Does Rooney's Clinton Advocacy Cross the Line?

April 16th, 2008, posted by Greg Palmer

I can see why this is a big problem – TJ has endorsed and is a surrogate for Clinton, and I expect that he convinced a lot of other party leaders to do the same and that state party resources might be going toward helping Hillary win.

Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman T.J. Rooney is no stranger to aggressive campaign tactics — it’s practically his job. But his jabs are usually aimed at Republicans, not fellow Democrats, as has been the case during the presidential primary.

Rooney has been one of Hillary Clinton’s most aggressive surrogates in Pennsylvania, taking to television airwaves and conference calls with reporters to play up the New York senator and knock down Barack Obama.

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Another Rooney endorses

On April 16th, 2008 Anonymous said:

I read in the P-G yesterday that Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has come out for Obama. Given the breadth of the “Steeler Nation”, that might be a more important endorsement.

Yes, it crosses the line, even Rooney thinks so

On April 16th, 2008 Anonymous said:

... Sort of. Here’s what Rooney says:

‘“I haven’t called anybody any names. I’ve tried to keep everything in check,’‘ Rooney said. ‘‘Because I respect the man and I realize he’s the front-runner. I don’t want to do anything to personally alienate Sen. Obama or any of his supporters. But by the same token if and when I am asked to point out what I view to be a legitimate thing or issue, I am happy to do that.’‘

So, Rooney acknowledges that calling Obama names would be a bad thing, and would disrespect the man, and would alienate his supporters. So what does Rooney do?

Twice the Clinton campaign has put Rooney on conference calls with reporters to tackle Obama. In late March, he accused the Obama campaign of trying to disenfranchise voters because some supporters, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont in particular, were calling for Clinton to withdraw from the race.

Remember, at this time, Obama was saying that Clinton should run for as long as she wants to. So, this is just spin to support Clinton. Then TJ goes on to distort Obama’s record on energy legislation, adding this zinger:

It seems to me yet another example of where Sen. Obama’s words don’t match his actions.’‘

So, Rooney essentially is falsely accusing the Democratic Party’s leading Presidential candidate of being a liar. In doing so, TJ has become a Clinton partisan hack, and is doing more damage to his Party than anything else. The PA politicians who support Clinton probably don’t care, but the people trying to build the state’s Democratic Party should rightly be pissed off. TJ’s job is to support Democratic candidates in PA, and right now there are two of them running for President.

He just wants a newer and

On April 16th, 2008 Anonymous said:

He just wants a newer and bigger stadium. And, he wants it for free.
That’s why some rich people like Democrats.

Were following Clinton straight into the mud slinging

On April 17th, 2008 Anonymous said:

Well it’s all up to us. If we want Sen. Clinton to drag us all in the mud with her just because she thinks shes is the better candidate despite what more than 50% of the country thinks. Its up to Pennslyvanians to either end this race or keep it going and end up with another republican and a non ending war on top of a failing economy. The choice is ours.

Rooney has his job thanks to Fast Eddie

On April 17th, 2008 Anonymous said:

He is simply carrying out Rendell’s bidding, doing the dirty work that the Governor cannot do.

I thought the debate in P. A. was staged

On April 18th, 2008 Anonymous said:

click on these, and you’ll see why

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq8aopATYyw&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMfUajhL24I&feature…

It makes you think twice about putting Hillary Clinton back in the White House.