I'm a Steeler fan, through and through, ever since I was a little kid.

Today, Mr. Rooney made me very proud of that! :)

This will play well among male voters in Pittsburgh.

Must have been the sight of Hillary knocking back her shot and beer.

Wow, Dan Rooney could actually mean something -- from Franco's Italian Army to the Rooney Rule, he's often found a way to make racial progress part of working class life.

Very interesting to this hometown boy!

Everyone knows that the Steelers represent the latte drinking elite in America. Sniff.

This is excellent news for Hillary!

This is a huge endorsement in western PA. Football is a lot more than a sport here and Rooney's importance locally can't be overestimated. In these small towns surrounding Pittsburgh, it's not just God and guns that people turn to - it's football.

Steelers fans don't like whiny crybabies like Hillary Clinton and Kordell Stewart.

Thanks, Mr. Rooney.

Smart move.

This is great news in view of the poll of today...Senator Obama needs as much as support as possible...We need to ensure he is as closed as possible next week. The debate will hopefully help him to win some precious points...

Anyone else notice the sudden up tick in pro Hillary ad buy? Shouldn't she be spending her money on paying off debts.

Well, one thing is probably true, this will get at least as much press play in Pittsburgh as Obama's comments. It's really hard to convey what the Steelers mean in Pittsburgh. I've probably posted this before, but I did GOTV in Pittsburgh in 2004, and that Sunday before the election was also Halloween, and btw, the day of the Steelers/Patriots game. There was big controversy about the municipal trick or treating times because it was estimated that kids would be out in droves just as the second half was getting under way. There was concern that people might not answer their door.

Still, it makes me sad because the importance of the Steelers has increased pretty much in direct proportion to the amount of economic dislocation that Pgh., and in particular the mill towns on the rivers, have experienced.

Although, the Steelers have always been a big deal. I remember seeing the "Immaculate Reception" about 1000 times on tv back in the day . . . a local news station showed it EVERY TIME it had a station break.

Scientific said: "I'm a Browns fan, born and raised - but I have great respect for Mr. Rooney, and even more so now. Great letter." (I still can't figure out how to make the cool quote box).

Same here. Big Browns fan and I have a soft spot for the true blue collar football teams, even the Steelers (dammit). Typically, a sports related endorsement like this (Magic Loves Hillary!) doesn't really mean squat. But football really matters to many people. The Steelers really matter to many people. Rooney really matters to many people. I think this is big.

Go Browns.

By the way, if Modell endorses Obama, I'm voting for Bob Barr. I'm just sayin'...

Honest question here as a Cowboy fan:

Is this a well-liked owner?

I wouldn't want Jerry Jones endorsing Obama.

Important update, Greg. Thanks.

Dan Rooney isn't just a well liked owner he is the patriarch of the most respected family in the city of Pittsburgh.

I am intrigued by his endorsment of Senator Obama. Not because, Dan Rooney is a supporter, but that he would publicy announce it. The Rooney's are not new to politics, Dan Rooney's father, Art "the chief" was a democratic ward captain around the same time he founded the Steelers in '33.

Also, a Rooney was considering a run for Senate in Fl. as a republican.

Dan Rooney has the overwhelming trust of Pittsburghers. When he releases a popular player for salary cap reasons, few fans seem to get agitated.

Even though, the Pirates and Penguins make regular threats to leave the city, the Rooney's never do.

People love him and he loves them. it will be interesting to see if there is any negative blow back to him by Republican Steeler fans.

In 2000, Pat Bowlen, the owner of the Broncos endorsed Bush. As did, Mike Shannon - the headcoach. It angered many.

Come on.

No one has done more for Pittsburgh than Barack Obama.

This post won't address the current thread at all. (My apologies.) However, I owe Greg an apology.

Greg, A couple of days ago I accused you of bias when you interviewed Clinton's campaign manager. I said that you never do the same for Obama. (Oy! Did I sound like the sterotype of the Obamaniac or what?)

Obviously, you write pieces addressing both candidates. Needless to say, you are a fine journalist. I need to spend a lot more time reading your work before I knee-jerk to criticize.

Thanks,

L.

