Penn State Coach Joe Paterno Chooses to Not Greet Bill Clinton

Morning Call ^ | 3/30/08 | Genaro C. Armas

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, a noted Republican, says he thought long and hard before deciding against greeting Bill Clinton when the former president visited campus on behalf of his wife's presidential campaign.

Bill Clinton pitched the Penn State ties of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday during a stop in State College, reminding the mostly youthful audience that her father and brother both played football at Penn State.

In fact, brother Hugh Rodham, a 1972 graduate, was a backup quarterback under Paterno.

[bert]

.....That has NOTHING TO DO with publicly disrespecting Clinton-the-former-President.....

Many believe Bubba was never really President. He never measured up to the title. He merely served as Governor of the USA

[nyyankeefan]

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno Chooses to Not Greet Bill Clinton ....

another great reason to understate Joe Pa’s judgement of men!!!!

[nina0113]

John Elway did not attend the White House photo-op after the Bronco’s Super Bowl win due to an “illness”.

The same day as the photo-op, Elway was spotted at his local country club playing golf.

That's PERFECT.

[TontoKowalski]

If he really couldn't bear to greet him, he should have had a diplomatic illness and NOT GIVEN THE INTERVIEW.

Well, I can perhaps see your point... a little bit. But the problem with your solution is that the attention-hungry media whore would have leaped at the opportunity to visit JoePa in his non-existent hospital or sick-bed.

[steelyourfaith]

"450lb fat, bloated lump of lard, “Huge Rotten” was a back-up, back-stop for the baseball team."

Huge & Slick:

[Ann Archy]

Hugh's salad days were short; Bill and Hillary demanded that he return the cash, and he obliged quickly.

NO!!! I'll bet $1000.00 that Hugh did NOT return the money!! Who would he return it to, the CROOKS??? NO FREAKING WAY a RODHAM OR a CLINTON RETURNS MONEY!

[Radl]

And to think Hillary played quarterback for him. Thanks for nothing Joe!

[SVTCobra03]

As President, Klinton facilitated the sale of missle guidance technology to the Chicoms in exchange for illegal campaign contributions. He dishonored the Office of the President and deserves no respect from anyone.

[TCats]

You mean “Underscore” right?

[mrmargaritaville]

yeah right-that’s a pile of bull-psu police blotter last three years:

PSU – 100 YEARS OF A PROUD TRADITION!

1.Maurice Humphrey, Arrest, Assault & Prison Guilty
2. Maurice Humphrey - Guilty Probation Violation
3. Maurice Humphrey - Fake ID Probation Violation Guilty
4. Tyler Reed - Drunk in Public Summary Charge Guilty
5. Andrew Richardson - Drunk in Public Summary Charge Guilty
6. Rashard Casey, Arrest, Assault, Dismissed
7. Anwar Phillips, Arrest, Assault, Dismissed
8. T.C. Cosby, Arrest, Assault, Acquitted
9. Michael Robinson, Ice-Rink Fight Summary Charge
10. Lavon Chisley, Arrest, Sexual Assault, Dismissed
11. Paul Jefferson, Drunk In Public Summary Charge Guilty
12. Ed Johnson, Ice-rink fight Summary Charge Guilty
13. Matthew Rice, Ice-rink fight Summary Charge Guilty
14. John Bronson, Arrest, Assault, Dismissed
15. Jeremy Kapinos, Drunk In Public Summary Charge
16. Tom McHugh, Hitting A Woman Summary Charge
17. Tony Johnson, Arrest, DUI Guilty
18. Richard Cheek, Arrest, Stolen Credit Card Guilty
19. Yaacov Yisreal, DUI, Guilty
20. Dan Drogan, DUI Leaving Accident, Guilty
21. Dethrell Garcia, DUI, Guilty
22. Scott Paxson, Criminal Mischief, Summary Charge Guilty
23. E.Z. Smith, Drunk In Public Summary Charge Guilty
24. R.J. Luke, Arrest Assault, Acquitted
25. Damone Jones, Unknown Charges Dismissed From School
26. Mike Sothern, Terroristic Disorderly Criminal Mischief Guilty
27. Mike Sothern Criminal Mischief Expelled Guilty
28. EZ Smith Criminal Mischief Summary Charge Guilty
29. Scott Paxson Criminal Mischief Summary Charge Guilty
30. Tyler Reed - Criminal Mischief Summary Charge Guilty
31. Andrew Richardson - Criminal Mischief Summary Charge Guilty
32. Ed Johnson Sexual Misconduct Arrest Guilty
34. Dan Connor Criminal Mischief Phone Summary Charge Guilty
35. Nolan MCready Criminal Mischief Phone Summary Charge Guilty
36. Jim Kanuch Criminal Mischief Summary Phone Charge Guilty
37. Paul Cronin Drunk In Public Summary Charge Guilty
38. Scott Paxson Sexual Assault & Aggravated Indecent Charge Guilty
39. Francis Claude Arrest At Bar Disorderly Conduct Guilty
40. Ed Johnson Failed Drug Test Condition Of Parole Guilty
41. Lavon Chisley Murder Charge Guilty Life Sentence
42. Anthony P. Scirrotto burglary, criminal trespass, criminal solicitation, simple assault, harassment. Trial Pending
43. Chris I. Baker burglary, criminal trespass criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, harassment. Trial Pending
44. Jerome A. Hayes criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, harassment. Dismissed
45. Justin King criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, harassment. Dismissed
46. Tyrell A. Sales criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, harassment Dismissed
47. Lydell R. Sargeant criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, harassment Dismissed
48. Andrew Quarless-Underage Drinking Guilty
49. Willie Harriot-Underage Drinking Guilty
50. Austin Scott Rape, Drugs Trial
51. Joe Suhey Underage Drinking Guilty
52. Ryan Breen Underage Drinking Guilty,
53. Joe Paterno Road Rage No Charges
54. Chris Baker felony aggravated assault, simple assault, disorderly conduct, summary harassment and stalking, Pending.
55. Navarro Bowman felony aggravated assault, simple assault, disorderly conduct, summary harassment and stalking, Pending.
56. Knowledge Timmons, disorderly conduct and defiant trespass
57. Tyrell Sales – Under age drinking 2008

