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Owner Of Pittsburgh Steelers Endorses Obama

Obama picks up the support of Steelers owner Dan Rooney, the campaign announces.

Rooney releases an open letter detailing his reasons, and the letter is mostly boilerplate, but in it, he does assert that this is an unusual move for him. It's something that could conceivably reassure blue collar voters put off by the "small town" comments.

Rooney's full letter after the jump.

Late Update: It needs to be said that this endorsement could be a big deal in western Pennsylvania, among the sort of voters that comprise Hillary's base. Obama spokesperson Sean Smith emails over the following:

Dan Rooney is an institution in Western Pennsylvania and understands the people and the region better than almost anyone. When he says that Barack Obama is one of us, it sends a very powerful and meaningful message to a lot of people.
Dear Fellow Pennsylvanian,

Based on the experiences that I have had in my seventy-five years and my assessment of what I think our nation needs to make real the change that is so needed, I am proud and now feel compelled to endorse Senator Barack Obama.

This is not something that I do regularly but as I listen to the candidates in this race, I am struck that we continue to hear about the problems and the same challenges that we have been talking about for decades. Protecting jobs here in Pennsylvania, breaking our dangerous and costly addiction to foreign oil, making health care accessible and affordable - these are neither new issues nor new ideas. And yet we have failed to make real progress.

As a grandfather and a citizen of this community I think Barack Obama's, thoughtful, strategic approach is important for America. When I hear how excited young people seem to be when they talk about this man, I believe he will do what is best for them which is to inspire them to be great Americans.

This time, we can't afford to wait. Our country needs a new direction and a new kind of leadership - the kind of leadership, judgment and experience that Senator Obama has demonstrated in more than 20 years of public service, and in a particularly impressive way in this campaign. Senator Obama has rejected the say-and-do anything tactics that puts winning elections ahead of governing the country. And he has rejected the back-room politics in favor of opening government up to the people. Barack Obama is the one candidate in this race who can finally put an end to business as usual in Washington and bring about real change for Pittsburgh and the country as a whole. He has inspired me and so many other people around our country with new ideas and fresh perspectives.

True sports fans know that you support your team even when they are the underdogs. Barack Obama is the underdog here but it is with great pride that I join his team.

When I think of Barack Obama's America I have great hope. I support his candidacy and look forward to his Presidency

Sincerely,

Daniel M. Rooney, Owner and Chairman, Pittsburgh Steelers


178 Comments

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Senator Obama has rejected the say-and-do anything tactics that puts winning elections ahead of governing the country

Wonder who he's referring to with this comment?

Just goes to show what a Marxist elitist Dan Rooney is.

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

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

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Absolutely! It's not every day that the owner of a sports team that you support does something to be proud of; but the Rooney's have certainly had a few over the years and this is right up there!

the letter is mostly boilerplate

Can you be anymore condescending, Greg?

I know it doesn't fit with your anti-Obama meme, but come on.

Don't be such a tool.

What utter crap.

Too the Young Smugs like Greg Sargent, it's almost all boilerplate. There are no foundation values, just boilerplate and novelty.

Hey, it's like the Declaration of Independence: boilerplate.

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights: boilerplate.

The Gettysburg Address: boilerplate.

Any eloguent expression of basic values: boilerplate.

Bring on the novelty!

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The Bush Doctrine of Pre-emptive Strikes: novelty!

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"Don't be such a tool."

Har!

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Greg's use of the word "boilerplate" was careless and inappropriate, but I don't think it will do any lasting damage to his well-earned reputation as a credible and reliable reporter of the unvarnished and unbiased truth.

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

This will play well among male voters in Pittsburgh.

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Actually, as I understand it, Football is the most popular sport among women and the Steelers have been the most successful NFL team in attracting the most female fans. Not sure what the percentage is as compared to other teams.

So, maybe this is Obama's secret elitist strategy to stealthily cut into a different part of Clinton's base! Listen closely and you can hear his evil condescending laughter as he steals the steeler-mom vote. (C'mon Hillary, don't take this sitting down! Hurry! Go out there, don some pads and a helmet, and kick a pigskin through the posts. Show 'em you're the real Steelers fan, not a snobbish pretender!)

"(C'mon Hillary, don't take this sitting down! Hurry! Go out there, don some pads and a helmet, and kick a pigskin through the posts. Show 'em you're the real Steelers fan, not a snobbish pretender!)"


LMFAO!

Another elitist.

