The Power of the Pancake

You give a man really good comfort food and he will treat you right. On Monday President Obama was served Pittsburgh's finest pancakes. On Thursday the favor is returned as it is announced that the G20 will take place in Pittsburgh in September. At first I thought a G20 was a used Infinity sedan.

"Since 1999, the G-20 has contributed to strengthen the international financial architecture and to foster sustainable economic growth and development. The G-20 now has a crucial role in driving forward work between advanced and emerging economies to tackle the international financial and economic crisis, restore worldwide financial stability, lead the international economic recovery and secure a sustainable future for all countries."

Apparently President Obama understands when it comes to tackling there is no better place than Pittsburgh. It was just one week before this announcement that the Steelers visited him at the White House. He seemed thrilled by being in the midst of multiple generations of Pittsburgh's greatest tacklers, Joe Greene and Troy Polomola. I didn't even matter that last season's best tackler, James Harrison, stayed behind.

On the international side of things, also in attendance last Thursday was the newest US ambassador to Ireland, Pittsburgh icon Dan Rooney. When is the last time, if ever, that a President lavished so much attention on Pittsburgh. The President also was apparently impressed by our green initiative and leadership in renewable resources. Remember during the campaign he stopped to visit a company that made solar technology products and talked about Fossil Free, a bio-desiel conversion company in Braddock. The David L. Lawrence Convention Center is the first and largest certified “green” convention center “green” in the world and is the only meeting venue to be awarded the Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The President's Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said "Pittsburgh was chosen as the site because, "it's an area that has seen its share of economic woes in the past, but because of foresight and investment is now renewed, giving birth to renewed industries that are creating the jobs of the future,..And I think the president believes it'd be a good place to highlight some of that stuff."

President Obama has treated Pittsburgh right. Pittsburghers treated him right last year during the election and he did not forget. This conference could do wonders for the city. The exposure could lead to great postive attention and potential jobs. Those pancakes are damn good.