Paterno is a staunch Republican - does it matter?

[txprog]

I was a huge PSU football fan until in 2004 I saw Paterno at a W rally telling us how wonderful the Pres was. I had never given a thought before to Paterno’s politics. Didn’t really care. I, like so many others, come to sports to escape this stuff. But he, as state employee with such a broad and diverse “constituency,” was out of place and out of bounds at that rally, saying those things. My days as a PSU fan ended that day.

We must ask the question, is it possible that Paterno’s politics and associated world view have anything to do with what happened? It is impossible to know what goes on in someone’s mind or soul, but actions can give us a clue. Was Paterno selfless and honorable with his charity and good deeds, or selfish and calculating in a deliberate attempt to consolidate his control and power and to embellish his status and reputation? If the latter, is this a Republican thing? Perhaps.

I do not need to discuss the vast differences between the way Repubs and Dems see the world and apply that vision to actions here. But safe to say that “selfishness” is an inherent part of the Repub view, and there is no doubt that this is one word that applies in spades to how Paterno handled this mess.

Paterno is a staunch Republican - does it matter? Yes, I think it really does……

[grasswire]

1. close friend of father bush

that's all I need to know about his ethics

[OffWithTheirHeads]

2. It dosn't matter but it figures

[Dreamer Tatum]

3. If it mattered, there would be an obvious course of action.

In this case, you're just pointing a finger.

Unrec.

[rocktivity]

4. Well, lets see: He's lied by omission, was oblivious to his reponsibility,

avoided accountability, stonewalled the media, tolerated the endangerment of children, participated in what he knew was a coverup, rewarded a loyal underling by allowing him to fail upwards, shown no true remorse, sacrificed other to ensure his own survival, was politically active in violation of state employee law...hey, I think you could be on to something!

;)
rocktivity

[beac]

19. He lied directly too...

when he said he was "shocked" by the indictment against Sandusky.

When you hear that a man you knew raped a child in a shower and got away with it is finally criminally charged, you may be a lot of things--- "shocked" isn't one of them.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

5. Arne Duncan is a staunch Democrat

Feds open investigation into Penn State sex abuse scandal

US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced Wednesday that a federal investigation is underway regarding the failure of Penn State University officials to report allegations of sexual abuse by former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. So far, Athletic Director Tim Curley and University Vice President Gary Schultz have resigned after being indicted on charges of lying to an investigating grand jury and failing to report allegations of the abuse in 2002...

...The Clery Act, named for Jeanne Clery, a college student who was raped and murdered in 1986, requires colleges and universities to prepare, publish and distribute an annual security report in which there is a disclosure of all criminal offenses reported to campus security authorities or local police agencies. University officials are required to report suspected criminal offenses to campus security authorities. Additionally, each institution of higher education is required to develop and distribute a statement of policy regarding the procedures followed once a sex offense has occurred. Clery Act compliance is the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Education."

http://www.delconewsnetwork.com/articles/2011/11/12/news_of_delaware_county/news/doc4ebb2a7f9c8b3504224265.txt

Arne Duncan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arne_Duncan

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. "We must ask the question..." Really? Reallllly?

[Ian David]

7. Paterno needs to be added to this list...

http://www.republicansexoffenders.com/

It looks like the list hasn't been updated in a while.

[Ruby the Liberal]

9. How is Paterno a sex offender?

[Ian David]

11. Which one is he again? n/t

[Ruby the Liberal]

22. Head coach and turn-the-other-way chief enabler

However, Sandusky (the pedophile) is a registered R.

[Ian David]

25. Ahh, thanks. n/t

[PSzymeczek]

17. He's an enabler

and covered up for an offender. Lie down with dogs...

[Ruby the Liberal]

21. Exactly.

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. It is a matter of greed and corruption, not political affiliation.

Granted, one party keeps it under the covers and the other celebrates it...

[riderinthestorm]

13. The fired Penn State President Spanier is a Democrat. I agree, this is not about political party nt

[ThoughtCriminal]

10. Are there any major college coaches that would be considered

liberal? At least in this era? I'd be curious - I'm sure there are some.

But the big money, association with mega-rich boosters, and authoritarian mind-set seems to attract more conservatives to the profession.

Edit - A couple of articles on this subject:

Why Your Coach Votes Republican
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204731804574386952311239532.html
"During the 2008 campaign cycle, college and NFL head coaches (and their wives) contributed a total of $13,286 to John McCain and the Republican National Committee. From that same group, Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee received just $4,600—half of it from Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears and the other half from San Jose State's Dick Tomey." (Arizona misses you Dick Tomey!)