Why that no good Judas Rooney. How dare he do this after my husband watched the Super Bowl with Governor Richardson. Is this any way for Mr. Judas Rooney to repay someone who actually took the time to watch his NFL Super Bowl thingie.

Fetch me my camouflage Pantsuit, and my twusty hunting wifle, that my pa taughs me to shoot, when I was just a young en, back in the 1950's when all small town fathers were in the vanguard of the feminist movement.

Be wery wery quite, I am hunting for that pesky Wooney.

Burp......hic.......zzzzzzzzz.

Damn right he does!

I wonder if Dan Rooney felt he had to endorse Obama. The Rooney's typically shy away from politics. Growing up in Pittsburgh, I never heard of Dan Rooney even being a registered Democrat until the Steelers won their 5th Super Bowl (Just a reminder - the Browns have none)and the Steelers were invited to the White House. There was an article that said Rooney accepted the President's invite depsite the fact that he was a Dem.

Then the other day, I was reading this article about Sophie Masloff - former Pittsburgh mayor endorsing Senator Clinton. In the photo going along w/ the article was a pic of Sen. Clinton holding a Steelers' jersey with her name on the back.
I'm wonderng if Rooney saw that and feared a perception that he was endorsing Clinton.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08101/872022-457.stm

Expect Clinton to respond by reminiscing about the time at Wellesley she won a football game against Vassar with a 63 yard pass on the final play.

I just saw Hillary on TV, speaking to a Pittsburgh crowd of union folks. She tried to bring up Obama's comments, but people in the crowd started shouting, "No! No!" She got no applause, no agreement. The bitter have spoken.

The TV talking head who was at the event reported that the crowd didn't want to hear her talk about this, said she's started hurting herself by going on and on about it. Watch for the Youtube vid on this, someone will surely put it up there soon.

The TV talking head who was at the event reported that the crowd didn't want to hear her talk about this, said she's started hurting herself by going on and on about it. Watch for the Youtube vid on this, someone will surely put it up there soon.

Can I just say to the people of Pennsylvania: thank you for restoring my faith in real democracy.

Thank you for being real.

It's almost comical. When questioned about his dismissal of small-town people's faith and core values, Obama says "Shame on Hillary Clinton!" lol

You know, Greg, the problem with referring to Rooney's excellent endorsement of Obama as "boilerplate" is that it minimizes its importance (although I see that you later acknowledged that it will be a "big deal" in Western Pennsylvania.")

I think it's important to recognize the substance of what Rooney is saying here, because it goes to the heart of why people are so energized by Obama's run for the nomination, and ultimately, the Presidency. Obama is unique in his willingness to take on difficult issues head on. He doesn't promise miracle solutions, but he speaks with a frankness and an honesty that conveys integrity. That's what makes him different. That's what gives people the sense that he truly can represent a change in the way that government has failed to represent the interests of average people. That's why he's been able to generate the kind of grassroots support that is simply without precedent.

If you've heard others say the same things about Obama, then you can consider these reports, from people who carry great respect within their communities, to be reliable. I don't know Rooney, I don't live in Pittsburgh, and I don't follow football. But, to hear another respected community leader speak of the qualities that will make Obama a truly great leader for our country, reinforces my belief that he's the right choice for our Presidential candidate.

Can some one please explain how Hillary Clinton can claim that she grew up in Scranton, Pa.

There is nothing said about it on her online White House First Lady Bio Profile.

She was born in the Chicago area, and spent all her youth there, so why is she allowed to claim that she is from Scranton Pa. Here is her actually history.

Hillary[1] Diane Rodham was born at Edgewater Hospital in Chicago, Illinois,[2] and was raised in a United Methodist family,[3] first in Chicago, and then, from the age of three, in suburban Park Ridge, Illinois, which is also located in Cook County.[4] Her father, Hugh Ellsworth Rodham, was a child of Welsh and English immigrants[5] and operated a small but successful business in the textile industry.[6] Her mother, Dorothy Emma Howell, of English, Scottish, French Canadian, and Welsh descent,[7] was a homemaker.[4] She has two younger brothers, Hugh and Tony.

