Topic: Congress can’t keep its hands off MLB

[Pandora]

In 2005, the House Committee on Government Reform conducting hearings on alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs (PED) by Major League Baseball players.  The hearings made for good theatre – Sammy Sosa apparently required a translator, Rafael Palmeiro claimed innocence (but later tested positive for PEDs), Mark McGuire repeatedly used the phrase “I’m not here to talk about the past,” and Jose Canseco essential used the hearing to hawk his book.  In fact, taxpayers are still picking up the tab for federal investigations and trials related to alleged drug use in Major League Baseball.

Now, a few senators are upset about players using smokeless tobacco during games.  Today, a Charlotte Observer editor weighs in,

    We think it would be terrific if Major League Baseball players stopped using chewing tobacco – not only for the health of their gums and mouths, but also because it would be one less bad habit that our youngest ballplayers at home might emulate.

    But is it an issue for the U.S. Senate?

    The Associated Press is reporting that a group of Democratic senators want the players union to agree to a ban on chewing tobacco at games and on camera. The senators – Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, and fellow Democrats Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Senate Health Committee Chairman Tom Harkin of Iowa – made a plea in separate letters that noted how millions of people will be watching the World Series, which begins tonight.

I do not know if this will lead to a congressional hearing, but I would not put it past these folks to conduct one on the issue.

I suspect that liberals and those that represent them would not object to a federal law banning tobacco from Major League Baseball.  But how far are they willing to go?

What about banning chewing gum or sunflower seeds?  Many MLB dugouts have huge buckets of sunflower seeds.  Dugout floors are covered in empty shells.   Sunflower seeds are fine when eaten in moderation and included in a balanced diet.  They are also high in fat and can easily add hundreds of unnecessary calories to the diets of impressionable youth.

So, should the federal government ban baseball players from consuming any substance, with the exception of water, during a game?

I'd say "don't give them any ideas", but signs are they already have the idea they can do anything they want, to anybody they want, anytime they want, about anything they want.

I'd damn sick of it.

John Locke Foundation

And when did it get to be too much trouble to say "Major league baseball"?

[Glock32]

I heard about that on the radio yesterday. Another "it's for the chillllllldren" intrusion of government. I'm just damn sick of busybodies of all stripes. I'm really, thoroughly, sick of them.

[charlesoakwood]

Personally, I so very thankful that our Congress is so competent.  They manage the affairs of state so well,
our nation is so free from any angst or worry, the wheels of commerce and the gears of industry are so enhanced
by our competent agents that they have extra time to devote to improving our national pass time.

Pity the poor nation that would have a Congress composed of incompetent doddling worms
fit to do no more than meddle in sporting entertainment, what a calamity of men they would be.

[Pandora]

900+ days and counting and no budget yet.

Durbin's another dictator wanna-be.  I wanna be, too.  I wanna be seeing him walk the gangplank.

[trapeze]

Someone needs to stand up to Durbin (and those of similar inclination) and tell them to put up or shut up. Ban tobacco outright or STFU. It really is that simple. If it's that damned poisonous then it should be outlawed. If you can't live without the tax revenue that it generates then drop it. Permanently. I am personally sick of the hypocrisy surrounding the issue.

[Libertas]

This kind of BS makes me spittin' mad!

Why don't they put up a balanced budget and leave baseball alone?!