Joe Paterno (R) has donated to Barack Obama

[osaMABUSh]

http://www.newsmeat.com/sports_political_donations/Joe_Paterno.php

I find this pretty amazing considering that JoePa is a conservative republican who endorsed George HW Bush at the 1988 convention. Plus he has never donated directly to any presidential candidate before.

JoePa is a man of high integrity. He is also a philanthropist and an educator. I think this donation speaks volumes for what JoePa thinks of Barack's character.

[Condem]

1. Damn, I'll kick this, osaMABUsh!

[FrenchieCat]

2. Gives us some more background on ths JoePa.

Thanks!

[grantcart]

4. precious

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Paterno

very successful football coach

[Andy823]

3. And Ruppert Murdock

Donated to Hillary, along with countless other republicans, and she is supported by Rush Limbaugh, Karl Rove, the guy who accused her of killing somone, and numerous other shady republicans, what's your point?

[grantcart]

6. her point is pro Obama

that even some very principled Republicans have been moved to support Obama

[tularetom]

5. God bless him - always liked him even after he support ol bush

I knew deep down Joe was a real person and not a plastic repub.

He's a true gentleman and a giant among a profession full of a-holes.

[AllentownJake]

7. Go Nitany Lions

[FrenchieCat]

8. Interesting information.......

Joseph Vincent Paterno (born December 21, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York), nicknamed JoePa, is the head coach of Pennsylvania State University's college football team, a position he has held since 1966. Paterno, along with Chris Ault and Bobby Bowden, is one of three active coaches who have also been inducted in to the College Football Hall of Fame. Paterno has won the second most football games against teams currently in NCAA Division I-FBS (formerly Division I-A) next to Bobby Bowden, who is first in games won. He also has more bowl game wins and more FBS undefeated seasons than any other coach in college football history.

At age 81, Paterno is coaching his 59th season at Penn State as an assistant or head coach in 2008, holding the record for any football coach at any university. The 2008 season marks Joe Paterno’s 43rd season pacing the sidelines as head coach of the Nittany Lions, passing Amos Alonzo Stagg<3> for the most years at a single institution.

Paterno's loyalty is so strong with Penn State that he turned down an offer to coach the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969, an offer he initially seriously considered. (The Steelers ended up hiring Chuck Noll, who would win four Super Bowls with the team in a 23-year head coaching career.) Michigan Athletic Director Don Canham also contacted Paterno in 1969 to see if Paterno (who Canham respected and knew personally) would accept the vacant Michigan job. Paterno turned down the offer and Michigan went on to hire Bo Schembechler. In 1972 Paterno also turned down a head coaching position with the New England Patriots which included a percentage ownership position.

Paterno is a political conservative and a personal friend of former President George H.W. Bush, endorsing the then-candidate in a speech at the 1988 Republican National Convention.<16> In 2004, his son Scott Paterno, an attorney, won the Republican primary for Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district but lost in the November general election to conservative Democratic incumbent Tim Holden.<20> Paterno has recently donated to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Paterno

[Condem]

14. frenchie

If you followed college football, he is a god among men. The cleanest coach in a cesspool sport!

[FrenchieCat]

20. Sounds like it, based on the details!

[AlinPA]

9. This is very interesting. He is well known as a republican and received GWB

in State College for a speech. I am surprised. I agree with your statement about his integrity.

[ebdarcy]

10. Good on JoePa.

You made me curious, so I looked for Jim Tressel, but didn't find anything. And then I went to look for Mark Shapiro (Indians GM). Turns out, he's also an Obama supporter.

[Dark]

11. Or, he wants to face Obama in the GE.

just sayin'

[FrenchieCat]

12. Most likely, he is sick of this war.

Remember that the Pittsburg Steeler great owner also endorsed Obama.

[Dark]

16. I'm not saying that either one is true.

But don't assume that Republicans donating = support (remember Nader?)

[FrenchieCat]

18. But he didn't give to McCain.

I've talked to enough Obama supporting Republicans until there is no reason to assume the worse.

this guy is not an "operative".......

[AllentownJake]

15. Joe Pa

Isn't that craven. The man lives in a small house on campus and gets and eighth of what similar coaches makes...than donates a large portion of his salary back to the university.

There are very few people who are saints....he might be one of them.

[Dark]

23. I'm not saying either way. I'm simply pointing out that don't assume that

he's for Obama unless he actually says he is.

Donating to a candidate does not equal supporting that candidate.

But, it can.

[ladym55]

24. Good place to mention things like the Paterno Library

on the campus and the interfaith center the Paterno family donated to PSU.

JoePa has incredible honor and integrity. He doesn't play games with his choices.

[1776Forever]

13. Amazing! And he is in PA - Definitely his own man! Way to go Joe!!!

I always liked him anyway!!!

:yourock:

[SoxFan]

17. Wow

Jo Pa is one of the great gentlemen in all of sports. He has run a clean program that has been a consistent winner. Even if he's a Republican, you can't question Paterno's integrity!

Still wish he had taken that Patriots job, though...they offered it to him about half a dozen times!

[newmajority]

19. As a rule, I hate east coast college football teams

But even I respect what Joe Paterno has done as a coach at Penn State. My only question would be why we're just hearing about this now, and not before the PA primary. Might have knocked more off of that "massive" 9.2% Hillary win.

[AllentownJake]

21. It was known

They did an appearence together at State College.

[Condem]

22. new

are you a west coast no defense fan?

[newmajority]

25. Pac 10 all the way !!

Though admittedly my Huskies haven't been the same since Don James retired :evilfrown:

USC is the caliber of team in recent years that the DAWGS were from 1977 up until the mid 90's.

[Condem]

28. Big 10, new

How real football is played!

[AllentownJake]

26. I went to Temple

So my college sport is Basketball...however Joe Paterno is a state institution and his generosity and integrity is widely respected by most in the state.

[jackson_dem]

27. Rethugs for Obama=great. Rethugs for Clinton=proof she is a closet rethug!

[Condem]

30. Jackson

You follow college football?

[roguevalley]

35. check the quality of the repugs for Clinton. Scaife, Coulter, Limpbaugh,

Gingrich, Murdoch, fox news, et al.

Paterno-Obama.

Can't see the difference?

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

29. Wonder if that Gent that Cheney shot donated to anyone this cycle.

What was his name? Wilkerson? Wattington....dang,

stomping off to find name.....

edit. Harry Whittington

[Cha]

31. A man of integrity who

wants his country back.

[KSinTX]

32. It's his SON - Joseph 'Jay' Paterno

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/jaypaterno

Son is the QB coach for Nittany Lions. Not PSU Head Coach Joe.

Jay voted for George H.W. Bush, a close friend of his father, in 1988. Joe seconded the elder Bush's nomination during the Republican convention in New Orleans and brought a 20-year-old Jay along when the informing committee notified Bush. Jay, however, was more excited about meeting a certain childhood hero.

[osaMABUSh]

33. OK so his son, Jay, is for Obama too

apparently big time.

[KSinTX]

34. Look again ... Son is just PATERNO, JOSEPH

Dad is "PATERNO, JOSEPH V". Republican Dad did not donate to Obama. Son donated to Obama and Scott Paterno.