possible future presidents were snuffed out of politics early by losing to somebody on name recognition alone.

    But yeah, I can see how terrible it is that we have Obama instead of John “I’d have us in five different wars right now” McCain or Mitt “I’ll bet you $10,000” Romney.

  10. anjin-san Avatar
    anjin-san

    Brainy, low key Bill Walsh was a far more successful coach than Ditka. I suspect brainy, low key Obama would have had little problem defeating the blustering Ditka.

  11. C. Clavin Avatar
    C. Clavin

    Ditka’s biggest mistake was not giving the ball to Walter Payton instead of William Perry.
    Despicable man.
    He should have gone to jail for that.

  12. al-Ameda Avatar
    al-Ameda

    “Biggest mistake I’ve ever made,” Ditka said during a public appearance in North Dakota. “Not that I would have won, but I probably would have and he wouldn’t be in the White House.”

    Wow, Mike Ditka is a bloviating bozo? Who knew?

  13. sam Avatar
    sam

    Hmmm. In 2003, Mike made an ad for Levitra (Football hero Ditka hired in impotence ad battle). Let’s write some opposition ads…

  14. Moosebreath Avatar
    Moosebreath

    @sam:

    He’d certainly suffer electile dysfunction because of it. If it got too hard for him, he’d probably have to pull out.

  15. Midwestern Dad Avatar
    Midwestern Dad

    Great tight end. Pretty good coach. At times (like this) a pompous jerk who would have been handed his head; if he ran for senator against Obama. If I could have up voted mini Ditka ten times; I would have done so!!!

  16. Rusty Shackleford Avatar
    Rusty Shackleford

    What about Obama vs. a tornado… but the tornado is named Ditka?

  17. josh Avatar
    josh

    Wut Mantis said. Adding, there’s a clip of Ditka talking politics when he was weighing getting into the race. He sounded no less stoopid or insane than Keyes. And I say this as as devout Lefty and lover of COOOAACHHH!

  18. Midwestern Dad Avatar
    Midwestern Dad

    Obama beat Keyes 70 to 27% in 2004. Ditka may have done better but would have gone off on someone several times and still lost big.

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