Rooney visits Weirton on behalf of Obama

By GIOVANNI P. ROSSI, Staff writer
Pittsburgh Steelers Owner Dan Rooney and his son Jim paid a visit to DeeJay’s Thursday to meet with members of the Character, Attitude and Responsibility community organization and speak on his reasons for supporting Sen. Barack Obama for president.

CAR Coordinator Karen Harris reported she recently donated a portion of her restaurant, The Manna, to store and distribute campaign information on Obama. Harris stated she was sick in her home when she decided to contact the senator’s campaign office to obtain information on his stances in the upcoming election.

“When I called, they asked if I would mind distributing signs and pamphlets,” she said. “There are a number of volunteers that have come forward since then and are really making this work on a community level.”

Sandi Rue, of Steubenville, Ohio, reported she frequented Harris’ restaurant and was excited to volunteer with CAR to make citizens aware of Obama’s platform.

She noted she has worked stations throughout the Tri-State Area and believes organizations like CAR promote Obama’s beliefs in communities taking the initiative for themselves.

Harris also thanked CAR members Marianna and Edward Orourke, Gloria Burns, Bob Atkinson and Jill Utt for their assistance over the past week. According to Harris, Atkinson hung signs for Obama’s campaign while Utt made more than 500 phone calls promoting the effort by CAR and coordinating volunteers.

“The senator has a lot of support in the area,” Utt said. “The main focus for a lot of people isn’t the economy, its the war. Parents want to see their children come home and they trust Obama to do it.”

Mayor Mark Harris and DeeJay’s owner Dewey Guida introduced Rooney, thanking him for coming to Weirton during his promotion of Obama. The mayor stated he too was supporting the senator as he believes Obama is looking out for the businessmen of America.

Rooney thanked Harris, Guida, and CAR for holding the luncheon.

He told guests he believed Obama should become president because of his attitude and willingness to meet with the people.

“The only way to solve a problem is to meet and talk with the people,” he said. “That is exactly what Obama is doing.”

Rooney stated he also believed the senator had the best interests of the American businessman in mind. He noted he did not believe in the manner the country has been run in recent years and said he believed Obama would bring character and stability back to America by assisting the national economy and improving the nation’s diplomacy.

“The entire world is going to be watching West Virginia on Tuesday, and I am sure you are going to make the right decision,” he said.

Event Coordinator Kyle Wilson and her son, former Cincinnati Bengals player and Weirton native Quincy Wilson, thanked Rooney for attending the luncheon and showing his support for both Obama and the CAR organization. Karen Harris and Kyle Wilson stated they were grateful for how expansive the group has become over the short time it has been operating and thanked those in attendance for their dedication to Obama’s campaign.



(Rossi can be contacted at grossi@weirtondailytimes.com)