April 3, 2008
Penn State's Paterno Chats Up Obama, Takes a Pass on Meeting Bill Clinton
Joe Paterno said he thought long and hard about greeting Bill Clinton during a campaign event last week at Pennsylvania State University’s campus. The legendary head football coach said he felt he should perhaps meet the former president out of respect, the Associated Press reports.
In a further twist, Mr. Clinton spoke during his visit about his wife’s ties to Penn State’s football team. Both Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s father and brother played for the Nittany Lions. But in the end, Mr. Paterno took a pass on meeting Mr. Clinton, explaining: “I couldn’t vote for either one of them because I’m a Republican.”
Sen. Barack Obama fared better during a Sunday visit to Penn State. He met with Mr. Paterno’s son, Jay Paterno, an assistant football coach at the university and an Obama supporter. And he said he had a pleasant phone chat with the 81-year-old head coach himself, talking mostly about football and college sports, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.—Paul Fain
Paul Fain | Posted on Thursday April 3, 2008 | PermalinkComments
Previous: Elizabeth Edwards Will Be a Fellow at Harvard
Next: John McCain Seeks Education Advice from Jeb Bush
What does this article have to do with ANYTHING? Surely there are more newsworthy items to write about.
— Mary Apr 3, 03:00 PM #
I agree … why waste your readers’ precious time.
— marci Apr 3, 03:55 PM #
Don’t denigrate JoePa! He has made PSU-a top research and teaching university-what it is more than any one individual.
I think it is interesting how a coach can support a party that pretty much hates the race of most of his players.
His son JayPa is wise at least in that respect.
-GoB.
— Good ol' Bubba Apr 3, 04:07 PM #
He’s only a football coach. Surely there are other credentials out there.
— John Apr 3, 04:28 PM #
Everyone, go long.
— marci Apr 3, 05:10 PM #
People at Penn State understand that JoePa is hardly “only a football coach.” Among other things, he is probably the most successful fund-raiser for academic programs and the library that the University had ever had.
— Sandy Thatcher Apr 4, 08:02 AM #
To claim that, because someone else see’s a different route to racial equality than you, they “hate the race” of most players at PSU, only shows that you are completely closed minded, and probably as prejudiced as you accuse others of being. Both sides have good ideas. It is up to us to pick and choose, not to denigrate and hate.
— open minded Apr 5, 08:44 PM #
I want equal time for Hillary’s pantsuit in the Chronicle. This is the future of higher education. When did this turn into a ragsheet?
— Hill Bill Apr 6, 10:31 PM #