Citing President Obama's trip to Copenhagen Thursday to sell Chicago's Olympic bid, RNC chairman Michael Steele accused the White House and Democrats in general of losing focus.

"Is the focus health care? Is the focus cap and trade? Is the focus energy? Is the focus job creation?" Steele asked. "I think the president needs to, along with the members in Congress ... tell the American people what their focus is going to be in the fall and into next year. Because I don't see tell-tale signs of economic strength but rather continued weakness in the job market; continued weakness in the Wall Streets and Main Streets of America that create the wealth we need to stimulate the economy."

Steele, speaking on a conference call with reporters this afternoon, said it was "noble" of President Obama to want to help his home town's bid, sending the first lady would have been enough in his eyes.

"I think that at a time of war, I think in a time of recession, at a time where American are expressing rather significantly their concerns and frustrations ... about health care, about the economy, about a host of domestic issues, and even international issues -- while nice, it is not necessary for the president," he said. "This administration has been pushing like hound dogs on getting a health care bill pronto. If it's that important to the president, then stay home and get it done."

Asked about Steele's criticism, White House press secretary Robert Gates jokingly asked who he was rooting for to host the 2016 games. "Is he hoping to hop a plane to Brazil and catch the Olympics in Rio?"

He also noted that Obama wouldn't be staying in Denmark long enough even to find out who the winning city would be so that he could keep working on health care and Afghanistan.

Who's he rooting for?

(LAUGHTER)

Is he hoping to hop a plane to Brazil and catch the Olympics in Rio?

(LAUGHTER)

I don't know. Maybe it's Madrid.