Erin Go Steelers: President Marks St Patty’s with Ambassadorial Appointment for Dan Rooney
EmailDays before the Pennsylvania primary, then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was gifted with a prized endorsement: that of the owner and chairman of the celebrated Pittsburgh Steelers, Dan Rooney.
"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," Rooney wrote in an open letter to Keystone staters. "This is not something that I do regularly," Rooney wrote, but "(a)s a grandfather and a citizen of this community I think Barack Obama’s, thoughtful, strategic approach is important for America."
Mr. Obama got his hat handed to him in that contest by now-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (though the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl), but regardless, today President Obama marked St. Patrick’s Day by nominating Rooney — whom he called "a great friend" — to be the Ambassador to Ireland.
After the annual presentation to the president of a bowl of shamrocks by the Prime Minister of Ireland this morning, President Obama told Mr. Rooney: "Congratulations. It’s going to be great."
- jpt
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Another party.???
Posted by: henry 5th aveneue | March 17, 2009, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
Ah, the paybacks continue…
Despite Rooney’s Obama endorsement, Hillary kicked Obama’s butt in PA. , huge victory while Obama limped over the finish line.
Obama should be appointing Democrats to these posts.
Posted by: P | March 17, 2009, 12:06 pm 12:06 pm
This is not to be confused with pay to play.
Posted by: MayBee | March 17, 2009, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
Wow this is great news. Congratulations Dan Rooney :-)
Go Pittsburgh Steelers !!!
Posted by: Davis | March 17, 2009, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
As Obama tries to portray himself as a friend of the military and his wife does the same … he is now proposing that wounded and disabled veterans PAY for their own medical cost
This is not a commander in chief, this is a low life piece garbage sucking our brave men and woman dry…His purpose..to raise 540million dollars on the backs of our wounded.. Pathic!!!!!. WHY IS ABC AND CBS AND NBC RUNNING FROM THIS EMBARRASSING AND DISGUSTING STORY ABOUT OBAMA
Posted by: Obama-LIVE FROM THE WAFFLE HOUSE | March 17, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
Jake, why are you not reporting on Obama’s plan to shaft our brave soldiers?
Story at HotAir: American Legion Commander Angered After Meeting with Obama
This should be a huge story, Jake!
Posted by: Michelle | March 17, 2009, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
AIG bonuses.. SO WHAT, the contractual Bonus protection law was written by none other than the stupid DEMOCRAT CHRIS DODD in the last stimulus bill,, SO SHUT UP OBAMA..
Posted by: Obama-LIVE FROM THE WAFFLE HOUSE | March 17, 2009, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
Yahoo!
Our Greatest Smartest Clueless Leader is so smart and generous to the people benefiting him. Truly Chicago Style in display.
Posted by: two cats | March 17, 2009, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm
“While the Senate constructed the $787 billion stimulus last month, Dodd unexpectedly added an executive-compensation restriction to the bill. That amendment provides an “exception for contractually obligated bonuses agreed on before Feb. 11, 2009,” which exempts the very AIG bonuses Dodd and others are seeking to tax. The amendment is in the final version and is law.”
Any lawmaker who voted for the stimulus bill voted for the AIG bonuses.
Obama = flip-flopping opportunist
Posted by: murphy | March 17, 2009, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
Rewarding your top supporters is change we can believe in?
Posted by: matt | March 17, 2009, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
Proof positive that Ireland doesn’t matter. Our other new appointments – George Clooney, Pamela Anderson, Magic Johnson, and Elmo. Obama is a joke.
Posted by: Rob Murph | March 17, 2009, 1:05 pm 1:05 pm
Obama could not have found a better person to be Ambassador of Ireland. The Rooneys are unique in the high priced areana of pro-sports. He is Great as an owner, and will be a Great Ambassador.
GO STEELERS!!!
Posted by: pt | March 17, 2009, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
Everything announced by Obama is uninspiring and lifeless. Is it because we expected him to be so inspiring and he is proving to be so much less? Is is because his policies are burdensome and higher taxes loom on the horizon? Or is it because we are simply so very tired of hearing from him? Whatever it is, I hope it remedies itself soon. Otherwise the next 3 3/4 years will seem like eternity.
Posted by: NPage | March 17, 2009, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm
Well, I’m a Dan Rooney fan so I thought this was a nice St. Paddy’s Day announcement. No problems with it– I mean, ambassadorships to places like Ireland and Italy are traditionally rewards to wealthy backers.
Everything need not be gloom and doom and super serious. Today is a good day for Obama to make this lovely announcement. It gives me a diversion from his more depressing (to me) pitch for his mega-budget.
Posted by: moderate | March 17, 2009, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
waffle house: cannot let you make this distortion go unchallenged. Did you read the proposal? It simply says that in those cases where Veterans have other health insurance (like myself), that be the coverage of first pay, the Govt. second. Thats all. Those veterans without other insurance would continue to receive full coverage as they do now. All Obama’s proposal would do is SAVE MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS WITHOUT DENYING A VETERAN ANYTHING! By the way, I am a US Army Vet, 1970-72.
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | March 17, 2009, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
William J. LePetomane: So, you don’t think taxpayers will be covering these expenses with higher insurance premiums? You must think large companies absorb these expenses out of the kindness of their hearts. You must have been an easy sell on Obama’s pork package.
Posted by: John Morgan | March 17, 2009, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
It is Paddy, not Patty.
Posted by: Pat | March 18, 2009, 10:46 am 10:46 am
Only in America after a hard fought election campaign can you see Democrat foes come back together as friends.
Mr. Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Future Ambassador Dan Rooney are all Friends now.
Americans can learn from this as well as this article online “How to Make Up with a Friend – Redbook”
Posted by: Ann | March 18, 2009, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm