Congress, Take a Hike
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by user JuTMSY4
Add this to the short list of United States Congress “to do’s:” keep dogs away from Michael Vick. Sure, there’s a war going on, our healthcare system may or may not be perfect, gas prices are at an all time high and immigration laws are at a crossroads, but U.S. California State Representative Tom Lantos clearly has other things on the agenda. Mr. Lantos recently wrote a letter to Roger Goodell with regards to Vick requesting that the commissioner “act swiftly and forcefully” and that Mr. Lantos was “…outraged that one of the National Football League’s superstars is affiliated with such a heinous enterprise” as written by the AP in the New York Times. Apparently, between the above mentioned issues and helping the 12 th district of California get their word in Mr. Lantos has enough time to draft a letter to Mr. Goodell regarding the actions of a player who neither resides in his district nor committed a crime in his district, much less being prosecuted in any way by the United States Legislature.
This isn’t the first time the United States Congress has decided to forgo important issues, like the Nation’s security in exchange for the prosecution of an industry by the largest elected branch of the United States government. In 2005, the U.S. Senate, lead by Senator Jim Bunning, a former pitcher and hall of famer, supported and cosponsored a bill, proposed by Representative Tom Davis and Representative Cliff Stearns, who’s three states collectively represent 8 professional major sports teams, all of which reside in Florida. Even President Bush was found in support of the measure in some form, stating during his 2004 State of the Union Address that “[players and owners must] send the right signal, to get tough and to get rid of steroids now,” as reported by Kathy Kiely of USA Today.
Bunning Claims that the reason he and his fellow congressman are acting is “because the players’ union, which he helped found, failed to reach an agreement with Major League Baseball on tougher drug testing” once again, as reported by Kiely in USA Today. Then in September of 2005, well documented throughout world news and congress, a certain hurricane burst through the southeastern portion of the United States, namely Louisiana, costing lives and forcing thousands out of their homes. As a result, even MLB steroid “advocate” Barry Bonds had his say over congress’s little beef. Bonds stated "I think we have other issues in this country to worry about that are a lot more serious. I think you guys should direct your efforts into taking care of that. Talk about the athletes that are helping Katrina. Ask yourselves how much money y'all personally donated and have helped." When Associated Press offices contacted Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia, his response was “Members of Congress, particularly Tom Davis, can walk and chew gum at the same time." Perhaps not Mr. Davis, because your ability to handle this “steroids scandal” while juggling other actions in congress, such as the most recent war time bill (which should be passed soon, as a result of compromise, only 60 days late).
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing personal against Tom Lantos, Jim Bunning, Tom Davis or Cliff Stearns, and I will admit that the steroid investigation activity has been handed over to an independent council, however, the most recent actions of Mr. Lantos only further weaken my (and a large portion of the nation’s) confidence in a congress that would rather busy itself with steroid investigations and basic legal work, then serious legislative issues. Mind you, in Vick’s case, this is being handled by both local and state law enforcement, or those who should be capable of handling such an incident, regardless of the profile. My intent is not to protect current steroid users, former steroid users or anyone who may have cheated at such a way in baseball, but to examine what facts we have here, and understand why the government of a country, one who is arguable to most powerful in the world, and clearly extremely influential, has the desire to concentrate on issues so arbitrary as those of professional sports.
And while, admittedly, this industry is regulated and commiserated with the blessing of the United State’s anti-trust laws, it is almost completely unjustifiable that any countries’ government should involve itself in such a pointless argument that serves little to know benefit for the people of its nation (by whom they were elected) or at the very least, serves them much less than working on any of the above named issues, regardless of your political stance. When someone like me agrees with Barry Bonds and the less than appealing response from congress is that a congressman indeed can “walk and chew gum at the same time” (and I should hope so!), then perhaps there are greater issues here than initially thought. Not that the issues of steroids or animal fighting are slight by any means, but in comparison and with the lofty assistance of either self government (player’s associations, the league office and public opinion with respect to steroids) and law enforcement (with respect to Vick and to some extent the miscreants of any league, such as one Pacman Jones), the U.S. Government has much greater and pressing needs. Actions like Roger Goodell’s with respect to the aforementioned Jones and Chris Henry, should be applauded and at the same time, welcomed as a way to allow the self government of these leagues to take a stronger grasp on the league itself (especially as public opinion, in this case, dictates, after all, its whatever the fans want). So with all due respect, take a hike congress.
Citations:
Associated Press (2007), “Congressman Wants Vick Punished”, New York Times, 19 May 2007, p.1.
Associated Press (2005), “Bonds: Congress wasting its time with steroid inquiry”, ESPN, 20 Sep 2005. p.1.
Kiely, Kathy (2005), "Congress rounding third on steroid bill compromise ”, USA Today, 8 Nov 2005, p.1.
