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Ron Jackson's Perspective
The Sunday Journal -
Think
Kankakee, Illinois
March 2, 2008
Congressional
steroid investigation farcical |
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Who cares if Clemens lies, given our other problems?
There is no domestic tranquility. The price of oil is reaching
record highs almost daily. The economy is in a downward spiral.
Foreclosures are up. Almost one-fifth of the country is without
health care. Dangerous lead-filled toys are being imported from
China. More manufacturing jobs are being outsourced to foreign
countries. Violence is happening on college campuses with more and
more frequency. And too many of our American employers are afraid
to hire our new veterans returning from the Middle East conflicts.
So what does our Congress think is the most important issue of
the day? Of all the issues most Americans would deem worthy of our
government’s attention, Congress has decided to focus its attention
on whether a professional baseball player used performance-enhancing
drugs and then had the audacity to lie to them about it. This is
not a joke.
Roger Clemens, one of baseball’s greatest pitchers, is still on
the congressional hot seat. In early February he was called to
Congress to answer questions about his alleged illegal drug use.
This was after Major League Baseball had spent upwards of $60
million to investigate the level of steroids and human growth
hormones (HGH) throughout the league. In the Mitchell Report, named
after the former Senator George J. Mitchell who conducted the
independent investigation, Clemens’ name appeared in the report
several times.
The report shook the entire baseball community and warranted
the full, immediate attention of Congress. It also revealed to
Major League Baseball that Barry Bonds was not the only player
suspected of using forbidden performance enhancements. The report
also told the league what a former player had told the world in a
book he had written a few years ago. Of course, that washed-up
player was just trying to make a buck.
Now, a few weeks after a very unbelievable testimony before a
group of congressmen, Clemens’ testimony is being investigated by
the FBI for possible perjury. Yes, my fellow Americans, with all we
have going on within our borders, our nation’s number-one crime
investigating agency is spending time to determine if a baseball
player lied while in Washington, DC. If Congress had been this
adamant about not being lied to about six years ago, we wouldn’t be
at war in Iraq.
Contrary to all the evidence against him, Clemens is sticking
to his story that he didn’t use steroids or HGH. And, just for the
record, Drew Peterson is sticking to his story that he didn’t kill
his third wife and had nothing to do with the disappearance of his
fourth.
What if Roger Clemens did use illegal drugs to further his
career? What if he did lie about it to Congress? Why is it a
national concern that warranted congressional involvement? He
didn’t commit an act of treason. He didn’t do anything or give
false information that could lead to the death of thousands of young
men and women.
Clemens is a grown man of seemingly sound mind and judgment.
If he was willing to sacrifice his future health for the sake of
having a few years of peerless performances, why should Congress
waste valuable time on him? Congress, like any other concerned
citizen, would only have to wait a few years. Time is the only
accurate test for steroids. Time told us all we needed to know
about a former athlete names Lyle Alzado. With real issues facing
every sector of this country, we can afford to wait for the Roger
Clemens’ truth to be revealed.
Another reason I really don’t want Congress to call Clemens
back to Washington is because it was really troubling to hear a
federally elected official call Roger Clemens a hero. A hero?
Roger Clemens is a baseball player who is paid millions of dollars
per year and provided the best equipment and training to perform at
best in one-fifth of his team’s games. He is also set financially
for life and will be revered long after his playing days are over.
No, Mr. Elijah Cummings, U. S. Representative from Maryland, a
hero is a young American proudly and honorably serving daily at war
with less than adequate equipment, is paid a few thousands of
dollars per month, doesn’t get a break from fighting between
innings, and may not be able to find a job if he or she is lucky
enough to return.
Roger Clemens may not a criminal. But Roger Clemens is
definitely not a hero. Nor are any of the others who appeared
before Congress and lied about Saddam Hussein being a threat to us.
This whole government investigation into steroids is a farce.
We don’t need a $60 million Mitchell Report to tell us there are
better ways for our government to waste time and money. |
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