Clinton wins by 20 maybe more in PA.

The funny thing is, gotalife isn't even being sarcastic! lol!

Anything less and she's a piker.

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Anything less than 20% and she's got no argument left. She needs 57% of remaining delegates. She needs 60% in Pennsylvania to have a whisper of a prayer of getting there WITH a stack of superdelegates swinging her way.

Oh jeez, he meant twenty percent?

I agree. She either wins by 20 going away or she should drop out.

Anything less than 20 points large is a loss for Hillary and gotalife.

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!

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said by MercerReader:
"Must have been the sight of Hillary knocking back her shot and beer."

Reminds me of the 2004 John Kerry moment of goose hunting in NE Ohio. Probably better than riding in a tank circa 1988.

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

This is excellent news for Hillary!

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"Can you be anymore condescending, Greg?

"I know it doesn't fit with your anti-Obama meme, but come on.

"Don't be such a tool."


...thanks for the parody, made my day

Would you mind posting the other PA poll that came out today showing Clinton up by only 3. K thz.

Greg,

Please cite the parts of what Mr. Rooney wrote, that you consider "boilerplate"

You made the claim. Back it up please.

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"Please cite the parts of what Mr. Rooney wrote, that you consider "boilerplate"

"You made the claim. Back it up please."


this is just silly, most of the letter consists of phrases we've already heard a thousand times. no need to go through every one if them.

does this diminish the importance of the endorsement? no, and I said it could help him with the "small town" stuff.

otherwise, this is just yet more silly heckling.

Silly heckling - yeah, just like your snarks.

Thank you for this hilarious avatar!! From the bottom of my elitist Bay Area heart..

Greg's right--plenty of it is boilerplate. And that doesn't diminish the strength of it.

LOL.

If boilerplate is the word of the day, we can use it to describe every piece of campaign news that comes through.

Seriously. One of the most annoying things about having a year long campaign is nothing new comes up.

Just new ways to say them.

Greg.

I apologize. You are correct. We have never heard anyone ever us the phrase "mostly boilerplate" before you wrote it today. Mr. Rooney should have taken creative, and fresh phrasing lessons from you.

I appreciated seeing the story posted on TPM.

Then why respond?

Fair enough but I dont ever recall you using the term when others have done the same thing. It would be helpful in the future if you applied a similar standard to anyone that endorses a candidate.
So you see how ridiculous such a qualifier could become if it became a standard of fairness. In the future, it would be simpler to be more articulate in describing endorsements instead of dissing them with generic language like boilerplate.
When I read the post, I was surprised that is was not as generic as you had suggested.

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Rooney didn't even write this letter. He just copied it right off politcalendorsement.com They have downloadable endorsement forms.

Greg, either you're just unaware of the subtleties of the English language, or you're unaware of the transparency of your biases. Go ahead, Greg: prove us wrong. Endorse Obama.

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Missed an 'i' on that link. By the way, could you post a more direct link to the form? I couldn't find it there.

Greg will only hit and run. No time to stop for explanations since he has carry so much more water for HRC.

Greg, why isn't the Annie Oakley passage in the transcript?

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Greg, we're still waiting for your extensive interview with David Axelrod--you know, like the one you posted the other day with Garin. We're dying to hear Axelrod's answer when you ask him if Hillary's Bosnia lies will "pop up" in an attack ad.

Are you just about finished with that one, Greg?

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.

I still have a Kordell Stewart jersey somewhere in one of my closets. Yeah, I said it, my Stewart jersey is in the closet, what?

I used to really like him in his Slash days, and some part of me still thinks he could have made it as a top teir NFL quartback. I put a lot of his retarded development on Cowher.

Thank the Gods for Roethlisberger.

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Yeah, I said it, my Stewart jersey is in the closet, what?

LOL!!!!

He just sort of disappeared, didn't he?

I think Stewart would have been ok as a Reggie Bush slot back type who could occasionally line up under center for some trickeration, but I don't think he would ever have made a good full-time QB.

I think Roethlisberger was probably a Huckabee man.

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Kordell Stewart jersey..."in the closet"...irony...

That's just mean.

Judas!

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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...


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I'm a Browns fan, born and raised - but I have great respect for Mr. Rooney, and even more so now. Great letter.

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

NOTHING WILL CONVINCE BLUE-COLLER VOTERS THAT THIS EMPTY SUITE IS NOTHING BUT A FRAUD!!!!?!!

