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Home , Art Rooney, Ben Roethlisberger, Casey Hampton, Hines Ward, Joey Porter, Terrible Towel

June 2 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2006

Remarks Honoring the 2006 Champion Steelers June 2, 2006

Thank you all for coming. Please be seat- —are classy people. And I wel- ed. It sounds like some people have been come you here to the White House. drinking some Iron City beer here. [Laugh- I tested Mr. Rooney’s sense of humor. ter] It’s such an honor to welcome the See, I’m an early-morning riser, and of here to the White course, I saw the Super Bowl and got up House. Congratulations on being the early and was there in the Oval Office, champs. You had a ring for every finger; and I just couldn’t—I couldn’t hold back. now you’ve got one for the thumb. And so I said to the operator, ‘‘Get Mr. I want to thank all the fans who’ve gath- Rooney on the phone. I’ve got something ered here. I want to thank Senators Specter I want to say to him.’’ Unfortunately, I and Santorum for joining us, and Congress- had gone to bed relatively early, and he man Tim Murphy. I appreciate you all had gone to bed relatively late. [Laughter] being here. It’s good to see former U.S. So he took my phone call after about 3 Attorney Dick Thornburgh, former Gov- hours of sleep. And he was a gentleman ernor of . then, when I apologized for waking him The team probably doesn’t recognize up; he’s a gentleman today. Again, I want him, but they got quite a huge following to publicly apologize—[laughter]—for rout- here in Washington, DC, including in my ing you out of your sack. [Laughter] Except administration. As a matter of fact, you I’m pretty sure you were happy to get the have no greater fan than the new Director phone call. [Laughter] of the Central Intelligence Agency. So he I want to congratulate all the coaches came in for one of these briefings, see— and the folks who make the franchise run. he was going to keep the President abreast I particularly want to say something about of what’s going on in the world. And he those in the training room and those who was wearing a ‘‘.’’ [Laughter] pick up the laundry. Those are the folks Back in his school days in Pittsburgh, Mike that generally don’t get a lot of credit, but spent a lot of time on the football field. I know the players will give you credit, Most of the Steeler fans know that Dan and I know the ownership gives you credit, Rooney is a team owner, but Mike Hayden and I know gives you credit. is able to call him coach. Mr. Rooney was He is a—he’s an amazing coach. He’s got Mike’s coach. And you coached him well. the most unusual expressions on the side- I want to—look, I was a Texas Cowboy line. [Laughter] So I told the Vice fan, you know—[laughter]— Cowboy President I was going to be able to con- fan—and—yes, I know, I know. It’s kind gratulate Coach Cowher in person, and he of hard for me to admit, but the Steeler said, ‘‘Well, get him to give me some tips franchise is one of the really great fran- on his scowl.’’ [Laughter] You can’t win chises in football history. And one of the a Super Bowl unless you’ve got a great reasons why is because of the Rooney fam- coach. And the Pittsburgh Steelers have a ily. great coach. And congratulations. Proud You know, I used to be in baseball, and you’re here. I know the ability of an owner to affect I want to congratulate the players and the culture of the team, to be able to instill their families. The country is proud of the the habits necessary to win. And a class way you played football. You’ve got some franchise starts with class ownership. And amazing characters on your team. You got the Rooneys—Mr. and Mr. a ‘‘Bus.’’ You got a ‘‘Longhorn.’’ [Laughter]

