Ah, after the grandstanding that our congressmen and women have done during the past couple of years trying to get a handle on the steroid problem, now that the economy has gone to the toilet — should we engage in another hearing?
If Maryland’s — my home state — Elijah Cummings has his way, we might. However, I’ll say hell no at the top of my lungs.
From ESPN: WASHINGTON — A congressman has extended an invitation to baseball star Alex Rodriguez to discuss steroids — at an anti-drug event in Maryland.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) wrote a letter to the New York Yankees slugger this week, asking him to attend the “Powered by ME!” conference in Timonium, Md., this April. Cummings is a senior member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which heard pitcher Roger Clemens last year deny he used steroids or human growth hormone. The FBI is investigating whether Clemens lied when he made those denials.
Rodriguez admitted Monday that he used banned drugs from 2001 to 2003 while playing for the Texas Rangers.
“In light of your recent acknowledgment that you used steroids in the past,” Cummings wrote, “I believe you are in a unique position to send a strong message out to our young people that they should refrain from using performance-enhancing substance.” The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter Thursday.
Cummings said that Baltimore Orioles infielder Brian Roberts, who admitted taking steroids once, spoke to the campaign last year. Cummings is one of three honorary co-chairs of “Powered by ME!” which teaches young people about the dangers of performance-enhancing substances.
With the economy in tatters, the country being involved in two wars, and positions on Obama’s cabinet unable to be filled due questionable ethic among his nominees, it’s asinine to have another dog and pony show on Capitol Hill — plain and simple.
It’s looks like Congress will give Alex Rodriguez a free pass. While it hurts people who want juicy information, frankly, the United States of America has other things to worry about.
From the New York Daily News: The country’s economy takes priority over baseball’s drug policy, said Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. “The American people need leaders who will focus on stemming job losses and getting credit to flow in the marketplace before hearing from yet another person who cheated both himself and the game of baseball,” Towns said in a statement.
It’s a good move by Congress to not try to hold another hearing. Let’s not forget the public flogging Alex Rodriguez is getting in the media and the court of public opinion.
