Neo-McCarthyism Slugs Major League Baseball

[AmericanErrorist]

Now, as Cubs manager Dusty Baker says, a new "McCarthyism," is being imposed on Major League Baseball. A congressional committee, already preening for the nearest cameras, has been tasked with "getting steroids out of Major League Baseball." Current and former players Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Curt Shilling, Frank Thomas, Jason Giambi, Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, have all been subpoenaed to testify under oath.

Major League Baseball and the Players Association have pledged to fight the subpoenas, taking the unprecedented step to unite under one attorney, Mr. Stanley Brand. Brand is arguing all over TV land that this congressional committee has no jurisdiction, is violating the player's first amendment privacy rights with no purpose but to "satisfy their prurient interest into who may and may not have engaged in this activity." Brand has also made the point that forcing former and current major leaguers to answer questions or risk prison will accomplish nothing since baseball just adopted a far-reaching steroid testing plan. Brand argues that the MLB program, like any drug testing plan in any work place, has a confidentiality agreement that would be worthless if players feel compelled to accept immunity, name names, and rat out teammates.

Reacting to Brand's comments, committee spokesman David Marin sniffed, "Mr. Brand fails to recognize that House rules give this committee the authority to investigate any matter at any timeÖ It's a shame that Major League Baseball has resorted to hiding behind 'legalese' -- and inaccurate 'legalese' at that."

On this, I agree with Marin. Just like with the first edition McCarthyites, you don't combat these people with "legalese", taking the fifth, and hiding behind lawyer-speak. Players instead should call out the congress as a body that has zero legitimacy to ask these questions.

(snip)

As the statement penned by Davis and liberal cohort Rep. Henry Waxman reads, "it is important that all Americans, especially children, know about the dangers of drug use. Consistent with our jurisdiction over the nation's drug policy, we need to better understand the steps MLB is taking to get a handle on the steroid issue, and whether news of those steps--and the public health danger posed by steroid use--is reaching America's youth."

Just as Joe McCarthy and his thugs had no moral authority to fume about "protecting democracy," neither do these 21st Century witch-hunters have the credibility to speak to us about drugs, children or the Nation's health.

If they cared so much about "public health dangers" this committee should hold hearings about why the United States has such a miserable health care system with 45 million uninsured and literally thousands more losing their insurance every day.

If they cared so much about children, this committee would be issuing subpoenas to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney about why their 2006 budget eliminates 48 educational programs, or cuts 670,000 kids from food stamps.

If they cared so much about drug abuse, this committee would be raising a stir about the treatment programs currently on the budget-chopping block.

http://www.counterpunch.org/zirin03112005.html