White House: If true, Penn State abuse outrageous

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama believes if the allegations of child sex-abuse at Penn State University are true, then "what happened is outrageous," his spokesman said on Thursday.

Presidential press secretary Jay Carney said the White House would not get into the details of the decision by the university on Wednesday to fire longtime football coach Joe Paterno and to force the resignation of its long-serving president.

"But what I can say is that if the allegations of what happened up there prove true, what happened is outrageous," Carney said.

Carney was asked at his daily briefing if he thought Paterno, who has won more games than any other major college coach in a 46-season career, deserved to be fired.

Paterno on Wednesday announced his retirement at the end of the season and was abruptly fired immediately by the school's board of trustees. Also ousted was Penn State president Graham Spanier as the board sought to limit the damage to the school's reputation from the scandal involving one of Paterno's former assistant coaches.

"The president's thoughts and prayers, and all our thoughts and prayers, are with the victims of the abuse and the family members of those victims," Carney said.

Sens. withdraw Paterno name for presidential medal

Along with his job as head football coach at Penn State, Joe Paterno may also lose a shot at the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Pennsylvania's U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey, a Republican, and Bob Casey, a Democrat, said Thursday they are rescinding their support for Paterno's nomination for the nation's highest civilian honor, citing recent events at the school.

Republican Rep. Glenn Thompson also nominated Paterno earlier this year. His office didn't immediately respond to messages left for comment.

The trio submitted his name in September, citing his contributions to athletics and higher education. Paterno was fired Wednesday amid a child sex abuse-scandal centered around former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.