jokepa’s program is dirty-the godfather was able to keep this kind of thing out of the media until recently.

[LouD]

Why should he have a “diplomatic illness?” Clinton was not there to give an address on history or policy, he was there for the blatantly political purpose of promoting his wife’s candidacy.

If he’s there for a political purpose, then being critical of him, or the candidate he’s supporting, are both reasonable.

[mtbopfuyn]

Excuse me, but was he even asked to greet him? Despite that coaches think it’s all about them, he isn’t the president of the university nor was he one of the one’s who sent Clinton the invitation. Who cares if he shook Clinton’s hand or not. Sounds like his ego just couldn’t pass up getting his name in the paper. I didn’t see that the lunchroom lady was interviewed on the subject.

[Hot Tabasco]

I’ll be charitable and assume it was a temporary misjudgement

I'm wondering here, was Paterno dissing the appearance of the ex-president of the United States or was he dissing a spokesperson of a rival political candidate who was on campus trying to drum up support for a democratic presidential candidate?

[SkiHatGuy]

I had a chance to walk to the park next to my house to see Clinton speak a few weeks ago, when he was in NC. Needless to say, I avoided the park like the plague. I think I would have started melting had I gotten too close.

[RoadTest]

“He said he felt that perhaps he should welcome Clinton out of respect for his status as a former president.

He was right the first time.”

Not me. The term “former” would get me out of any obligation at all to greet that creepy serial rapist.

[RoadTest]

“Joe Paterno has got more class in his little finger than Bubba, Butch, Chelsea, Osamo, and Michelle Osamo have in their whole bodies, altogether.”

AMEN!

[Hot Tabasco]

Sounds like his ego just couldn’t pass up getting his name in the paper. I didn’t see that the lunchroom lady was interviewed on the subject.

I'm thinking the reporter shoved his microphone into coach Paterno's face, not the other way around........and I'm also thinking the lunchroom lady called up same reporter begging for an interview so she could give her take on Clinton but the reporter hung up on her.

[Dick Vomer]

He was right the first time. If he really couldn't bear to greet him, he should have had a diplomatic illness and NOT GIVEN THE INTERVIEW. Talk about no class.

You're wrong on several counts.

First of all Joe Paterno wasn't representing Joe Paterno to Bill Clinton. Clinton was trying to associate himself with a TRUSTED individual who has built an entire lifetime and career by trying to be honest and upright.

In other words as a private citizen Joe Paterno is a nobody to Clinton. As an icon for honesty and hard work, Clinton wanted to rub his cockroach like persona against Paterno in order to advance himself and her thighness Hillary.

Secondly, Joe Paterno is honest. If you ask him a question, he'll answer it. He doesn't parse the meaning of "is". He answers honestly to the best of his ability. That's called integrity. If you notice he doesn't say bad things about Clinton, just that he doesn't want to participate in the liberal propaganda machinations of the Clintons.

Thirdly, he's a private citizen. As a Marine, we have to respect the office. We HAVE to salute the commander in chief. We HAVE to attend formations/parade/eat chow with whoever our commander says we HAVE to. As a private citizen, Joe Pa doesn't have to shake hands with a guy that used a 21 year old intern as his private cigar humidor.

I'm from Texas and don't really know much about Paterno except that he seems to have avoided trouble and is well respected in a business , NCAA division I football, that will tempt you with shady deals, dishonesty and other felonious activities if you let them.

Finally, If I could somehow show Clinton how unworthy he is of any man's respect I would. Unfortunately sociopaths don't have a conscience and are beyond shame. So Joe could pull down his pants and take a dump in front of Clinton and he'd just smile and move on, thanking him for supporting "Hillary and me".

[Kozak]

He said he felt that perhaps he should welcome Clinton out of respect for his status as a former president.

BS. Why should anyone show any respect to Clinton based on his status as "Former President" when he showed no respect for the Office when he was POTUS? If Clinton had any shred of decency he would have retired and SHUT UP.

[ml/nj]

Talk about no class.

I wonder who it is who has no class. I visited Penn State once for a Virginia football game. Everything about the place and the people I met just exuded class. It is something I'll never forget.

ML/NJ