Halloran: This week, Rocket should spark fireworks
People are voting in record numbers during the primaries. They’re voting their conscience. They’re voting the issues. And they’re voting their affections. All valid motivations. There are dozens of reasons to vote for someone, and dozens more to not vote for someone. On Wednesday, voters in 41 different districts will be able to judge their representatives on one more make-or-break issue. With any luck, any member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform who fawns over Roger Clemens will lose in their bid to be re-elected.
As soon as one of those congressmen or women begins with something like, “Mr. Clemens, it’s a pleasure…” BOOM! They’re gone!
“It’s an honor, Mr. Clemens…” You’re outta there!
“Can I call you Rocket?” Immediate impeachment!
Roger Clemens has been called to Capitol Hill to testify about steroid use in baseball, and more specifically, his possible steroid use in baseball. This is not a card show at the mall. It’s time to get serious. But the elected politicians have already disgraced themselves by posing for pictures with him, asking for his autograph, and allowing themselves to be influenced by Clemens’ two-day grip and grin public relations tour last week. Clemens met privately with 19 of the committee members who were delighted to sit and chat with the greatest living pitcher.
They are clearly fans of the famous. Can they be trusted to be objective? Will they ask the tough questions? Or will Roger’s celebrity soften their resolve?
“Mr. Clemens, did you do steroids?”
“No.”
“Well, that’s good enough for me. Whaddaya say we break for lunch? Roger, can I get an autograph for my son?”
I sincerely hope it doesn’t get like that. But U.S. Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-Brooklyn) has already said that Clemens’ accuser, Brian McNamee, might be the one they’ll be looking at for perjury charges. Towns is going in believing Clemens’ version. Who do you think he’s going to go after harder, Clemens or McNamee?
And I know America believes in a presumed innocence, but the House Committee needs to presume guilt. They need to keep digging, keep trying to prove guilt — and if they can’t do it — great for Roger. But if they presume innocence and lob up softball questions that even a pitcher can knock out of the park, we won’t get any closer to the truth. And isn’t the truth what we’re after?
Clemens has already sworn under oath during his deposition that he didn’t do steroids. McNamee has sworn under oath that Clemens did. It’s fascinating that facing five years in prison for perjury that one of those guys is still lying. And if neither of them blinks on Wednesday, the committee shouldn’t just presume it’s McNamee. The liar could be the big guy who just autographed your power tie.
Bob Halloran is a sports anchor and reporter. He’s also the author of “Irish Thunder: The Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward,” published by The Lyons Press.
