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Irish Americans for Obama/Biden

Irish-American Comments on Senator Edward M. Kennedy (1932-2009)

By Michael from Milton, MA - Aug 31st, 2009 at 1:10 pm EDT

Dan Rooney, US Ambassador to Ireland
“It is with sorrow that I report on the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Senator Kennedy was not only a great American statesman, but a good friend of mine and of Ireland and its people.

“Senator Kennedy was a true advocate of health care, especially for children. He was committed to the idea that everyone should have access to health care.

“He was a giant in furthering legislative resolutions for people in need, among not only his own constituents, but also among the people of Ireland.

“Since his early days in the Senate, Ted Kennedy was active in the Northern Ireland peace process. He introduced resolutions condemning all violence in Northern Ireland, expressing support for the Good Friday agreement in 1998 and the blueprint for lasting peace.

“Senator Kennedy was an instrumental supporter of Barack Obama's candidacy for the office of President of the United States. He continued that support after President Obama was elected.

“My deepest sympathies go out to Senator Kennedy's wife, Victoria, and the entire Kennedy family. He will be sincerely missed for his active role in legislation and for his concern for the needy.”

Carol Wheeler, Irish Liaison for Obama Presidential Campaign
“Irish Americans have special reason to celebrate the incredible life of Senator Edward Kennedy for his heart most surely was that of an immigrant’s great-grandson who never forgot the wonder of what is possible in America. He fought tirelessly on behalf of our most vulnerable citizens (including our newest) to ensure that they, too, have the opportunity to realize their dreams. Our country is a better place because he won so many of those fights.

“He also used his extraordinary political skills to play a pivotal role in the resolution of the Irish ‘Troubles’. In addition to providing policy and diplomatic guidance that helped end the violence, he was unfailing in his support of on-the-ground efforts aimed at reconciliation and community-building. I remember a hot July day in Washington many years ago and a Senator who came home early from work to preside over a backyard cook-out for boys and girls who were spending the summer with Project Children. He was a buoyant host, clearly relishing the mix of Protestant and Catholic kids from Northern Ireland – ‘enemies’ at home – splashing side by side in his pool and sharing jokes at the picnic tables.

“We can be sure that this sad week has brought back many memories of that happy day in places like Belfast, Armagh and Derry. And that Senator Kennedy’s young guests – now adults with families of their own – are saying a quiet ‘thank you’ not only for a great party but for the peace that has come to their communities.

Trina Vargo, President, US-Ireland Alliance
“Senator Kennedy s commitment to Ireland and Northern Ireland spanned forty years and no one has contributed more to the strengthening of the relationship between the US and the island of Ireland. He encouraged me to create the US-Ireland Alliance and everyone at the Alliance is grateful for the continuous support he gave to the organization and the Mitchell Scholarship program. Personally, he gave me, at a very young age, an incredible opportunity to be a part of making a difference in a way that few people get. I told him when I left his employ that, no matter what I did with the rest of my life, the way that I see things would, to a very great extent, be shaped by the way that I learned to see things by working with him. And for that I feel honored and privileged -- but most of all I feel incredibly lucky -- that he allowed me to be a part of his work.”

Brian O’Dwyer, Chair, Emerald Isle Immigration Center
“I first met Ted Kennedy in 1963. I was a freshman at the George Washington University in Washington DC and was eager to intern with the recently elected Senator from Massachusetts. Armed with a letter of introduction from my father I sought the coveted internship for the newest star of the Kennedy family.

“I was not disappointed. The work of intern is mundane, but I did learn the workings of a Senate office by just being there. An added bonus was that Sen. Kennedy would always take time to have a kind word with us. I remember that he would always know who we were and would ask us about our lives.

“In 1999, my wife and I endowed the Paul O'Dwyer lecture on political ethics at the George Washington University. My father was deep admirer of Ted Kennedy and was an early supporter of his failed quest for the Presidency. It was Ted Kennedy who left Capitol Hill and traveled to the campus to pay tribute to the work of his friend Paul O'Dwyer. His words were as always eloquent, but it was his gesture in making himself available in spite of a hectic schedule that will always make me deeply grateful.

“He was disappointed that his immigration bill did not get passed. I remember him coming to me and saying, “Take a look at the bill Brian, I sure took care of the Irish” He never forgot a friend or an enemy, but constantly strived to make sure bridges were built and gaps overcome. He profoundly influenced my life and an entire generation of Irish Catholics. We will not see the like of him again.”

James Lamb, President, Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh
“When Pittsburgh was on its back in 1983, the steel mills were closing and the mill towns along the three rivers were dying, and the ranks of poverty swelled across Western Pennsylvania, guess who came to listen, to understand, and to help. Senator Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts. He taught me that poverty knows no boundary and our only hope to combat it is to educate the poor child and re-train the dislocated worker.

