Senators pull support for Medal of Freedom for Joe Paterno

[n2doc]

By Colby Itkowitz
The Morning Call
November 10, 2011, 12:12 p.m.
The shock waves from the explosive scandal at Penn State are reaching Washington.

Pennsylvania Sens. Pat Toomey and Bob Casey will rescind their Medal of Freedom nomination for former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in the wake of the child abuse scandal involving his former assistant coach, the senators said Thursday.

Paterno was fired Wednesday evening by the school's board of trustees, ending his 46-year-tenure as head coach.

The award is considered the highest honor a civilian can receive. Toomey, Casey and Pennsylvania Rep. Glenn Thompson, who represents State College, nominated Paterno in early September.


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http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-medal-freedom-paterno-20111110,0,3698857.story

[undeterred]

1. So he was getting a medal of freedom for coaching football?

That's kind of bizarre in the first place.

[provis99]

2. not any more bizarre than Rotten Reagan getting the medal.

[MNBrewer]

4. At least Reagan served in the government

Paterno was a fukkin FOOTBALL coach! Nothing more.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Served? More liked "serviced". As in the way a bull "services" a cow.

[DURHAM D]

3. true that

[Major Nikon]

10. Not unheard of and not outside the bounds of the purpose of the medal

They gave one to Bear Bryant. Artists, actors, writers, and musicians routinely get them. Even Richard Petty has one.

[undeterred]

11. Never heard of either of them.

Is that Anita Bryant's husband? Tom Petty's Dad?

[Dawson Leery]

5. Seeing that this award is given to so many people

it's not a big deal.

[rfranklin]

6. That's the sad truth...it has become a payoff for donations and coverups...

which disrespects some of the excellent achievements that it should recognize.

[Dawson Leery]

7. Correct.

[seabeyond]

8. it really pays not to stand up to rapists. good. nt