Corbett's cynical political ploy

Pennsylvania's governor is hoping to improve his image via a lawsuit targeting the NCAA over it's post-Sandusky Penn State sanctions.  Citation HERE.

This is, in my humble opinion, nothing more than a thinly disguised political ploy.  Let me tell you why.

Timing

The sanctions were imposed months ago.  At the time they were announced, Gov. Corbett, who sits on the Penn State Board, was basically silent.  If these sanctions are, as he states, an over-reach of NCAA power now, why weren't they then?  Heck, even giving him the benefit of the doubt, why didn't the Governor at least question them back when they were imposed?

Standing

It's not much of a secret that Gov. Corbett has among the lowest ratings of any sitting Pennsylvania governor during the modern age.  Citation HERE.  The guy is, to put it bluntly, desperate.  As quoted in the Standard Speaker article, 

"Only about a sixth of voters (17 percent) think Corbett did a good or excellent job handling the Sandusky sex abuse case at Penn State University with almost two-thirds (66 percent) saying he did a fair or poor job."

Yes, a whopping 17% give Gov. Corbett "good or excellent" marks.  That is, quite frankly, pitiful.  This action screams of an appeal to hard-core Penn State fans for some popularity mojo.  It won't work.  Why?

Actions

Despite his new found love for Penn State, Gov. Corbett has amassed, during his short tenure, a long history on animosity towards education in general, higher education specifically, and Penn State especially.  As referenced in a bumper sticker, the Governor's education motto could very well be "Every child left behind" (Citation HERE).  If actions speak louder than words, then we don't need a lawsuit to see just how Tom Corbett feels about education.

Missing the Point

Lastly, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out something that a friend on Facebook, Sabrina McLaughlin, simply and eloquently posted yesterday:

"I'm not a parent myself, but I think we should all try to have the hearts and minds of mothers and fathers when it comes to children. And I'm sick of being in a place where so many people seem to feel that NCAA sanctions are more significant than enabling the rape of children."

Well I am a parent, and I can't help but be disgusted by the priorities of the previous Penn State administration...where the reputation of a coach and a football program was more important than the well being and safety of children...and Tom Corbett.  This isn't about the NCAA.  It's about the enabling of child rape.  If anything, my only concession in this mess is that the whole of the NCAA fine should be staying in Pennsylvania to fund programs to fight child abuse.  That's it.

As I often do in posts like this, I'm going to end this tirade by mentioning that I write this as a graduate of Penn State (class of 1986) and a Life Member of the Penn State Alumni Association.