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We used to pump iron together. [Laughter] a fine man, a man you call ‘‘The Bus,’’ His took; mine didn’t. [Laughter] You got retire in his home city of Detroit with the a ‘‘Big Ben.’’ And you got a man known Lombardi Trophy in his arms. It was a for his swagger; I’ve been looking forward touching moment for football fans. to ’s new dance. [Laughter] He’s There’s a great responsibility with being a great player, and I’m proud to have him in the spotlight and being champions, and here at the White House. You’re welcome I appreciate the acts of kindness the Pitts- to be here. Thanks for coming. I appreciate burgh Steelers do to help improve the com- you. munity in which you live. I appreciate Je- Coach Cowher said this before the Super rome Bettis’s The Bus Stops Here Founda- Bowl: ‘‘You play as a team, and you’re tion that helps underprivileged children in going to walk away as champions.’’ And this inner-cities. I appreciate , team played as a team. You may have some Super Bowl MVP, who traveled to his interesting characters on the team, but one mother’s home country of to thing the Pittsburgh Steelers learned to do inspire children of multiracial backgrounds was play as a unit. And that’s why you’re speak out against discrimination. I thought standing right here. It was a tough brand that was an act of a champion. I appreciate of football. It wasn’t always flashy, but you the players who participated in Play Ball learned how to win. And you’re the kind for Kids to raise money to help somebody of team Pittsburgh Steeler fans like to who needs help. watch—hard-nosed football. You know, one of the great admonitions About halfway through the season, a lot of all time is to love a neighbor like you’d of people were counting the Steelers out. like to be loved yourself. And true champs They said you didn’t have a chance. I kind do that. So it’s an honor to have champions of know the feeling. [Laughter] But you on the field and off the field here at the won eight games in a row, including three White House. It is a joy for me to welcome on the road in the playoffs, and of course you. Congratulations. Play hard. I’ll be Super Bowl XL in Detroit. You had some around here next year to see you come amazing unexpected players step up to help back. [Laughter] you play. You had the make an important , and you had yourself a receiver make an important pass. NOTE: The President spoke at 1:40 p.m. in Super Bowl XL included other entries the East Room at the White House. In his in the record book—‘‘Fast’’ , remarks, he referred to Daniel M. Rooney, 75-yard , the longest run in chairman, Arthur J. Rooney II, president, Bill Super Bowl history. Looking sharp too. Cowher, , , former [Laughter] Your quarterback was the , , nose tackle, youngest quarterback in history to win an , quarterback, Joey Por- NFL title. But the most amazing thing ter, , Willie Parker, running back, about the victory, it seemed like to me, and Hines Ward, , Pittsburgh and for a lot of other fans, was you had Steelers.

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The President’s Radio Address June 3, 2006

Good morning. Next week, the United the union of a man and a woman. These States Senate will begin debate on a con- amendments and laws express a broad con- stitutional amendment that defines mar- sensus in our country for protecting the riage in the as the union institution of marriage. of a man and woman. On Monday, I will Unfortunately, activist judges and some meet with a coalition of community leaders, local officials have made an aggressive at- constitutional scholars, family and civic or- tempt to redefine marriage in recent years. ganizations, and religious leaders. They’re Since 2004, State courts in Washington, Republicans, Democrats, and independents California, Maryland, and New York have who’ve come together to support this overturned laws protecting marriage in amendment. Today I want to explain why those States. And in Nebraska, a Federal I support the marriage protection amend- judge overturned a State constitutional ment and why I’m urging Congress to pass amendment banning same-sex marriage. it and send it to the States for ratification. These court decisions could have an im- Marriage is the most enduring and im- pact on our whole Nation. The Defense portant human institution, honored and en- of Marriage Act declares that no State is couraged in all cultures and by every reli- required to accept another State’s definition gious faith. Ages of experience have taught of marriage. If that act is overturned by us that the commitment of a husband and activist courts, then marriages recognized a wife to love and to serve one another in one city or State might have to be recog- promotes the welfare of children and the nized as marriages everywhere else. That stability of society. Marriage cannot be cut off from its cultural, religious, and natural would mean that every State would have roots without weakening this good influence to recognize marriages redefined by judges on society. Government, by recognizing and in Massachusetts or local officials in San protecting marriage, serves the interests of Francisco, no matter what their own laws all. or State constitutions say. This national In our free society, people have the right question requires a national solution, and to choose how they live their lives. And on an issue of such profound importance, in a free society, decisions about such a that solution should come from the people, fundamental social institution as marriage not the courts. should be made by the people, not by the An amendment to the Constitution is courts. The American people have spoken necessary because activist courts have left clearly on this issue, both through their our Nation with no other choice. The con- Representatives and at the ballot box. In stitutional amendment that the Senate will 1996, Congress approved the Defense of consider next week would fully protect Marriage Act by overwhelming bipartisan marriage from being redefined, while leav- majorities in both the House and Senate, ing State legislatures free to make their and President Clinton signed it into law. own choices in defining legal arrangements And since then, voters in 19 States have other than marriage. A constitutional approved amendments to their State con- amendment is the most democratic solution stitutions that protect the traditional defini- to this issue, because it must be approved tion of marriage. And today, 45 of the 50 by two-thirds of the House and Senate and States have either a State constitutional then ratified by three-fourths of the 50 amendment or statute defining marriage as State legislatures.

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