Obama Doesn’t Mention The James Harrison Flap

The White House has released the full text of President Obama’s remarks in connection with the Steelers’ visit to the place where the country’s most well-known work-from-home employee resides. To our initial surprise, President Obama did not offer up a lighthearted remark regarding the absence of linebacker James Harrison, the 2008 NFL defensive player of the year. In fact, he didn’t mention the Harrison situation at all. Which suggests to us that the President is probably a little miffed about Harrison’s decision not only to skip the trip, but to make a public spectacle of his position. A transcript of the President’s comments is right here. Harrison has drawn extensive criticism for refusing to accompany his teammates to the White House, initially explaining that he isn’t interested in going because the President invited the Steelers only because they won the Super Bowl. Some league insiders have privately ripped Harrison for disrespecting not only the President, but also Steelers chairman Dan Rooney, appointed by President Obama to be the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. It has since been disclosed that Harrison has a fear of flying. But a league source tells us that, while Harrison indeed does not like to fly, he has a reputation in the locker room for being a contrarian, and his teammates weren’t surprised by his refusal to make the drive to D.C. In fact, Harrison would have spent far less time in his car than safety Troy Polamalu did in the air; Polamalu flew from California to Washington for the event. “It’s an honor,” Polamalu said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “It’s an honor to be around real warriors, the President and the White House. It’s a beautiful setting.” The warriors to whom Polamalu referred are wounded veterans from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center, who were present for the ceremony. The Steelers players and other attendees also helped prepare 3,000 USO care packages to be sent to troops overseas. And we think that President Obama hinted indirectly at Harrison’s refusal while wrapping up the official remarks. "[T]hank you again for your willingness to go above and beyond and not just come here for a photo op,” President Obama said, “but to join the men and women who protect this country to make sure that we are safe.”