President Barack Obama had Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner in the Oval Office today, seated to the left, and Vice President Joe Biden as well. They were all wearing suit coats, and Obama was talking football. Please note, "24" fans: There is no flat-screen TV above the fireplace in the Oval Office. That's upstairs, in the private residence, where Obama will root for the Steelers. (AP photo by Charles Dharapak)
by Mark Silva
One good endorsement deserves another.
Back when then-Sen. Barack Obama was waging an uphill battle for Pennsylvania's Democrats in the party presidential primaries there, Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, stepped up to the plate - uh, no, that's mixing our runaway, unblocked sportaphors - lined up -- much better -- for Obama.
And today, when asked which NFL team the president likes in the Super Bowl Sunday, well, the White House wasn't talking much about that team from Arizona, home of Obama's rival in the presidential election.
And the president has just answered the question himself:
"I am a longtime Steeler's fan. Mr. Rooney, the owner, was just an extraordinary supporter during the campaign,'' Obama said in the Oval Office this afternoon. "I wish the best to the Cardinals. They've been long-suffering. It's a great Cinderella story, but other than the Bears, the Steelers are probably the team that's closest to my heart.''
Before Obama spoke up, the White House had stepped around the issue.
"Oh, the Super Bowl question,'' said Robert Gibbs, White House press secretary, a little before Obama's confession.
"I know he has a tremendous respect and affection for the
Rooney family, who we saw at many different points along the campaign
Trail,'' Gibbs said of Obama. "The best breakfast place we went to in the entire campaign was a place that we went with Mr. Rooney -- in Pittsburgh.''
Best pancakes of the campaign -- Pamela's diner.
"So I -- without prejudging who he roots for,'' Gibbs said, "I know he has tremendous affection for the Rooney family.''
Back when the talk of the Pennsylvania primary was Obama's talk about "the bitterness'' of working-class voters, Rooney stepped forward in April to endorse Obama.
"True sports fans know that you support your team even when they are the underdogs," Rooney said in a letter released then by the Obama campaign. "Barack Obama is the underdog here but it is with great pride that I join his team."
"I think it came as a surprise to most political pundits in Pennsylvania," Gerald Shuster, a professor of political communication and presidential rhetoric at the University of Pittsburgh, said at the time - noting that the Rooneys traditionally stay away from political endorsements and typically donate to candidates from both parties.
Though Rooney's endorsement might not have translated into votes - Hillary Clinton carried Pennsylvania's Democrats handily - it couldn't have hurt to have the owner of Pittsburgh's most prominent sports franchise on his side of the field.
Pittsburgh has an obsession for the Steelers, who last won the Super Bowl in 2006. The Cardinals, formerly of St. Louis and also Chicago - and got their jerseys from the old University of Chicago Maroons - have been national champs - that would be 1947 - but before there were any Super Bowls.
Now the president's rooting against them
As for Pamela's pancakes, Obama said back in April:
"Before I answer this question, these really were maybe the best pancakes I've tasted in a very long time... You don't even need syrup on them. They've got [these] crispy edges. Yea, they are really good."
Comments
Pamela's griddle cakes represent.
HERE WE GO STEELERS HERE WE GO
Posted by: Luke Ravenstahl | January 29, 2009 3:58 PM
"Best pancakes of the campaign -- Pamela's diner."
- MS
Mark, are you paraphrasing Robert Gibbs or are you making this recommendation yourself?
Posted by: Jorge from Bloomington | January 29, 2009 4:22 PM
One, why isn't he a Bears fan? Two, has he ever attended a game with those the cling to guns, religions and the terrible towels?
Posted by: Batboy | January 29, 2009 4:37 PM
He IS a Bears fan. Reading is fundamental:
"but other than the Bears, the Steelers are probably the team that's closest to my heart.''
but since we know that hillbilly Repubs can't read, I wouldn't have expected you to grok that...