“Ten years later, as I began to serve the disadvantaged populations of Ireland, North and South, it was no surprise to find out that the too had a champion in Ted Kennedy. May he rest in peace.”

Michael Quinlin, Irish Americans for Obama/Biden
“Like everything he did in his political career, Senator Ted Kennedy sought to understand and master the nuances of Northern Ireland’s political, economic and cultural complexities.

“He wielded a full arsenal of insight, passion and wisdom, along with personal convictions and personable skills to help create an environment for negotiation in Northern Ireland. He dispatched his sister Jean Kennedy Smith and talented staff members from his office to the Clinton Administration, and they helped President Bill Clinton and Special Envoy George Mitchell jumpstart and then solidify the peace process.

“Just as he reached across the aisle in Congress, Senator Kennedy reached across the community divide in Northern Ireland to bring everyone into the conversation for peace. He picked up the phone frequently to ensure that party leaders in Northern Ireland stayed the course in their search for a lasting resolution.

“Senator Kennedy’s optimism, can-do attitude and desire to reach common ground exemplify the best characteristics of Irish-American involvement in Northern Ireland in our lifetime.”

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Death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy

By Michael from Milton, MA - Aug 26th, 2009 at 8:17 pm EDT

Also listed in: Irish Americans for Obama/Biden | Irish Americans for Obama/Biden

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release August 26, 2009

- - - - - - -
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

Senator Edward M. Kennedy was not only one of the greatest
senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans
ever to serve our democracy. Over the past half-century, nearly
every major piece of legislation that has advanced the civil
rights, health, and economic well-being of the American people
bore his name and resulted from his efforts. With his passing,
an important chapter in our American story has come to an end.

As a mark of respect for the memory of Senator Edward M.
Kennedy, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the
Constitution and laws of the United States of America, that
the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at
the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at
all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels
of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and
throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions
until sunset on August 30, 2009. I also direct that the flag of
the United States shall be flown at half-staff until sunset on
the day of his interment. I further direct that the flag shall
be flown at half-staff for the same periods at all United States
embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities
abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and
stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord
two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States
of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA
# # #

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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Swears In Dan Rooney as US Ambassador to Ireland

By Michael from Milton, MA - Jul 2nd, 2009 at 9:02 am EDT

Also listed in: Irish Americans for Obama/Biden

(Comments of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, July 1, 2009)

Well, good afternoon, and welcome to the State Department. I came off the injured reserve list – – in order to officiate at this ceremony because I could not be more delighted than to make official what is going to be so well received in Ireland and means so much to Americans, not only Irish Americans but all Americans, and that is the swearing-in of our new ambassador to Ireland.

Now, we do have special guests with us, and I thank the Irish chargé d'affaires for being here, Mr. McDaid, and I thank Mrs. Collins for being here as well. Her husband, the ambassador, is in Ireland as we speak. And having Senator Robert Casey, my colleague, here, as well as Attorney General Eric Holder is a special treat.

Now, I’m not sure that we specifically mentioned all of the Rooneys who are here. Please forgive us if we forgot anyone. But this is just a representative sampling of the Rooney family.

You know, we may be meeting in Washington, but the city at the heart of today’s celebration is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And in recent years, Pittsburgh has staged a remarkable comeback. It has made such great strides in transforming its economy and developing its high-tech sector, and those are accomplishments that led President Obama to select Pittsburgh as the site for the meeting of the G-20 this September.

Pittsburgh is rich in arts and culture, and, of course, it continues to shine in sports. It is, I think, an understatement to say that with the Pittsburgh Penguins winning their third Stanley Cup, and, of course, the Steelers winning the Super Bowl for a record-breaking sixth time, the site of Pittsburgh is not only a great place to showcase business, but also the success of American sports as well.

And today, we are celebrating the man behind the Steelers, one of Pittsburgh’s leading citizens and our next ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Dan Rooney. Ambassador Rooney is assuming this post at a crucial time. Ireland is one of our closest allies. Our countries are connected by political, economic, cultural, and certainly familial ties. And we share a deep and rich history, one that continues today. It is sustained and enhanced by the millions of people in both nations whose family and loved ones live in the other. And I witnessed that firsthand when I marched in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Pittsburgh last year. I never saw so many people – until, of course, I got to Scranton, Bob.

Forty million Americans boast Irish heritage, and I expect we have a few in the room today in addition to the Rooneys. And as every American can attest, those of our neighbors and friends who are sons and daughters of Ireland are fiercely proud of their ancestry. And we are so grateful to the Irish immigrants who sweated and sacrificed to build this country and who broke down barriers at every level of society.

