Clemens in Front of Congress

Written by Greg Fertel | 12 February 2008

I'm not going to exhaust this topic. I strongly believe that the very fact that media outlets and blogs like this one cover this lends to the problem. I've been watching the live hearing of Roger Clemens in front of the House of Representatives. The ridiculousness of these hearings and the ridiculousness of the Mitchell Report are coming out. Many Congressman are actively defending Roger Clemens, pointing out that the only evidence against him comes from a single compromised witness, and that he deserves the benefit of the doubt. Furthermore, Clemens said, under oath, in no uncertain terms that he never used steroids or HGH. That is plenty for me to prove his innocence. He would face jail time if caught in the lie. As he points out, it is impossible to prove a negative, so he deserves the benefit of the doubt. However, these hearings have clearly shown the absurdity of the situation. Why is Roger Clemens on national television in front of The United States House of Representatives? He is one citizen among millions of drug users. Being rich and famous does not qualify him as more important to the Congress. One Congressman, correctly, called it "a lynching", and he's correct. What a joke. As if to demonstrate my point, a Congressman just asked Clemens which jersey he would wear to the Hall of Fame. This is appalling. I constantly defend our elected Representatives against unfair attacks by the media and people disillusioned by that media. Not today. While people lose their jobs in Ohio, our Congress lowers itself to the level of a tabloid. Update: I'm currently working on a fairly comprehensive list of Congressmen who supported this move by the House Government and Oversight Committee. I'll also include names of Congressmen who openly questioned the validity of these hearings. Update: Members who basked in the limelight:

Representative Henry Waxman from California - "Wouldn't shut up all day. Clearly thinks he can benefit from some television cameras."
Representative Stephen Lynch from Massachusetts
Representative John Tierney from Massachusetts
Representative Diane Watson from California
Representative Eliajah Cummings from Maryland
Representative Bruce Braley from Iowa - "Are you a Vegan?"
Representative Tom Davis of Virginia- Ranking Republican member
Representative Mark Souder of Indiana - At least pointed out the macro-issue of Steroids in MLB baseball and Bud Selig's role, even if that isn't the committee's role.
Representative John Mica of Florida
Representative Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts

And those who openly questioned the absurdity of the hearings:

Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton of Washington D.C.
Representative John Duncan Jr. of Tennessee
Representative Chris Shays of Connecticut
Representative Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia - "What the heck are we all doing here anyway?"
Representative William Lacy Clay of Missouri
Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina