Obama Picks Steelers Owner To Be Ambassador To Ireland

[RamboLiberal]

Source: CBS News

(AP)It’s a happy St. Patrick’s Day for Dan Rooney: President Obama today announced that he is tapping the Pittsburgh Steelers owner to become the next U.S. ambassador to Ireland.

Rooney, a longtime Republican, endorsed and campaigned for then-candidate Obama in his key state of Pennsylvania during the primary campaign. In a statement announcing that he will nominate Rooney, the president lauded the 76-year-old as “an unwavering supporter of Irish peace, culture, and education.”

Mr. Obama will discuss his choice of Rooney at today’s Shamrock Ceremony at the White House, where he will be joined by the Taoiseach of Ireland, Brian Cowen. (Cowen, as Taoiseach, is head of the Irish government.) The event is set for 11:35 a.m. ET.

Rooney won the American Ireland Fund’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts toward peace in Northern Ireland, which date back to the 1970s. He co-founded the American Ireland Fund in 1976, which, according to the White House, has raised more than $300 million for peace and education programs in Ireland.

Rooney’s father founded the Steelers in 1933, and Rooney took the team over in 1975. He chaired the panel that developed the so-called “Rooney Rule,” which requires that NFL teams interview at least one minority when considering head coaches.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/03/17/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4871285.shtml

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Fabulous news to this Steeler fan. Dan Rooney is well-qualified for the position from the work he's done for peace in Ireland. It was great that this Republican after hearing an Obama speech early was so excited by Obama he came out in full support of him.

Mr. Rooney:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

[ohtransplant]

1. It's a natural.

Mr. Rooney's relationship with their country and experience with their government make this a great choice.

(BTW) Go Steelers! (Just sayin')

[napi21]

2. YEAH!!!! I've always love the Rooney's. Thanks Mr. President! n/a

[RamboLiberal]

3. The Chief(Art Rooney) would be so proud

[Baclava]

4. Go Steelers!

[Cha]

5. This a beautiful..a thinking

republican who helped Obama and now he's going to be our Ambassador to Ireland:bounce:

[960]

6. Yeah, except a "thinking Republican" is called a "Democrat"

I think you're over-estimating Rooney.

[Cha]

7. Rooney is Rooney and he was there when

we needed him in the Primaries in PA..so no, I'm not "overestimating" Rooney.

[960]

8. exactly my point. He was there more to beat that evil Clinton than to support Obama.

[Cha]

10. Bullshit

Bullshit.

[960]

12. Not at all.

If it is, then why did you say he was there when "we" needed him in the primary?

You know he was most valuable in the primary. The same PA primary that Obama was advertising "Be a Democrat for a day"

[DebbieCDC]

9. This lifelong Steeler fan salutes Dan Rooney

Hope that his dad Art I is hoisting a beer somewhere.

[roguevalley]

11. I wanted that job. What a great job he has. :)

[Baclava]

13. Amen

Political intrigue..

"I dunno Mr President, you really think we should really piss off the bitter crackers and take a CB in the 1st rd?"

[livetohike]

14. Yay for Mr. Rooney and yay for us!

They must be partying on the North Side tonight :-).