Catholic Families for America endorses Republican Brian Rooney for Congress
Catholic Families for America, a national pro-life and pro-family group, has announced its endorsement of Republican Brian Rooney in Michigan's 7th Congressional District race.
Catholic Families for America is one of the largest organizations of lay Catholics in the nation.
"In Brian Rooney, Michigan voters have someone who will bring the highest level of virtue and service that we can hope for in a public servant,” executive director Kevin Roberts said in a statement.
“In fact, his background reminds me of precisely the kind of leader and public servant whom our founders envisioned when fashioning our Republic," Roberts said. "Moreover, Brian’s commitment to pro-life and pro-family policies — coupled with his understanding that government must be made smaller, less intrusive, and less expensive — is precisely what we need in 2010.”
Rooney is one of three Republicans running in the Aug. 3 primary for a chance to face Democratic incumbent Mark Schauer in the November general election.
The other Republicans running are Marvin Carlson and Tim Walberg.
Rooney said in a statement he appreciated the Catholic Families for America’s support and that he was raised to respect the dignity of all human life.
"As a proudly pro-life and pro-family constitutional attorney, I advocated for family values and the sanctity of human life around the country," he said. "Michigan created the modern middle class. The values of this hard working class are embodied in Catholic Families for America. I will be a proud advocate for these families and will be focused on helping them get back to work."
A captain in the Marine Corps, Rooney served in Iraq between 2004 and 2005. After resigning his commission, he worked as an attorney at the Thomas More Law Center, a conservative constitutional law firm dedicated to the defense of religious freedom, family values, and the sanctity of human life as well as the promotion of a strong national defense.
Rooney serves on the Pittsburgh Steelers Board of directors and co-owns several other family-run businesses with his brothers and sisters.
Rooney came under attack last week by Carlson, who insisted he's the only candidate who has built businesses in the private sector and created jobs. In May, Carlson issued a challenge to his opponents in the 7th District primary to release their tax returns. All of them obliged except Rooney.
Click here for a list of candidates running for office in Washtenaw County, as well as links to their websites.
Click here for a map of the 7th Congressional District.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
Philip
Tue, Jun 29, 2010 : 8:15 p.m.
This is in Rooneys profile. "Rooney serves on the Pittsburgh Steelers Board of directors and co-owns several other family-run businesses with his brothers and sisters." I have a problem with this comment... I thought that the owners of the Pittsburgh Steelers are BIG Democrat supporters? I thought I heard they gave obama/the democratic party a LAGRE contribution to put him in office??? Hopefully you can clear this up for me... I work for a Catholic Hospital! VOTE PRO-LIFE
Michigan Reader
Tue, Jun 29, 2010 : 5:24 p.m.
@Full Disclosure's second comment--The Thomas More Center upholds the founder of the world's vision of how we should live our lives. That's why God established virtues--moral excellence--and the deviance from them is exactly why this country and world is in the state it's in. Crumbling.
IMISSA2
Sat, Jun 26, 2010 : 7:15 a.m.
It would be nice to separate politics and religion
Full Disclosure
Thu, Jun 24, 2010 : 3:51 p.m.
Alan: Don't forget the Thomas More law center was also the organization that defended the use of "Wanted Posters" that called for the death of abortion doctors. I'm a very pro-life Conservative, against abortion and the death penalty, but the Thomas More law center, and by affiliation Rooney, brings shame to all true Conservatives. They have sold themselves out to the highest bidder and they spit upon the wishes of the founders of this country, for their narrow ultra religious views.
llspier
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 7:04 p.m.
Rooney threw his hat into the ring saying he had been 'recruited' to move into the 7th district to run...but nobody has been willing to own up to being the recruiter. The Rooney family has strong interests in Pennsylvania, New York and Florida-and appear to be trying to build a political dynasty as well: from Uncle Art, the Ambassador to Ireland, to brother Tom, the FL rep to brother Pat Jr who's running for FL state office, this family intends to apparently replace the Kennedy dynasty that has pretty much died out. Rooney and his siblings own a chain of restaurants in Florida and a brewery. Dad owns a dog track and gambling interest in FL, his uncle runs horse racing and a casino in Yonkers, New York. Rooney hasnt been forthcoming about any of these connections...and someone is apparently buying a great deal of access to get all of these diverse groups to endorse him..groups that have NO knowledge of the 7th district! The out-of-state money is very likely family money (the race tracks and casinos, the Steelers and the cousins who own the Giants). With this kind of family connections, are we really supposed to believe that Rooney is just pining to represent the many farmers and small businessmen in the 7th-which includes a great deal of rural southern Michigan? Or is it more a matter of finding a gullible district to help him get his foot in the door of national politics? Inquiring minds want to know...
tommy_t
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 5:46 p.m.