THE EMPTY SUITE OBAMA HAS SHOWN HIS TRUE COLORS--BLACK!!!

just beating gotalife(youwouldntwant) to the punch.

Post this in the Troll Contest thread -- you'll win hands-down.

empty suite made me laugh and laugh.

I can just hear the Clinton ad in my head...

It's 3 AM in Barack Obama's hotel. The phone is ringing, but no one is there to answer.

But Hillary Clinton is in her suite, just waiting for you to call. Why don't you pick up the phone and call? Only $9.95 a minute.

Hillary Clinton. On the line now and waiting to talk to you on day one.

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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.

Rooney Schmooney!

Hillary combined her two affinities, Pandering and Strong Spirits, by downing a Shot and Beer to win the support of all Purdue Boilermaker fans, and to also show solidarity with all poor bar wretches who have turned their livers into doorstops.

Hillary Rambo Clinton, Locked and Loaded, to the Gills, and ready to Git er done, on day one. Burp.........hic........

Clinton: "I'm not bitter! I'm just drunk!"

I repeat that I believe it's against election law to drink and campaign. We have photographic proof that Clinton is breaking the law. She should be made to take a sobriety test.

it was binge drinking resulting from being bitter because of how Penn messed up her campaign...

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.

Use the blockquote tags. See the instructions above the "Post A Comment" box.

Ah! A Browns fan admitting a soft spot for the Stillers! Never thought I'd see the day...

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Bringing Steelers and Browns fans together--now that's the mark of a uniter!

Barack Obama, the AFC North salutes you!

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

Fortunately, we will NEVER have to worry about that since Modell is a Repub (thank God!).

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I'll join you.

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please see the update I added about the importance of this in western Pennsylvania

Thank you for the update, Greg. The Rooneys are very much a loved family in Pittsburgh.

Have you added the Annie Oakley passage to the transcript? It's arguably the best passage on the clip.

Honest question here as a Cowboy fan:

Is this a well-liked owner?

I wouldn't want Jerry Jones endorsing Obama.

Yes,

The Rooneys are very respected. The Steelers has been their long time family business, unlike people like Jones who just were wealthy enough to buy any team.

Mr. Rooney was the one who came up with the idea of requiring all NFL teams to include minority candidates in all interviewing processes for head coach vacancies.

His work led to the situation in the Super Bowl before last, where both teams were led by African American head coaches.

Mr. Rooney also stepped up to the plate, when he had a head coach opening, and hired an African American for the job.

He is the real deal.

Rooney is an incredibly well-liked owner. One of the most respected in the NFL. He’s no Dan Snyder or Jerry Jones.

Or Al Davis. Blecch.

Oh my yes! Rooney is truly revered in SW Pennsylvania. Steeler football is king and they love the Rooney family since the days of "The Chief", Dan Rooney's dad. I agree with the commenters that say this is quite a pick-up for Obama for SW Pennsylvania. In the past, I beleive the Rooneys were Republicans. Blue-collar workers really like Dan Rooney.

Good to know that Rooney is well liked.

But do you all think this endorement will make a difference and help Obama?

We looove Rooney! This is a big deal.

Even Browns fans respect him...and that's saying a lot...those guys don't mess around.

If the Browns had the Rooneys as owners, they would have never left Cleveland, and would be basking in an enviable Super Bowl record.

Sigh.

Reality (and Art Modell) BITES.

I actually agree, I've got some friends from Cleveland who were literally floored by the move. And I must say I never thought it would happen either. I may throw every expletive in the book at the TV when the Browns/Steelers games are on, but it's always been a good rivalry, I missed it for the time they were gone.

Here we go!!!

Is this a well-liked owner?

As a Pats fan, I'd say this about Rooney and the Steelers. I've never met any fans of any team who are more loyal than Steeler fans, and I've never heard any of them say a bad word about the Rooneys.

The Rooneys are also well respected by rival NFL organizations. In terms of longevity and excellence, maybe only the Mara's, owners of the Giants, are their equal.

Green Bay Packers.

As a long-time Browns fan, I salute Dan Rooney.
He's not a Jerry Jones.
But come this fall, I hope we kick his Steelers' a$$.

As a long-time Steeler fan and an Obama fan, I can truly appreciate your comment, Buckeye! Great to see that people still put the really important stuff first. Go Obama/Go Steelers/Go Browns...err, did I really write that last part?! ;-)

Imagine the throat-swallowing I have to do every other November in Blue (in more ways than one) Ann Arbor.
The horror!