As a child, Hillary Rodham was involved in many activities at church and at her public school in Park Ridge. She participated in tennis and other sports and earned awards as a Brownie and Girl Scout.[8] She attended Maine East High School, where she participated in student council, the debating team and the National Honor Society. For her senior year she was redistricted to Maine South High School,[9] where she was a National Merit Finalist and graduated in 1965.[9] Her parents encouraged her to pursue the career of her choice.[10]

Raised in a politically conservative household,[11] at age thirteen she helped canvass South Side Chicago following the very close 1960 U.S. presidential election, finding evidence of electoral fraud against Republican candidate Richard Nixon,[12] and volunteered for Republican candidate Barry Goldwater in the U.S. presidential election of 1964.[13] Her early political development was shaped most strongly by her energizing high school history teacher, who got her to read Goldwater's classic The Conscience of a Conservative[14] and who was, like her father, a fervent anti-communist, and by her Methodist youth minister, like her mother concerned with issues of social justice; with the minister she saw and met civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. in Chicag

Good move.

Western PA are underdogs. PA in general is an underdog. Losign population, jobs gone, few prospects.

It's no wonder they voted against Bush twice, even though he made the more visits o PA than any other state.

Greg Sargent knows boilerplate, it's all he ever puts out. He and Eric Kleefield are charter members of the Mayhill Fowler Fan Club.

Also from today's Chicago Sun Times;

Patrick Buchanan joining criticism of Barack Obama as "elitist and out of touch" for saying that some Americans "cling to guns or religion" in troubled times:

"This is very demeaning to simple working-class folks."

Then again, do you think our politicians could find a way of defending "simple working-class folks" from being demeaned without demeaning them?
Gee, when did she think of that?

News Headline: "Clinton portrays herself as a pro-gun churchgoer."

And will cling to both for as long as it takes.
Avoiding those Bosnia snipers

News Headline: "Clinton: 'Not relevant' last time I went to church, fired gun."

Can we please let her cling in peace?

Liam,

Thanks for the post above - good biographical info. Not that I'm in the practice of defending her in the slightest, but all I've heard from her about Scranton is that her father grew up there and she vacationed there. New low in pandering if she claims it as "home."

Yes, I know - but as far as Lombardi trophies go it is 5-0.

I am glad to see the Browns competing again for division dominance. I would rather the Steelers' face a competitive Browns then see the Ravens ever win another game.

Rooney did not think he "had" to endorse Obama in reaction to Sophie Masloff's Hillary endorsement and Steeler shirt gift; he's been planning the endorsement for weeks but was on vacation in Florida with his grandchildren when Obama was in Pittsburgh before. And for those calling the Rooneys "elitist" you couldn't be more wrong; they embrace strong Catholic values and have not given handouts or free rides to their kids. All their kids support themselves and not all of them work for the Rooney organization. If you ever have a chance to meet any of them, they are just extremely nice people.

WIll someone please make this whore go away? Where's Randi Rhodes when you need her?

Obama has Franco Harris, the Bus, and now Dan Rooney. If I wasn't already committed to the man, I sure would be now. It might not push too many voters in his direction, but it sure makes my Monday a whole lot better. When I get home, I'm pulling on my "Double Yoi!" t-shirt and cracking open a Yuengling in its "One for the Thumb" beer cozy. A good day for Steelers Nation.

Having lost the Steelers fans, I would suggest Senator Clinton go for Eagles fans in the eastern part of the state. Here is how to do it. She should:
(1.) paint her face green
(2.) go to the parking lot of the stadium
(3.) drink a lot of beer
(4.)take off her shirt
(5.) pass out

All Eagles fans will then vote for her.

O god, another outbreak of Self Importance delusion.

Folks, what we say here matters to exactly the number of people who are online at any time here,

and that's all.

Unless you are insane or stupid enough to base your support of a candidate on what some jackass says online, and in that case, you're hopeless anyway.

This isn't life and death and if people get rude, it is not going to affect Obama's chances for election. I promise. The rest of the world is totally uninterested in us.

Greg,

Although minor, I would agree with the other comments that "boilerplate" is/was not the best choice of words, but so what? (It's no less a gaffe than "bitter"). It is, however, a pretty strong endorsement in Western Pa., and comes from someone with credibility and integrity in those parts. I did like his "underdog" comment at the end, which in my read was certainly not boilerplate.