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President Obama Welcomes the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers to the White House
May 21, 2009 4:11 PM
ABC News' Nitya Venkataraman and Sunlen Miller report: President Obama welcomed the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers to the White House Thursday, celebrating the team's thrilling, fourth quarter victory over the Arizona Cardinals in February.
Speaking from a stage on the South Portico, the president acknowledged his allegiance to the Chicago Bears but said it was "no secret that I was pulling for the Steelers during the Super Bowl last year, and that's part of the reason why this is so much fun for me."
"I can't remember a more exciting Super Bowl," Obama said.
It was the team's sixth Super Bowl title, the second in four seasons, a championship seized in the final 35 seconds of the game with a touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to Super Bowl XLIII MVP Santonio Holmes resulting in a 27-23 victory.
Of the game-winning play, Obama said, "I pointed out that that was a heck of a pass that Ben threw. But then one of linemen pointed out that was some blocking on that play. So that just reminds you, that's what Steeler football is all about, it's a team effort."
Obama continued "This is a team that entered the season facing the most difficult schedule in the league. But guys like these thrive on that."
Standing alongside Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin and team captains Ben Roethlisberger, James Farrior, Jeff Reed, and Hines Ward, Obama also paid homage to the heroes of Steelers' past, citing "guys like Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris and the Steel Curtain and Mean Joe Greene" as part of his early interest in the game. (Greene was also among those in attendance at today's White House event.)
Obama called the Super Bowl champions "a new team for a new era" a quality he said was "embodied by Coach Tomlin."
No stranger to the Steelers' First Family, the president lauded the Rooneys as "an extraordinary pillar" for the city and Steelers owner Dan Rooney as "a tremendous ambassador for pro football and for the city of Pittsburgh."
The septuagenarian has been a tremendous ambassador for Obama as well: Rooney endorsed Obama ahead of the Pennsylvania primary in April 2008 and remained an avid supporter throughout the election season; Rooney was nominated as US Ambassador to Ireland on St. Patrick's Day.
Obama rewarded political loyalties with sports allegiance come Super Bowl time, declaring himself the Steelers' First Fan in the early days of his presidency and backing them against the Cardinals as the team "closest to his heart."
Following his remarks and the team's presentation of a #44 black Steelers jersey to the president, Obama joined the team - absent one linebacker whose 100-yard touchdown return at the end of the first half made for one of the game's signature plays - to assemble 3,000 care packages for troops overseas alongside Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and National Naval Medical Center on the South Lawn of the White House.
Also absent today was Vice President Joe Biden whose attachment to the Steeler franchise runs deep.
Joining the president and team at the White House and in the care package assembly line was a powerhouse of politicians with Pennsylvania ties: Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Sen. Bob Casey, Sen. Arlen Specter, Teresa Heinz Kerry, as well as Representatives Tim Murphy, Mike Doyle, Glenn Thompson, Tom Rooney, and Charlie Wilson.
May 21, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (14)
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I cannot believe that the White House turned away kindergarteners because they were late and the WH had to get ready for the Steelers. Would they have turned the Steelers away if they had been late. I doubt it. Poor little kids.
Posted by: Maria | May 22, 2009 6:41:56 PM
No one is saying there is anything wrong with spending time with the Steelers. But someone really got way off the subject. Way out in the far left field somewhere. Take a deep breath and relax.
Posted by: d | May 21, 2009 8:59:17 PM
Why all the vitriol? This was the classiest visit to the white house by any winning superbowl team in NFL history. I'm proud to be a Steelers fan, and proud to support Obama.
All you haters need to get a life!
Posted by: jeff megahan | May 21, 2009 7:48:51 PM
Have you noticed how at all of these events, Obama always has to talk like it's all about him?
The Steelers win the Super Bowl, but all Obama can say is "I this" and "I that".
He did the same thing with the Phillies.
The man is so self centered that he has to make everything about himself.
Posted by: OxyCOn | May 21, 2009 6:39:31 PM
Again, another one who defends Obama's incompetancy by comparing him to Bush's incompetancy. Pathetic.
How about Obama quit using the excuse that he's so overwhelmed with other things that he doesn't have time to act on important civil rights issues like DADT and DOMA when he obviously has plenty of time for FOOLISHNESS.
Posted by: paul c | May 21, 2009 6:12:35 PM
What is wrong with Obama spending time with the Steelers? beats the President who spent time digging dirt over opponents, wiretapping members of congress, revealing the identity of a CIA agent, cooking Intel to justify a war, lying, lying and lying about a mushroom cloud that was never found in Iraq? I would rather have a President who is taking some time to meet people who have done some good than the one who spends 1 trillion dollars to justify a bogus war that ends-up killing 4500 American kids who have mothers owning graves instead of living beings.
Posted by: Manny | May 21, 2009 6:06:30 PM
Lots and lots of time to grin and gladhand with the Steelers! How much time did he spend on his meaningless photo op with Judy Shepard the other day? 90 seconds.
Gee, wonder what his priorities are? Certainly not in equal rights for gays.
Photo ops, yes. Important legislation and the people behind it, not so much.
Posted by: paul | May 21, 2009 5:39:32 PM
Thank you, Paul Wall! I'll invite you, too.
Posted by: MayBee | May 21, 2009 4:50:17 PM
They should have invited the real hero of the Steelers' victory.. who actually played for them for years..
The infamous.. Plaxico Burris.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 21, 2009 4:47:18 PM
MayBee | May 21, 2009 4:21:35 PM---"If I were president, I'd spend my days inviting all the male sports teams I could think of to the White House." Maybee, thanks for a light moment that made me laugh and smile. i'll vote for you.
Posted by: Paul Wall | May 21, 2009 4:43:19 PM
"...it was 'no secret that I was pulling for the Steelers during the Super Bowl last year, and that's part of the reason why this is so much fun for me.'"
It really is all about HIM, isn't it?
Posted by: Mondo | May 21, 2009 4:33:34 PM
Oh yeah.. they played Arizona.. Oh yeah.. he played John McCain..
Losers are quickly forgotten in America..
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | May 21, 2009 4:22:08 PM
If I were president, I'd spend my days inviting all the male sports teams I could think of to the White House.
Posted by: MayBee | May 21, 2009 4:21:35 PM
"I can't remember a more exciting Super Bowl," Obama said.
18 wins and 1 GIANT Loss?
Posted by: Ryan C | May 21, 2009 4:15:12 PM
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