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	Paterno Loses Backing for Presidential Medal By Phil Ray Altoona Mirror November 12, 2011 http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/555352/Paterno-loses-backing-for-presid---.html STATE COLLEGE - Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno now has no congressional backing for a nomination for the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-5th District, wrote a letter to President Barack Obama on Friday withdrawing his support of the nomination he supported with U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa. "The recommendation for the highest civilian honor was based upon Mr. Paterno's long-term contributions to society on and off the field, and his personal commitment to the success of his students and numerous philanthropic endeavors," Thompson wrote in the letter. "Due to the tragic events that surround The Pennsylvania State University, it is with a heavy heart that I respectfully withdraw my support for Mr. Paterno's nomination. As a proud Penn State alumnus, I believe the nomination at this time only serves as a distraction from the most important issue - supporting the victims, their families and our community." Casey and Toomey, in a joint announcement late Thursday, announced they were withdrawing their support for the 84-year-old coach's potential honor. Paterno's accomplishments have been pushed to the side by the child sex-abuse scandal, the arrests of Paterno's former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky on charges of child abuse and Paterno's failure to follow up on a report he received that Sandusky had sexually assaulted a child in the Lasch Football Building in 2002. Toomey and Casey said they hoped authorities will move quickly with their continuing investigation. "Our hearts and prayers go out to them and their families," stated Casey and Toomey. Pennsylvania's senators are among several people who weighed in on the Sandusky scandal on Thursday. U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-9th District, called the grand jury presentment against Sandusky and two Penn State officials, Athletic Director Timothy Curley and Senior Vice President for Finance Gary Schultz, "shocking and disturbing." "This is a tragedy for the victims who have had their childhood taken away from them and for their families who have suffered in silence," Shuster said. "Child abuse cannot be tolerated." Shuster acknowledged that Paterno made many important contributions to the university during his tenure and "been seen as a moral icon for NCAA sports for close to half a century. He so fumbled his moral and professional responsibilities in this instance that it cannot be overlooked." Shuster supported action taken Wednesday evening by the Penn State's Board of Trustees to fire both Paterno and university President Graham Spanier. "The university must comply fully with all internal and external investigations and focus their efforts to restore honor to what is still a world-class university," he said. Anne Barrett Doyle, a member of a Boston Catholic church victim's group, offered her support for the board's action. She said, "Their decision and the aggressive investigation by Pennsylvania Attorney General Linda Kelly are evidence that a new era of awareness and responsibility has dawned in the battle for children's rights." She offered her opinion, she told the Mirror, because her group supports a bill in the Pennsylvania House that would suspend the statute of limitations for child abuse victims, allowing them to come forward to press criminal charges against their perpetrators. She was critical of the students who rallied around Paterno Wednesday night and early Thursday morning after he was fired. Contact: pray@altoonamirror.com
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