Nigger Democrat Hurls Racist Insults at NASCAR and Fans

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Lawmakers Trade Accusations Over NASCAR Vaccinations Story

Friday, October 12, 2007

WASHINGTON - Going to NASCAR? Are your inoculation records up to date? Have

you had all your shots?

Most fans would probably think that a homeland security emergency at a

NASCAR race would take the form of a terror attack. But after hearing all

the noise in Washington the last couple of days, they'd be wrong.

The argument began when congressional aides were advised to get real-life

immunizations against several communicable diseases - including hepatitis,

diphtheria, tetanus and influenza - before traveling to look at preparations

being made by local first responders for hypothetical scenarios at the

tracks in Talladega, Ala., and Concord, N.C.

The head of the House Homeland Security Committee called it standard

procedure, but the congressman representing Concord called that bunk.

Gentlemen, start your engines . . .

"I am beginning to get offended," said Republican Rep. Robin Hayes. "We

thought it was silly that you needed to get a vaccination to come to Concord

to go to the NASCAR races. This is the greatest sport on Earth today and you

sure don't need a shot to come down here."

Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi said he never

meant to offend or scare anyone about health risks at the races. The measure

was advised to provide congressional staff with the same disease protection

first responders get, especially as they head out on a series of

fact-finding missions around the country.

"It's not about whether the people have shots. ... Our staffs as they go

forward will be going into sterile areas, they will be working in public

health facilities, they will be talking to many holding facilities where

criminals are being held....

"The NASCAR event is just one date, but after that they will be doing a

number of things," said Thompson, adding that the World Series and Super

Bowl are two other mass gatherings that are going to be researched for

readiness.

During the trip to North Carolina, staffers were to visit a medical facility

with patients at the Lowe's Motor Speedway. They were also set to inspect an

empty mobile hospital. After the House physician told Republican staffers

that shots were not necessary to go to North Carolina, they didn't get them.

Democratic staffers reportedly did.

Hayes said the vaccination orders left a biased impression that somehow

NASCAR fans or Southerners are more likely to spread disease.

"Bennie is a good friend. All Bennie has to do is say we weren't talking

about the fans, so it is much about nothing. But when you won't back off,

where do you from there? NASCAR is a great sport, [it] supports the military

and it's an international sport now....

"Bennie is from Mississippi, he should know better. The bureaucrats in

Washington have him on the hook and he won't get off," Hayes said.

According to the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR is

the top spectator sport in the U.S., and the No. 2 rated regular-season

sports broadcast on television. NASCAR airs in over 150 countries, and its

75 million fans purchase more than $2 billion in licensed products each

year. NASCAR sanctions 1,500 races per year at 100 tracks in 35 states in

the U.S. as well as in Canada and Mexico.

Saturday's race in Concord was expected to draw as many as 165,000 fans to

watch race leaders Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and at least 18 other drivers

chase for the championship.

Lowe's Motor Speedway President H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler said Friday that the

suggestion about immunizations was laughable.

"This is not some third- or fourth-world country. As a matter of fact, never

in the 50-plus years of NASCAR has there been an outbreak of any kind at an

event other than a few headaches because somebody's favorite driver ran out

of gas or maybe a morning hangover," Wheeler said.

Thompson said NASCAR officials have been very cooperative in trying to set

up the congressional staff visits and are working closely to make sure

health and safety issues are addressed.

"If something bad happens at an event like that it's bad for the industry,

so it's in their best interest to work cooperatively with us, and I'm happy

to report that our first tour in Talladega did just that. Everyone was

satisfied (that) those systems were not only redundant in terms of being

able to communicate and coordinate with each other ... the training that's

involved was really really first class," he said.

Hayes said with the track just two miles from his house, he has already met

people visiting his hometown from Canada, Connecticut and West Virginia.

Most of them, he said, also shrugged at news about the advisory to

congressional staff.

"I talked to a veteran and he asked me, 'What is the government going to do

next?' So people are looking at this like its some kind of a joke," he said.

After all the attention drawn to the subject of staff shots, Thompson took

one of his own - accusing Hayes of playing politically nasty games by

building up the confusion for his own gain.

"The only regret is that we have a politician who happens to be a member of

Congress, who probably got his first opportunity on national TV on an issue

that should not have been," Thompson said, adding that charges of Southern

bias don't sit with him since he's originally from a town of 500 people.

"It's just absolutely political. ... All Congressman Hayes and anyone else

had to do was call us and we'd be happy to explain it," Thompson added.

Hayes denied that his concern was based on a publicity stunt.

"I don't need any fame at my age," said Hayes, 62. "All I am saying is once

this got going, all Bennie had to say on behalf of his staff is, 'You do not

need immunizations to come to Concord, North Carolina, to the NASCAR race at

Lowe's Motor Speedway.' It's that simple. He is the one keeping it alive,

not me."