Bad Politics During Congressional Hearing on Steroids

I can't believe what I saw with my own eyes. The Congressional Hearings on Steroids on February 13, 2008 were more entertaining than scantily exciting episode of Friday Night Lights (and I love me some Friday Night Lights)!

It was Roger Clemens versus Brian McNamee in quest to prove which one of them was telling the truth. McNamee, Clemens' former pitcher, claims that he injected Roger with steroids. Clemens categorically denies having ever been injected with any performance enhancing drugs.

Throughout the 4 hour 45 minute hearing, of which I watched in its entirety, I couldn't help but see taxpayers' dollars being flushed down the toilet. And unlike the Congress members, I'll try to give a nonpartisan outlook.

#1: DanBurton going off on McNamee.

Representative Burton took serious issue with McNamee's trail of lies. He went off on a rant calling McNamee out on his lies, laughing at his defenses, and getting emotional involved in the situation. Frankly, he was well within his right to call him out on all of the lies he has told over the past, but Burton seemed to take it personally. He sounded as if McNamee stole his lunch money. It was completely disgusting to see a representative bring his own personal sentiments into a hearing like that. For him to inject his own feelings of McNamee into the conversation was unprofessional and out of line. Yes, McNamee has told many lies. He didn't deny that.

#2: ElijaCummings returning the favor to Clemens.

Cummings wasn't too fair either. Granted, I found him to be one of the more knowledgeable members on the issue, but he clearly came in with a nonobjective viewpoint on the situation. In the closing moments, Cummings came right out and pretty much told Clemens that he found him to be a liar. He said, "You said you were misunderstood. But all I'm saying is, it's hard to believe. It's hard to believe your story.
I hate to say that... You're one of my heroes. But it's hard to believe you." Now, he is entitled to his own opinion, but this was not the place for it. This is a hearing, and when people inject their opinions into it when their records are not on trial and there is no proper protocol to adequately respond to unsubstantiated remarks

#3. McNamee a drug dealer?

I don't recall who it was, and me not mentioning his name will probably anger him to a great degree, but when one of the representatives called McNamee a drug dealer, I thought that too was quite preposterous. To label somebody something that they are far from is unfair and unprofessional. Yes, he gave steroids to athletes. He didn't manufacture it, he didn't deal it, and sure didn't sell it to anyone. He did what his employers asked him to do. If you are a secretary and your boss ask you get him a box of cigarettes, are you complicit in his quest for lung cancer? Of course not! McNamee was giving grown what they wanted. Anybody who took steroids or HGH form McNamee knew what they were getting into, and McNamee was not some sketchy guy who came around with "the goods" in his pocket. He was their employee.

#4. Can't Clemens just take some damn B-12?

Some of the representatives just couldn't seem to get over the fact that Clemens just likes to have B-12 in his system. Everyone kept questioning why he would take B-12 if there has been no scientific evidence that it helped a healthy person in any matter. Aren't there millions of people who do things that make them feel better whether or not they actually have scientific evidence? People pray to get healthy. Some drink a cup of hot water every day to live longer. Others never walk by a black cat. Or how about the people who think orange juice can rid of all sicknesses?