Why Do Football Coaches Hate Democrats?
http://www.observer.com/2008/politics/why-do-football-coaches-hate-democrats

"One constituency in particular has proven especially fruitful for the Republican Party through the years: Prominent football coaches. For whatever reason – a natural sympathy for autocratic leadership, perhaps? "

[fascisthunter]

12. NO

as much as I detest their philosophies. I will state that I am not surprised though.

[valerief]

14. How could he be anything else? nt

[kestrel91316]

15. Another Family-Values Conservative (TM).

[davidthegnome]

16. You don't think that's going a little too far?

I really don't think that party has any relevance in this case. There are plenty of democrats who are just as concerned with their status and reputation as Paterno and similar people. I think he's a creep - but I don't think this has anything to do with him being a republican.

[Douglas Carpenter]

18. does it matter that John Wayne Gacy was a Democratic Party precinct captain?

Is there some message that can be read into that? Perhaps how liberal humanist values created the moral relativism that not only accepts homosexuality and abortion- but ultimately leads to serial killing? Of course, I think that is a bunch of nonsense. Actually, I think it's quite a stretch to make any of these connection whether about Paterno, Gacy or anyone else.


John Gacy with First Lady Rosalyn Carter in May 1978.

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

[rocktivity]

24. Gacy didn't mastermind a network of willing enablers to protect him

he worked very much alone.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Douglas Carpenter]

28. But either way whether Paterno is a Republican or Gacy is a Democrat is irrelevant

Based on what is known so far, it would be a a gross exaggeration to suggest Mr. Paterno masterminded a network of willing enablers. In fact we don't yet know very much about what Paterno was told, what he honestly suspected or how much he actually knew. As far as Jerry Sandusky - if the accusations and reports are correct then one might say that he did at least, manipulate a number of people who became enablers. How much other people like Mr. Paterno were consciously hiding the truth and how they were looking the other way - we as of now don't really know. Because it has happened so often that initial reports that occur during periods of near hysteria turn out to be less than accurate - I think it prudent to wait and see what the facts really are. It might be that the facts are worse than the accusations and reports. That is entirely possible. But in the current media circus surrounding these horrid revelations - I don't think we're going to get anything resembling a clear picture.

Less I be misunderstood, I am absolutely not defending anybody including Mr. Paterno. It's just that past occasions when horrid events became public tells me that getting to the truth is going to require some time for a bit of dispassion to make an examination of the facts even possible.

.

[Warpy]

20. Probably not but it does explain the authoritarianism that overrode common sense

and had him tell university officials and accept a coverup rather than calling the cops.

He'd have made a fine Catholic Bishop.

[seabeyond]

23. i dont care. he let a rapist have access to kids. nt

[Downtown Hound]

26. Sex scandals seem to follow high level Republicans wherever they go

And I'm not talking I cheated on my wife with a hooker type of sex scandal, I'm talking about much more sinister things. I personally believe that many of them are involved in all kinds of horrible and crooked shit, and if we ever truly found out the depth of depravity these sick mofo's engage in it would shake the world to its core.

[Beowulf]

27. We shall see.

Paterno is a complicated man, much more so than the myth that was carefully groomed for decades. Now that he has fallen, you will hear more about Paterno the bully, the man who held grudges, the control freak who ruled his world absolutely. Victims of his power will begin to come forward. Today, in the Centre Daily Times appears a letter from a man who was a graduate assistant coach in the mid-80's. He had several interesting things to say: Paterno was a bully, Sandusky had boys around him and was clingy with them, the coaching staff would shower together - something that made him very uncomfortable, and he quit after a year and a half.

Many more stories will come out. I'm expecting many women to come forward to talk about how they were sexually assaulted by Penn State football players and the crimes were covered up by University police or local authorities at the direction of Paterno.

But is there a political connection? It's no secret that Paterno moves in powerful circles, business and political, and most of those people are Republicans. But I don't think this culture sprang up because he is a Republican. I think it's more generic, abuse of power.

[Tom Ripley]

29. A psychopath is a psychopath

[SpiralHawk]

30. Yup - like Hermy Cain, he's got Republicon Family Values

and all Americans can see where that crap leads..

[moondust]

31. Misleading the public seems to come easy for Republicans.

RW media, WMD, countless smear campaigns, on and on...