Let us all hope that Chairman Issa finds better uses of Committee time than a show boat C-Span raking the coals of Mr. Rice, Mrs. Rice, and the NFL. There is nothing to gain from such a hearing but trouble.
The 16 white women Senators who sent a letter to the Press, and to the NFL, demanding Zero Tolerance for domestic violence incidents by the NFL is enough circus for the Congress, and meddling should start at home, let's say current and former Members of Congress, House and Senate, who have been involved in Domestic Violence cases, charged and convicted, or not charged, not prosecuted, as in the case of Mr. Rice. Why stop at Domestic Violence, prosecuted or not, lets throw in Moral Turpitude of all sorts, and air all the dirty linen.
Lets hold open hearings on every one of them, and take pensions, seniority, and strip them of their ability to enter the Capitol building, or any House or Senate office building, forthwith.
Lets figure out a way to do this prior to the November elections.
How many cases could there be?
Rep. Jim Moran, D-VA comes to mind for one. Accused by his wife of beating her in their home in Alexandria, VA. She dropped the charges of course, and no doubt received some counseling and happy pills. She left him not long after, taking the kids, house, cars, and a big bite of his pension no doubt, and Jim Moran is stepping down after this term.
Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA (Ret.) whose partner was using Mr. Frank's apartment for gay prostitution liaisons, while living with Mr. Frank.
Senator Chris Dodd, D-CT (Ret.) with numerous charges of drunken behavior, and assaulting women at parties, after hours in clubs near the Capitol, along with his drinking buddy Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-MA.
Who was the Senator flashing cruising signs under the stall divider in the airport... name is escaping me right now, but a full accounting of that fiasco, using Zero Tolerance, and pension removal would be fun.
Let us not forget the husband of Hillary's closest confidant, Rep. Anthony Wiener, D-NY (Resigned) His House Gym membership is likely current, and should be revoked, along with any pension, and a full public testimony, with grilling by his peers (equal time of course) of Democrat, Independent and Republican alike would eat up most of the remainder of this session... better that then what they have plans for in the Lame Duck session of both House and Senate in 2014.
Who can think of some others?
If it is OK for the NFL to discipline a player, namely Mr. Rice; based upon Press Reports and whatever was gleaned from Maryland and New Jersey Prosecutors who declined to Prosecute, who had access and had viewed all the video tape, cutting a deal of counseling and whatever, as is done with most first offenders on domestic violence these days... then when the NFL took some heat about the two game suspension they administered... and revised the NFL standard to a Six Game suspension for future offenders... Ok, new standard...
When a different camera angle essentially was made public, brought Mr. Rice up again, on the same complaint, the same issue, the same unconscious fiance, now Mrs. Rice, being dragged out of a NJ Casino elevator having been knocked out in the elevator... (as if the NFL had not assumed he punched her lights out in there, otherwise why was he being disciplined... she did not slip on a banana peel, after all...
Mr. Rice is the victim of Double Jeopardy in this case. Slime that he is, what was done to him with a year minimum suspension, maybe lifetime suspension, thrown to the sharks of the media and others demanding his head... leaving Mr. and Mrs. Rice without the future they were planning and expecting, is just wrong. Perhaps revise the two game suspension to the new 'standard' six games? maybe... taking his livelihood away, his team fired him quickly (to regain some cap space, no doubt). Mrs. Rice agrees, and would rather people just leave them and their lives alone. All this to save face, from the bone headed light punishment.
What should have happened was a severe fine, and allow him to play as usual, so he could pay the severe fine. If the Prosecutor gives him a pass, why would the NFL, having already disciplined Mr. Rice, now come back, for the same situation, and jump over the new 'standard' even, to ban him from the game?
Will we see every player who has been involved in Domestic Violence given similar treatment? How far back should the NFL go with this?
I heard Chris Plante on radio today, reading from a 15+ page listing of NFL players involved at some point in Domestic Violence, many of whom are still playing. Where does it end.
The list, single spaced, 15+ pages long included Dion Sanders and other well known people, with not ancient incidents. There is big money and many many players involved in disgraceful behavior, not only Domestic Violence. The list on Domestic Violence is overwhelmingly black players, some whites, not all their women victims are black but most are, and so there will be a racial element for the Press, and the usual suspects, as this all rolls out.
Should the league Commissioner quit, turn this over to Sec. State. Condoleza Rice (no relation to Ray Rice, that I am aware of) now, and step down? Hey, he only makes 44 Million a year with salary and benefits/perks, why should he take the hit?
The news cycle demands an answer, before the next thing happens to distract us...
I think Mr. Rice is a creep, and should have had the book thrown at him, prior to his marriage would have been ideal, but spending some quality time with others doing time for his offense would suit me fine.
My problem is with the fairness of the process and tossing people under the bus, to beat the next headline.