I long for the days when carpetbaggers were poor opportunists.
uawisok
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 5:17 p.m.
With that right wing fringe element support I guess I know who I am not voting for...
Robert Shaw
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 4:57 p.m.
I think we all need answers as to why Rooney is in the district. Especially, when hes a carpetbagger for moving into the district and then not knowing how much hes worth. I think it's time for Rooney to put out his income tax statements like the rest of the candidates have done so we don't have to question his integrity. From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100617/POLITICS02/6170365/1129/Politics-is-long-gone-in-honor-for-George-Kell#ixzz0riOS81ui Candidate explains that his assets aren't etched in steel Brian Rooney, a Republican running in south-central Michigan's 7th Congressional District and whose family owns the Pittsburgh Steelers, appears to be worth more than $50 million, according to his financial disclosure form. If that were so and he were elected in the fall, he would beat Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, as the wealthiest member of the Michigan delegation. Upton, a grandson of a Whirlpool co-founder, has assets valued at between $6.6 million and $27.3 million. That ranks him as the 21st richest member of the House. When Political Insider asked Rooney about his listed assets in OFK Development, a financial management firm, he laughed and said, "Oh, no... I wish." Turns out, Rooney said, that's the value of the entire asset, while his portion is worth about $500,000. He said he'll be filing an amended statement.
Robert Shaw
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 4:45 p.m.
How can Catholic Families endorse a candidate that has no clue how much hes worth? Like the last person to comment, it's about time for Rooney to show us his income tax reports and how much he's truly worth. Makes us wonder when he can't even get his financial disclosure reports right. Please explain that to the district. From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100617/POLITICS02/6170365/1129/Politics-is-long-gone-in-honor-for-George-Kell#ixzz0riOS81ui Candidate explains that his assets aren't etched in steel Brian Rooney, a Republican running in south-central Michigan's 7th Congressional District and whose family owns the Pittsburgh Steelers, appears to be worth more than $50 million, according to his financial disclosure form. If that were so and he were elected in the fall, he would beat Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, as the wealthiest member of the Michigan delegation. Upton, a grandson of a Whirlpool co-founder, has assets valued at between $6.6 million and $27.3 million. That ranks him as the 21st richest member of the House. When Political Insider asked Rooney about his listed assets in OFK Development, a financial management firm, he laughed and said, "Oh, no... I wish." Turns out, Rooney said, that's the value of the entire asset, while his portion is worth about $500,000. He said he'll be filing an amended statement.
Full Disclosure
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 4:37 p.m.
In Brian Rooney, we have a candidate who has never voted in the district, who moved just barely within its borders (10 miles from of Ann Arbor) shortly before entering the race, who is indebted to the tune of $220,000 to out-of-state interests, who won't publish his tax returns (Obama and McCain did this in 2008), and who ignores criticism about these facts. Rooneys major contributors include the out of state gambling industry as well as Tom Monaghan. Based on past history, these interests hope to be able to count on him to push legislation that favors them. Even if the legislation contradicts his principles or hurts his constituents, he will likely tow the line for them because he can't afford to snub them and lose their contributions to his re-election campaign. All of these questions raise an important concern as to whose interests he will be most accountable to as a public official -- the people who elected him, or the interests who funded his campaign? If he can't run a transparent and honest campaign, he cannot be trusted to be a transparent and honest representative of our district in Washington. Carlson and Walberg may not have the same youthful appeal as Rooney, but their comparative moral high ground gives them an edge over Schauer. Rooney, on the other hand, has no hope against Schauer if he doesn't address the voters' ethical concerns.
julieswhimsies
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 4:28 p.m.
This is a good enough reason to support Rooney's opponent.
lefty48197
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 3:57 p.m.
I guess somebody forgot to tell my Catholic Family that we were supporting this guy. Or is it possible that "Catholic Families For America" doesn't actually represent all of us Catholics? Hmmmm....