Santorum sponsored honor for accused PSU Coach
Former PA Sen. Rick Santorum honored accused Penn State coach in 2002 as "angel" in serving children.
Santorum sponsored honor for accused PSU Coach
Thomas Fitzgerald, Inquirer Politics Writer
Then Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum thought enough of Jerry Sandusky nine years ago to sponsor the former Penn State defense coordinator for a “Congressional Angels in Adoption” award, citing his work with a non-profit group he founded to provide care for foster children.
“Its philosophy is simple: it is easier to develop a child than to rehabilitate an adult,” read the citation in the awards dinner program from Sept. 24, 2002.
Sandusky, of course, has been charged with sexual abuse of young boys and Penn State University is under fire for its handling of reports of the coach’s suspicious behavior. The burgeoning scandal reportedly is about to force legendary head coach Joe Paterno to retire.
Santorum, a 1980 PSU graduate, is one of the school’s most distinguished alumni – a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination who represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate from 1995 to 2007. A social conservative and champion of adoption, Santorum is staking his candidacy on an appeal to family values.
Since the scandal broke into the news, Santorum has been circumspect in his comments about it. He has said he does not know Sandusky personally.
And indeed, the guy has been a top philanthropist for a long time, routinely honored by political figures.
On Tuesday, Santorum told ABC News that Paterno deserved the benefit of the doubt because he has “served in such distinction for all those years.” Santorum also said: “Look, I pray and hope that he (Paterno) didn’t do anything he shouldn’t have done, but it certainly looks horrible for the university, horrible for the football program and obviously people were fired, should be fired,” Santorum told ABC News.
The Angels in Adoption awards program is sponsored annually by the non-profit Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute.
Santorum is a joke and a dope but this is a cheap shot. Who knew (besides the PSU athletic dept. it seems) that Sandusky was a pedofile? Just a senator honoring a charitable organization, happens a few times a week.— jimmymack- As it turns out the school did and Santorum is still in his corner — MXW
- Who is on the hook for the hundreds of millions of dollars it's going to take to settle with all the victims who are going to come out of the woodwork? Anyone who ever went to a camp Sandusky worked, or any kid who ever came through the adoption program is going to lawyer up and expect a couple million dollars. Who is going to pay that?— Mr. Smith
Comment removed.- Santorum is a joke...but no reasonable person could fault him for something he said 9 years ago about a guy, who at the time, had no criminal charges against him. What did left wing looneys say about Fumo 9 years before he got busted????— kelprod2
- The school knew during Corbet's investigation and rumors were rampant. As of today Santorum is still in Sandusky's corner -- even with Sandusky's OWN STEP SON coming out — MXW
- whether you like Santorum or not...the headline is really a low blow.— Gray Areas
- This isn't news...we already knew that Sandusky had firsthand experience with santorum.— Pelle Schultz
- Not surprised Santorum liked this guy.— Phils_World_Champs
- Cheap shot. He was honoring someone who set up a successful charity, at the time, and was universally respected.— MattPSU
- Pedophiles fool a lot of people. Not Philly.com writers. As soon as they suspected anything they would have done the right thing. They are perfect in every way and have the license to conduct witch hunts to protect the welfare of the children of the world. They are beyond reproach. Because they are true child advocates, not just a bunch of scandal seeking sensationalists.— retzlaff
- retzlaff, prove that they wouldn't do anything. You make conjecture on what probably reflects on yourself. Considering Sandusky was first investigated by the-AG Corbett and now by his appointed republican successor, are you calling them witch hunters? Seems like the conservative pollice and DA in central PA were the ones who dropped the ball in 1998. If they did their jobs then, how many kids would have been saved? Or don't you care about them? — mike l
- This whole entire article is conjecture and you are inserting your own political bias into this and your own theories. Corbett investigated Sandusky in 1999 and this article says that Santorum awarded Sandusky in 2002. Is there a link? Why do politics have to be injected in every story? Why this one? Retzlaff is absolutely correct. The writer is absolutely trying to make headlines through sensationalism. What is the point of this article or your opinion. That republicans turn a blind eye to pedophilia? — brandon215
- err. meant corbett investigated in 2009. — brandon215
- Gee, I suppose the hundreds of thousands of Penn State fans who supported Sandusky as a coach will now be the subject of their own moronic article by this blog.— J H
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