Posted by: Borrow and Spend Repubs | January 29, 2009 4:56 PM
Dear Borrow and Spend Repubs,
I'm not a Repub you total tool. Of course we KNOW that liberals don't gather facts, they just assume everybody is part of a partisan lifestyle and debates must be settled with slander not facts.
Fact: I'm a Libertarian. Fact: Those are Obamas quotes
Posted by: Batboy | January 29, 2009 6:36 PM
As a regular at Pamela's, I can confirm that the pancakes are superb. But the potatoes are better.
Our religion here is Steelermania, by the way, and the Steeler Nation doesn't cling to the Terrible Towels, we wave them. Please, in the future, respect the Towel and use caps!
Posted by: Nancy | January 29, 2009 6:48 PM
Hey, does anyone know when he'll be getting his personal, presidential seal rug? I saw a bit, on which news program I can't recall, about how every president gets to design his own presidential seal rug for the oval office. Apparently Laura designed that unsightly sun thingy.
Posted by: s2qs | January 29, 2009 8:40 PM
He did say he would bring "change"
Posted by: could care less | January 29, 2009 9:13 PM
Of course he's a Steeler fan. Blah blah blah. Disguisting, don't you remember during the campaign he said he wanted Florida Marlins to win the World Series when he was campaigning in Floriday and PHilly to win when he was in PA. This guy is ALL FLUFF and NO STUFF!!! DOn't disgrace the True STEELER fans with his bandwagon cheer. And besides, who cares??? From a transplant Western PA girl living in Chicao.
Posted by: Julie doesn't drink the koolaid | January 29, 2009 9:51 PM
GO BIG RED! Cardinals will shock the world again... Obama will have to call up Coach Whisenhunt on Sunday night
Posted by: chris | January 29, 2009 10:29 PM
So he liked the Bears when they were in the Super Bowl in '06 and he likes the Steelers now? Pretty typical that this guy's a fairweather fan.
Posted by: Jeff | January 29, 2009 11:29 PM
What? Borrow and Spend is such a tool......the lady's must LOVE him!!
Listen here pugboy, your post makes no sense. Really. Read the article again....a little slower....and then read your post. Better luck on your second post here.
Check your "facts" out again. If anyone calls you a Bruce for this post, just quite posting or else change your name.
Posted by: Xcellentform | January 29, 2009 11:34 PM
Hell alot of people from Chicago are Steeler fan all most as much as they are Bears fan, And who cares who he likes in the Super Bowl! Sports are sports not politics! As long as he does his Gig right we don't have a problem
Posted by: Jim | January 30, 2009 6:56 AM
Republican or Democrat, Steeler or Cardinal fan, Vegan or carnivore, now is the time to give our new President the remote control.
Gimme some uh them chips, though.
See http://notionscapital.wordpress.com/2009/01/30/superbowl-veg-out/
Posted by: Mike Licht | January 30, 2009 1:22 PM
Im ashamed to be a Steelers fan! It's out right embarrassing!
Art Rooney is a lost soul!
I will pray for him.
Posted by: Anna | February 1, 2009 11:13 PM
I can't believe it, Dan Rooney first shocked me when I heard he bought into Obamamania, a devout catholic republican endorsing someone who little was known about. But to go and thank him, for what? That was way overboard. What has he done for the team? (Forget I asked, I probably don't want to know.) Obama says he's a Steeler Fan, (Since when?) but he'll put down Pennsylvanians about our religious morals and gun views. I lost all respect for Dan with that comment last night. I don't recall him giving any thanks to Bush when they won XL in Detroit. (I'd be upset with that if was made.) There was no need to bring his political views to that podium. But to go and thank a President who only showed signs of support in the last month or so before thanking the fans who have been lifelong followers, (not that they make a difference of a games outcome or anything.) was insane. I am a Steeler fan for life (44 years) but after saying what he said, I can give a rat’s patoot if they ever make it back again. I'm sorry Dan but you left many fans with a sour taste in our mouth after we just tasted victory. Thanks for ruining a precious moment in time.
Posted by: USNSTEELERFAN | February 2, 2009 8:07 AM