But, Liam, unless she "pumped a Iron," i.e., drank an Iron City Beer, it macht nichts.


I understand Obama drank an I.C. Light, the ones with the parrot on the label, the effete elitist glad-handing dandy fop.

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But in Pittsburgh, it's spelled "ahrn."

Important update, Greg. Thanks.

Obviously Mr. Rooney hasn't read the latest PPP poll that puts Hillary ahead in Pennsylvania by 20 points.

its ARG not PPP

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You mean ARG, and obviously the folks who responded to that poll hadn't read Rooney's endorsement.

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What's the big deal? If you look at the poll (and it's ARG--not PPP) you'll see that Obama's numbers haven't changed all that much. He's up against a blue collar demographic that no one pretended was going to be easy for him to win over. Hillary needs to win Pennsylvania by 20 just to stay reasonably in the game. Obama can lose it, and it doesn't change the math all that much. Now, if he loses Indiana and North Carolina, that's another story.

Hillary loves her hard liquor.

The Mayor of Hammond, Indiana said that ever time he meets with her the end up drinking. Recall how she went on Vodka binge drinking contest in Iraq.

Paging the Betty Ford Clinic. Looks like Hillary might end up In and Out of Betty Ford more times that Gerald ever did.


CROWN POINT, IND. — Hillary Clinton mingled with patrons at Bronko’s Restaurant and Lounge in northwest Indiana on Saturday night. After a long day of campaigning Clinton was cajoled into taking a shot of Crown Royal whisky, which she sipped at first, but later threw her head back and swallowed it down. That led to a few beers and some pizza.

A pizza-chomping Clinton sat at a table where she talked about the importance of keeping manufacturing jobs in the state. Clinton then called over the mayor of Hammond, Ind., Tom Hammond, saying, “Tom, Tom, come sit down.” A gentleman next to Clinton said Hammond was probably at the bar. Clinton joked that “my campaign drives people to drink.” Hammond finally approached Clinton, saying “every time I get around you we always start drinking!”

Sipping Crown Royal? Sounds elitist to me.

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.

This is huge. I mean huge. I have been a Steeler fan for nigh on 30 years and believe me when I tell you Western PA breathes them daily. If Big Ben gets so much a broken finger nail it is the lead news story. The message Rooney just sent to locals is immense. This will be the lead story in Pittsburgh and western PA all day. This could not have happened at a better time. To understand the magnitude this is bigger than Casey and in that area bigger than Rendell.

THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS!! FOR HILLARY!!!

heh.

yah.

you've been missed.

Come on.

No one has done more for Pittsburgh than Barack Obama.

mmmmm....bitters.

You know, I bet those pictures of Hillary throwing back boilermakers will turn a lot of people off. She really has a knack for taking things a little too far. It would turn voters off if Obama or McCain did that in public.

Especially because I'm sure the average joe in that bar wasn't drinking theirs with Crown Royal (Canadian whiskey, btw). She can't even get her pandering right.

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BTW - did you see the look in her eyes when downing the brew? I guess folks in PA like it a little more bitter than she expected.

http://tinyurl.com/4ptpsh

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

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That's a really, really good point.

Browns, 8 championships to your 5, BTW.

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.

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While dodging sniper fire of course!

This is excellent news!!!!

. . . for "Democratic" "candidate" Tracy Flick Lieberwoman.

I am revising my opinion.

Clinton will crush Obama by 30 in PA.

SnObama is now a joke.

Lets unite with the one who actually gives up for the future.

President Hillary Clinton.

Ah! Freudian slip! Or as they are calling Obama's statements, a Kinsleyian gaffe!

Sorry, but this was just too good to pass up.

Oops.

Lets unite with the one who actually gives us hope for the future.

President Hillary Clinton.

No, you got it right the first time.

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.

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If you see this video on YouTube, please post it!

Both Obama and Hillary spoke to the same audience.

Senator Obama walked around the stage and spoke without any script or notes.

Senator Clinton stood behind a lectern and read from a prepared script.

She even had to read the lines about how she was standing up for them. My, she is so genuine, isn't she!

She looks wasted and hung-over in this clip. I love her slip, she almost said "universal hair care"!

Universal Hair Care for everyone!!!

Yeah, the "universal hair care" near-slip-up was hilarious.

I want a reporter to ask Clinton what she thinks about the Rooney (Steelers) endorsement. I bet you $5 that her answer would be dismissive and disrespectful.

