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Racing fans fire back at the Hill
By: Administrative Account | Source: The Washington Times
October 14, 2007 12:54PM EST
October 14, 2007
By Audrey Hudson - Stock-car racing fans filled Lowe's Motor Speedway in North Carolina yesterday, erasing concerns that a political dispute in Washington had erupted into a full-scale health scare at NASCAR events.
Democratic House staffers, who were attending the Bank of America 500 race as part of a fact-finding mission of health and homeland security issues, took the unusual step of getting inoculated against several rare diseases and a sexually transmitted illness.
Republican staffers refused the shots, saying they are not necessary. The recommendation also angered some lawmakers, who thought it was insulting to suggest that race fans might be infectious.
However, the dispute raised questions among NASCAR fans about whether they needed to be immunized as well.
"No one has suggested that fans get any — or need any — shots at all," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said. "This simply appears to be a dispute between staffers that has been blown out of proportion."
NASCAR commentators did not mention the dispute as the 500-mile race proceeded under the lights last night.
The House Office of the Attending Physician said domestic travel by congressional staffers does not require shots for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria and influenza.
NASCAR driver Jimmy Spencer told The Washington Times that fans are upset that stock-car races were singled out and that other such events as football games or musical concerts were not originally included in the study by the House Homeland Security Committee about health risks at heavily attended gatherings.
"The fans I've talked to are really bothered by this. I can't believe someone would bring us into the mix," Mr. Spencer said. "What is their point? What are they looking for? Why did they even bring this up? It's not a problem, never has been a problem in the history of NASCAR.
"All the fans are a little irate about this when you ask them about it," he said.
One fan told Fox News at the race last night that the recommendation was "probably Washington bureaucracy and prejudice to the South, somewhat."
Another fan asked, "Because they are coming to the South, they think they are going to be unsafe?"
Bill Schoenadel, owner of Bill's Place, a combination general store and pub in Little Orleans, Md., said the congressional staffers overreacted.
"They are telling us we're a bunch of rednecks; that's all it's about," Mr. Schoenadel said. "I think with NASCAR fans, you're dealing with the safest people in the world."
The story, first reported by The Washington Times on Wednesday, spread quickly on the Internet and prompted hundreds of comments on blogs.
One blogger at www.nascar.com called the story "hilarious." A Washington Times reader wrote: "No wonder they feel we need all these government programs ... they think America is Third World."
"There is clearly no justification for these shots," a Republican committee staffer said. "Even the House physician said they do not recommend the shots for domestic travel.
"Despite Democratic claims, we have yet to hear of a single health official that would recommend shots for this trip," the staffer said. "There is zero precedent that there is a need for this."
Mr. Poston added : "No one is telling NASCAR fans to get immunization shots."
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