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.
GREAT GUY?!— phillygtown- I remember when I was in high school I had a hard time speaking up when my cheerleading coach used to physically abuse her child in front of our whole team. I did not know what to do. Sure every kid deserved some rebuke once in a while, and this was an adult that should be doing the right thing. It's bothered me through my adult life, that I did not even tell my parents. We did not use the term "child abuse" back then and I did not know what to call what I was seeing. I just knew it was wrong. Now if it were rape, I would not have hesitated. Wasn't it obvious to that student athlete that he should have first interfered (which I did many times in my adult life - not for sexual abuse but verbal and physical) and then called the police? This is gross.— ptahan
Comment removed.- It just goes to show how many people thought that Sandusky was just a fine, good, honest, decent, trustworthy, praiseworthy citizen.— Max in VT
- I can't stand Santorum, but this is a joke. This is exactly what is wrong with the media. This hack, Fitzgerald, is just taking a cheap shot.I'm sure there are numerous people who spoke of this monster, Sandusky, in a positive light before the story broke. Hell, Sports Illustrated wrote a feature article about him!— BillyDelco
- Fitzgerald: The headline is a distasteful political piece. You have lost any vestiges of remaining dignity, and your editors should be ashamed.— RTL
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- And Obama worshiped for 21 Years with Rev Wright proclaiming his Hate out loud and in public... stick that up your Big Tent.— sillybilly
- cheap shot of the year— jstash
- I think when the trial takes place a lot of people, including Joe Paterno, will have egg on their faces.
Does it make sense that Joe did not call his defensive coach of a zillion years and ask him ' what the hell is goung on here '.
I am afraid it was a dirty little secret at PSU for sometime that Sandusky was a pedophile but the University and the football program could not be tarnished by revealing or exposing it.— candidly - Karma often manifests itself in the form of fatal lipid buildup in the arteries of morbid fatties like Fitzgerald.— Mr. Smith
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- i am a democrat and ant-Santorum and absolutely think the point of this article is absurd. This is complete bias and liberal spin. How would he have know that Sandusky was a pedophile? Should it have been his responsibility to hire a detective research Sandusky's past. Maybe it was more of Santorum's responsibility to report Sandusky to the police, than McQueary or Paterno? What is the point of this article? I think the author owes and explanation to the readers for wasting their time and throwing more garbage into the pile.— brandon215
You can reach Tom Fitzgerald at 215-854-2718 or tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
Reach Thomas at tfitzgerald@phillynews.com.