Steeler Nation is a boutique state.

"Lets unite with the one who actually gives up for the future."

Freudian typo?

"Lets unite with the one who actually gives up for the future."

Let's unite with the one who only cares about her own fading legacy.

Sort of like when Hillary, comparing herself to Rocky, said, "I never get up."

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wouldn't want Jerry Jones endorsing Obama.

O god please - he's the reason I am no longer a Cowboys fan. I'm glad they are moving to Tarrant Co. I wish they'd rename. He is so - ick!


"Salon: Young voters are growing increasingly frustrated with the fanatical support of Barack and gleeful bashing of Hillary."

Thank you progressives.

They will unite for Clinton because she gives them hope for their future and does not insult them when they do not vote for her.

Hope and unity is now Clinton's message.

God bless America!

"They will unite for Clinton because she gives them hope for their future and does not insult them when they do not vote for her."

Oh my. Talk about self-parody!! Hillary is the candidate who has been executing the "insult 40 states" strategy. Small states don't count. Caucus states don't count. Only she wins the "significant" states. I could go on...

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Wow. I guess you just forgot about the whole "small-states-don't-count-and-neither-do-caucuses" meme that your candidate was pushing...

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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

Yes, he is a big joke now.

He should drop out so we can start crushing mcwar like she is crushing Snobama.

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I guess "crushing" means something completely opposite in your bizarro world...

Axelrod was on Morning Joe today and he was virtually spinning out of control, almost incoherent. The "defense" of the comments is to avoid the comments, and attack, attack, attack. But no one can defend the notion that working-class Americans are biiter as a group and "cling to religion" due to their "frustration."

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Thank you progressives.

I'm serious here. You don't have a life. You are constantly confusing real life with what goes on here. This is not real life, gotalife. This is virtual and what we say and do here only matters to a tiny number of people - the people who do this like we do.

The real world is absolutely not interested in us - trust me. Try talking about blogs to someone who doesn't care - watch their eyes glaze over in about 2 seconds.

Quit taking yourself and all this so seriously, dude, or else you need to get offline for awhile. It's making you a tad psychotic.

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.

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You know, Greg, the problem with referring to Rooney's excellent endorsement of Obama as "boilerplate" is that it minimizes its importance

The problem is that's what he was obviously trying to do. But the real problem is that he's insulting our intelligence by claiming there was nothing to his entirely irrelevant and unnecessary comment.

Wow. I'm new to TPM and have been hesitant to jump in, but how can I stay out of this discussion when there are so many Browns fans out there?

You're right - this IS a big deal. Dan Rooney is respected by all football fans, even those of opposing teams, because he is seen as such a decent guy. And if you really want to reach out to blue collar workers, you sure as hell need to bring along the football fans.

Go Browns!

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Bow wow wow! Go Browns!

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

Her grandmother was a slum-lord in Scranton. People still remember her as the woman who threw their blue-collar coal miner families out on the street when they couldn't afford to pay the rent.

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KZ - yeah, I agree. It's brilliant. I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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.

Well, it IS made in Canada...

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

Clinton's new stickers:
I'm not bitter, I just sound that way.

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I said it before--and I'll say it again. Hillary Clinton and the phrase "I'm not bitter" should never be joined in public. It's just political parody.

And for everyone who's lambasting Greg about the "boilerplate" comment? To the readers of the editorial, it's not going to sound boilerplate. To everyone who's addictively following this primary season (aka The Neverending Story) it's pretty boilerplate.

Which doesn't take away, one whit, from the importance. But Sargent doesn't deserve the scorn he's getting.

From today's Chicago Sun Times;


News Headline: "Hillary does shot of Crown Royal, beer chaser at Indiana bar."

Taking a page from Sargent Shriver, who, when campaigning as the 1972 Democratic vice presidential candidate, went into a New Hampshire bar and announced:

"Beer for the boys! And I'll have a Courvoisier."

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?

LOL at Pat Buchanan:

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

No, what's demeaning is to call them "simple folks".

Seriously. Like I'm a "complex Middle-class folk."

Racist, elitist Pat Buchanan calling working class people "simple." Classic.

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."

In their "cottage" that looks like a two-story house.

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080308_LAKE_WINOLA__Pa__-_Ice_still_covers_the_lake__Shades_NO_HEAD_SPECIFIED.html


I get the feeling from listening to Hillary, she sees living in the "cottage" as "roughing it."