The friendship between Ireland and the United States is vital to both of our nations, and President Obama and I are confident that it will deepen with Dan and Patricia Rooney in Dublin. We have a great team here together. This is a partnership. These are civic leaders and successful people who are also lifelong supporters of Ireland.

In the early 1970s, after a trip to Ireland in which Ambassador Rooney saw for himself the destructive effects of deprivation and division, he founded the American Ireland Fund. Today, the Ireland Funds operate in 11 countries worldwide, uniting people of Irish descent to further progress in their ancestral homeland. And as Dan Rooney knows, the children and grandchildren of immigrants often have a deep desire to contribute to the nation where their families got their start.

And so today, Chargé McDaid, we are sending you one of our very best. There is no greater champion of Irish-American relations than Dan Rooney. And in the months ahead, as we work together to address the many challenges we face, from the global economic downturn, to the threat of terrorism, to climate change, to the development of clean energy sources, as well as to our continuing emphasis on the peace process in Northern Ireland, I am confident that with Dan Rooney as our ambassador, our partnership will thrive, and that will benefit Ireland, the United States, and all the world’s people.

So Ambassador Rooney, if you’re ready, I am ready to administer the oath. Please raise your right hand.

(The Oath of Office was administered.)

http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2009a/july/125539.htm

http://www.irishamericansforobamabiden.blogspot.com/

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White House Nominates Dan Rooney to Senate Foreign Relations Committee

By Michael from Milton, MA - Jun 24th, 2009 at 7:54 pm EDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 11, 2009

NOMINATION SENT TO THE SENATE:

Daniel M. Rooney of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Ireland.

Irish Americans for Obama Biden

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President Obama Nominates Daniel Rooney as Ambassador to Ireland

By Michael from Milton, MA - Mar 20th, 2009 at 7:59 pm EDT

Also listed in: Irish Americans for Obama/Biden | Irish Americans for Obama/Biden

WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 17, 2009

Today at the White House, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Daniel Rooney as the Ambassador to Ireland.

President Obama said, "I am honored and grateful that such a dedicated and accomplished individual has agreed to serve as the representative of the United States to the Irish people. Dan Rooney is an unwavering supporter of Irish peace, culture, and education, and I have every confidence that he and Secretary Clinton will ensure America’s continued close and unique partnership with Ireland in the years ahead."

Dan Rooney is the recent recipient of the American Ireland Fund’s Lifetime Achievement Award and honorary Commander of the British Empire for contributions to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, has played an integral role in the Irish peace process since the early 1970s. In 1976, Rooney co-founded the American Ireland Fund, an organization which to date has raised over $300 million for peace and education programs in Ireland. Rooney founded the annual prize for Irish Literature in 1987 and co-founded the Ireland Institution of Pittsburgh in 1989. In 1993, the "Rooney Fellowship" was created to honor his generosity and charitable works. Chairman of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the winners of Super Bowl XLIII, Rooney was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He has been the recipient of various awards in relation to his work within the community and for his involvement with the National Football League over the last 26 years, including: the Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year in 1972 and 2001, the Maxwell Football Club Reds Bagwell Award in 1999, and, in 2008, the YWCA Racial Justice Award and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor presented by the National Ethnic Coalition. Rooney also led the sports world’s efforts to include diversity beyond the field and into the front office through the "Rooney Rule."

http://www.irishamericansforobamabiden.blogspot.com/

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President Obama Declares March 2009 as Irish-American Heritage Month

By Michael from Milton, MA - Mar 14th, 2009 at 9:35 am EDT

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 President Obama Declares March 2009 as Irish-American Heritage Month

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

Even before the birth of our Nation, the sons and daughters of Erin departed their homes in search of liberty and a more hopeful future. As these early pioneers left familiar lands, they carried with them the rich traditions of home. This March we honor their journey and their lasting contributions to the history and culture of the United States.

Following the colonial migrations, the United States enjoyed the greatest influx of Irish during the 1840s as Ireland suffered the Great Famine. Hungry but hopeful, poor but perseverant, Irish-Americans seized the opportunity to work hard, enjoy success, and pursue the American Dream.Many took on the difficult work of constructing America's infrastructure. Others assumed positions of leadership. Among those leaders were signers of the Declaration of Independence and Presidents of the United States. Still others enjoyed great success and influence in the arts and literature. From social activists to business leaders, athletes to clergy, and first responders to soldiers, distinguished Irish-Americans have made indelible contributions to our national identity.

Today, tens of millions of Irish-Americans can look back with pride on the legacy of their forebears. Irish-Americans are integral to the rich fabric of the United States, and we are grateful for their service and contributions.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2009 as Irish-American Heritage Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this second day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

BARACK OBAMA

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