Friday, October 12, 2007
OUR CLUELESS leaders in Washington seem to be more worried about germs carried by NASCAR fans than germs used as biological weapons by terrorists.
Some congressional staffers assigned to research homeland security issues at the Talladega race last weekend acted as if they were on a dangerous mission to a poor, disease-ravaged country. This apparent insult to NASCAR Nation drew an outraged response from a congressman who has a lot of NASCAR fans in his district.
Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C., fired off an angry letter to the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee after he learned congressional aides were told to get vaccinated against a host of diseases before attending races in Talladega and Concord, N.C.
The aides were gathering information on public health issues involving large crowds, The Charlotte Observer reported. Rep. Hayes wondered why in the world the staffers were advised to get shots that would protect them from hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria and influenza. Who thinks such precautions are necessary for trips to NASCAR country?
Putting aside the jokes about rabid fans, NASCAR dads and moms appear to be at least as healthy as those who work on Capitol Hill. Stock-car racing is a modern, billion-dollar business. Members of Congress and their staffs should know that NASCAR races aren't some weird diversion for toothless genetic mutants out of "Deliverance."
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the chairman of the homeland security committee, protested that the shots were needed because the staffers were visiting hospitals and other health-care facilities. But, as the contagious rustics in Talladega and Concord would say, that dog won't hunt. After all, a lot of people visit hospitals, and hardly any of them feel the need to take shots before they go.
Alabama Homeland Security Director Jim Walker thinks the only health hazard faced by the visiting congressional aides was writer's cramp. The aides took so many notes (about the race? about the "diseased" fans?), Mr. Walker worried that they needed to "soak their wrists."
Race fans have cause to worry about the affliction carried out of Washington by people who've been in close contact with members of Congress. The symptoms of Washington Syndrome are well-known: talking out of both sides of your mouth, taking costly, unnecessary trips, and treating ordinary people as if they had a contagious disease.