I found this in the March 10th New York Times. I find it hard to believe that Hillary would have omitted Pa from all her posted Bio Profiles, including her Official White House First Lady Bio, if Pennsylvania had been a larger part of her youth. Going on a vacation does not make The Bahamas my second home.

Here is what the Times wrote:


arch 10, 2008, 10:12 pm
Clinton at Home in Scranton

By Katharine Q. Seelye
Clinton at Home in Scranton Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in Scranton, Pa. (Jessice Kourkounis for The New York Times)

SCRANTON, Pa. — There’s nothing like a hometown crowd.
Pennsylvania Update

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton returned here to the town where her father was raised and where she visited often as a child. The crowd of 3,500 people went wild, and went even wilder when she said she would be back on Saturday for this city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, one of the biggest in the country.

She talked about her family roots here, and every time she hit on a brand name — Scranton Lace mills, Diamond Avenue, Revello’s Pizza, Joe Paterno — the crowd roared.

“This is such a big part of my life,” she said, speaking in the gym at Scranton High School. “When I come back here I think about all those memories. My only regret is that my father isn’t here in person, but he’s buried here and I have a feeling he’s here in spirit.”

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.

Agreed.

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I'm a Steelers fan that had to leave PA to find a job - and now I'm in Baltimore. I still root for the Steelers, but Baltimore needs something to cheer about, too.

Last Xmas the local CVS had a giant inflatable Ravens player in their lobby, holding a card that said something like, "Dear Santa, We haven't been very good, but can you please send us a few healthy players?"

Great news about the Rooney endorsement. Instead of going with the bitter meme, McClatchy covers all the new PA voters likely to support Obama:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/33432.html

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.

James, just like I can't quite get myself excited for the Obama nomination just yet simply because it hasn't happened, I just can't convince myself that the Browns will be serious contenders. But if in November we find them both leading the pack, I'll be a happy Dawg.

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

dude, tone it down. You're not winning Obama any friends with talk like that.

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Hey, Hoost! Have a Coke and a smile, guy. You're not helping. Saying sexist shit like that is counterproductive, wouldn't you think?

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Yeah, Hoost, you might be the next big scandal. I can hear Hillary right now, "Senator Obama should denounce these supporters of his making sexist comments on blogs." Next Sunday's bobbleheads are already clearing out time to discuss exactly how much the Hoost affair hurts the Obama campaign.

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Hoost, you must be one of the 'bitter'. But really, the others are right. That language is way off. I'm an Obama guy, and while I disagree with your harsh rejection of Hillary, I can respect your strong feelings on the subject. But, I can't respect that kind of language and kindly ask that you not associate such language with Obama's campaign.

"I denounce, renounce, and reject Hoost."

There! Does that make you happy?

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.

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So, you got Dan Rooney, Jerome Bettis, Theresa Heinz Kerry endorsing Obama and Richard Scaife endorsing Hillary. Its time for Western Pennsylvania to decide who it stands with. This is a big peek into the values of neighbors from Pittsburg to Erie. Change versus status quo. "Bitter" distraction, or the audacity of hope. It will say a lot about where you find yourselves in 20 years.

Myron Cope's corpse is voting for Hillary, though!

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.

Obama will be the nominee in November and the Browns WILL be serious contenders! Our long nightmare will be over - you must believe!

(please don't mention Modell, it makes my eye tick)

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From your lips to God's ears, brother...on both counts!

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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.

I always did like the Steelers! Annie Oakley better try again.

KZ is the only one who has touched on this, the Rooney endorsement is huge but not just in western Pa.
Sure, that's the focus now because of the primary but there are thousands of Steelers fans all over the country. Even though most people don't vote for a candidate just because their favourite team owner likes them, Dan Rooney is HUGELY respected throughout the NFL (and that includes fans). As you saw earlier, many Browns fans, while not liking the Steelers, thoroughly respect Rooney. This really is a very big endorsement.
p.s. I always laugh when I read getalife's postings thinking they are jokes. Then I read who they are from and realize he/she is serious and that makes it even funnier!!!

This SHOULD be huge, but it won't have much impact if it's not reported! Both Obama and Hillary were in Pittsburgh on Monday, speaking to the Alliance for American Manufacturing, and today's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette features a huge photo of Clinton above the fold on the front page. The Rooney endorsement is the second sentence of a photo caption below the fold on page 4, not even highlighted or commented on. I couldn't believe that was all they had on the endorsement so I scoured the rest of the paper, including the sports section, and found nothing else.

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