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Jay Paterno jumps into politics

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It used to be that when a Paterno entered the political arena, you knew where he stood. For years, Joe Paterno - Penn State's iconic football coach - has stood to the right. So when Joseph "Jay" Paterno Jr. publicly backed Democrat Barack Obama, there was some confusion among Penn State supporters. Could the son of Joe possibly lean to the left? Some were supportive. Some were not. Others were all too ready to pounce on the Nittany Lions' quarterbacks coach and the whipping boy for fan discontent. One suggested that Jay Paterno was using his support of Obama as a ploy for recruiting. For Paterno, whose popularity is at Dennis Kucinich levels, this was no time to sit out. In February, he switched his registration from independent to Democrat so he could vote in today's presidential primary. And since then, he's done everything from registering voters to blogging on Obama's behalf - all on his own time.

Philadelphia Inquirer

Jay Paterno, AP Jay Paterno, AP
April 22, 2008  08:53 AM ET

I hate this guy. No question about it.

April 22, 2008  10:30 AM ET

Does he know he's supporting a socialist who HOPES to destroy our country with his ill founded political and economical views?

April 22, 2008  10:39 AM ET

So what is Obama today - crazy christian, covert muslim, or socialist america hater? I got this one e-mail from this one person who said that instead of taking his hat off during the national anthem at the Bulls game, he actually put on a turban, grabbed his crotch, and told every white male over 50 in his section that he hated them and was personally going to impregnate their daughters before forcing them to wear burkas and make them hum the Irania national anthem. I'm so, so, scared of this man who wants to divert from the policies of the current administration. Terrified.

April 22, 2008  10:47 AM ET

A+ duany

Jay Paterno (or anyone else for that matter) couldn't possibly support Obama because of his political stances, ability to motivate an apathetic youth, or determination to give the country back to average citizens...no not at all. There has to be some hidden agenda like helping recruitment....wtf?

April 22, 2008  11:10 AM ET

Hopefully he is better at that then coaching.

April 22, 2008  11:10 AM ET

Barack just lost Pennsylvania. Damn you Jay Pa. DAMN YOU!!

April 22, 2008  11:35 AM ET

Nice to see a football coach who is intelligent enough to realize there are a lot of important things in America to address other than college football (though CFB is right up there for me personally). As well, Paterno is intelligent enough to realize neo-con smear campaign against Obama is just that - a load of crap from people whose days as white rich racist conservatives in control of everything are truly numbered, no matter what Fox&Friends broadcasts each morning. President Obama... get used to it folks, starting 1-20-09.

April 22, 2008  12:36 PM ET

Jay Paterno sucks.

April 22, 2008  12:39 PM ET

Wow what dumb racist comments and I feel no need to name the person, just read the prvious comments, They (plural) stick out like sore thumbs. Personally I am not an Obama fan, but this does make me more inclined to support him in November.

April 22, 2008  01:09 PM ET

hmmmm .....thats about all I can say to that.

April 22, 2008  01:56 PM ET

Let's hope that Obama doesn't get elected cuz it will hurt Jake Long, the #1 draft choice by the Dolphins (57.5 mill/5 year contract with 30 mill guaranteed). Jake will have to pay higher taxes under Obama.

April 22, 2008  03:59 PM ET

it's reports like these that are really starting to tick me off.. Lay off Joe and Jay for a change.. and Penn State... talk about someone else for a change.. god

April 22, 2008  04:10 PM ET

I didnt realize the world was against Penn St, i do now thanks Miller Time

April 22, 2008  04:14 PM ET

"Does he know he's supporting a socialist ...."
The Warden | 04/22/08, 10:30 AM

Absolute drivel. Some of Obama's largest campaign contributors are Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Lehman Brothers, and Citigroup. Look it up.

"Let's hope that Obama doesn't get elected cuz it will hurt Jake Long, the #1 draft choice by the Dolphins (57.5 mill/5 year contract with 30 mill guaranteed). Jake will have to pay higher taxes under Obama."
The Warden | 04/22/08, 01:56 PM

And most of us would bust out crying over that....

April 22, 2008  04:27 PM ET

quickest way to screw things up is mess with the wealthy people's money, shi.tty but true

April 22, 2008  04:30 PM ET

duany, do you know anythng?

Conservatives don't fear Obama--those of you on the left are the ones that are both fear-mongers and fearful. You see a vast right wing conspiracy to deprive you of all your cherished rights (you know, like the right to pornography, strip clubs, free condoms, free abortions) under every bush (pun intended). As for Obama, he'd be a great President, if you desire an Iraq that becomes unstable and is a staging ground for terrorist attacks on US soil, an America that is free to pursue all of the above so-called rigths, that makes promises to help and free people but in actuality simply reduces them to government dependency, and becomes impoverished by increased taxes used to fund Obam's utopian dreams (which cannot and will not ever come to fruition). Be careful, you and Jay may get what you wish for.

April 22, 2008  04:31 PM ET

"Let's hope that Obama doesn't get elected cuz it will hurt Jake Long, the #1 draft choice by the Dolphins (57.5 mill/5 year contract with 30 mill guaranteed). Jake will have to pay higher taxes under Obama."
The Warden | 04/22/08, 01:56 PM

Or maybe Parcells and Co. can borrow money from the Saudis or Chinese to pay his contract + have their kids pay it back when they're deep underground.

April 22, 2008  04:39 PM ET

Smart move Paterno.. Smartest thing you've ever done.

April 22, 2008  04:40 PM ET

If your thesis is "Conservatives don't fear Obama," then your supporting evidence doesn't do much to prove the point. If you want to dissect the pros/cons of someone's policy positions, that's a different issue. If you wan't to speculate about my sexual proclivities, go nuts (pun intended).

And if you don't think Iraq is currently unstable, then you ain't paying attention... Although I will give you one free pass because the MSM doesn't report on Iraq in light of all the important issues concerning bowling, snipers, jesus freaks and 60s radicals-turned-professors. Revel in your ignorance with the rest of them.

PSU? 8-4? I don't know. Big 10 should be down.

 
April 22, 2008  04:42 PM ET

duany, do you know anythng?

Conservatives don't fear Obama--those of you on the left are the ones that are both fear-mongers and fearful. You see a vast right wing conspiracy to deprive you of all your cherished rights (you know, like the right to pornography, strip clubs, free condoms, free abortions) under every bush (pun intended). As for Obama, he'd be a great President, if you desire an Iraq that becomes unstable and is a staging ground for terrorist attacks on US soil, an America that is free to pursue all of the above so-called rigths, that makes promises to help and free people but in actuality simply reduces them to government dependency, and becomes impoverished by increased taxes used to fund Obam's utopian dreams (which cannot and will not ever come to fruition). Be careful, you and Jay may get what you wish for.

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