Specter’s Patriots Act
February 1, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Here at the glass-enclosed nerved center of Extreme Mortman, we always react in equal parts glee and disgust whenever we learn of members of Congress basing hearings and legislation on what they read in the sports pages.
Most recently we called foul on Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA) inserting Congress into the baseball steroids scandal.
Today we go to the other side of the aisle — Republican Senator Arlen Specter — and a different sport, football.
The ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee wants NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to explain why the league destroyed evidence related to spying by the New England Patriots.
In the stretch of 12 days, from Sept. 9 to Sept. 20, the Patriots were caught filming the Jets’ defensive signals in violation of NFL rules, ordered to hand over all tapes of illegal surveillance to the league office, fined $750,000 and made to forfeit a first-round draft pick.
Then the NFL announced it had destroyed the evidence.
In a telephone interview Thursday morning, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the ranking member of the committee, said that Goodell would eventually be called before the committee to address two issues: the league’s antitrust exemption in relation to its television contract and the destruction of the tapes that revealed spying by the Patriots.
“That requires an explanation,” Specter said. “The NFL has a very preferred status in our country with their antitrust exemption. The American people are entitled to be sure about the integrity of the game. It’s analogous to the CIA destruction of tapes. Or any time you have records destroyed.”
OK, we gotta throw the yellow flag on that one. 15 yard penalty. Unsportsmanlike conduct of an analogy. Specter compares the Patriots spying compared to the CIA destruction of tapes? What’s next for the great conspiracy mind: a single bullet killed John F. Kennedy? Thank goodness the Zapruder film wasn’t shot by a professional athelete.
Here’s what we think of Specter’s actions:
Alex said,
February 1, 2008 @ 5:53 pm
Hey Pats fans!
I found a video (Super Bowl Radio Row) on Boston.TV thought you’d like to see it:
http://www.boston.tv/clips/631741639.html
enjoy!
PMD said,
February 1, 2008 @ 9:40 pm
Great to know our tax dollars are being spent on ancient politicians who obviously don’t have enough on their plates so they need to resort to spending their time chasing down funniest home videos of football follies. This BS started because Specter said he’s an “eagles fan”. Great. So to Hell with helping the people of this country, the economy, national security. This clown is going to try and get vengeance on the the NFL and the team that beat his precious Eagles in the Superbowl 5 years ago.
The people of PA should demand he resign. He’s unfit to serve obviously.
william said,
February 2, 2008 @ 11:21 am
Specter is my senator. I offered the RNC a $1,000 contribution if they could get him to resign.
I have also publically apologized to the citizens of Pennsylvania and to the US that I was stupid enough to vote for him because I mistakenly thought his senority would make him a supporter of conservative causes. Instead he spends most of his time kissing Patrick Leahy’s butt. Incidentally, Sen. Shumer looks like soneone who came to my door once selling vacuum cleaners.
Karen said,
February 2, 2008 @ 11:39 am
Okay, which Amendment to the Constitution was it that gave Congress the right to investigate alleged cheating by a pro-sports team? Yep, an important issue - right up there with Security, Taxes, Illegal Immigration.
Why you’re at it, let’s investigate the kid who cheated on the math test last week, too.
A yearly salary of $163,000+ Benefits!
Anyone beside me for Term Limits for Congress?
richard said,
February 2, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
It’s W’s fault for endoring him in the Primary, after Sen. S had stabbed him in the back numerous times - and before (after being re-elected) he stabbed him in the back some more.
Eric said,
February 2, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
Why does he care? Running for another office and looking to make a name for yourself? Maybe he has some family ties to Mitchell.