Not buying it. Have they ever made this requirement for attending football games or major parades like the Thanksgiving Day parade in NY or the Tournament of Roses one in Pasadena?

Boogity boogity boogity.

If crazy American politicians want nasty place to go for research at sports type event, come to Alma-Ata Kazakstan for yearly goat and sheep races. Just make sure you come with shot record in hand, and 50 dollar bill for local government official. Now I know what your General Honore meant by statement "Stuck on Stupid".

Hepititis A - A virus (HAV), which lives in the stools of infected individuals.

Hepititis B - spreads through: infected body fluids, such as blood, saliva, semen, vaginal fluids, tears, and urine a contaminated blood transfusion (uncommon in the United States) shared contaminated needles or syringes for injecting drugs sexual activity with an HBV-infected person transmission from HBV-infected mothers to their newborn babies.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious disease spread by direct physical contact or breathing the aerosolized secretions of infected individuals.

Typically, influenza is transmitted from infected mammals through the air by coughs or sneezes, creating aerosols containing the virus, and from infected birds through their droppings.

All of the above diseases can be spread through breathing or unsanitary health habits. The question arises as to why the staffers should take any more precautions in going to a NASCAR race than they should for a Washington Nationals game?

AMen! Mr. Stone has it right. When the Avian Influenze (H5N1)hits, we are recommending that the last people to be give vaccine are the politicians because they contribute least to society. What to bet they will be the first in line?

Maybe the NASCAR fans should be the ones to get the shots so that they are not infected by the Congressional Staffers.

Why didn't they get shots before attending Broadway shows, operas at the Met, free concerts in Central Park, or any other of the press-garnering parades?

Why for NASCAR?

Oh, right, the unwashed masses as opposed to their typical libral crowd.

Maybe someone should offer them shots that would immunize them from their own ignorance and intolerance.

I would have gotten one before I went too! But then, I got one before I went into a WalMart! Who cares, people have stigmas about everybody...When was the last time you saw a Republican strolling through the hood? When was the last time you saw a Republican politician helping anyone out other than a rich buddy these days? So it doesn't have to be the ghetto, or the NASCAR crowd, Republican politicians don't deal with anyone that isn't rich or outwardly religious...until it comes time for a vote...Even then, they won't come to a black neighborhood. Get over it, at least the Dems went to the event!

The suggestion is a complete insult to EVERY NASCAR fan - implying as it does a lower level of education and personal hygiene.

I would think it would be MORE necessary to be immunized against the stupidity rampant in the U.S. Congress as a whole!

No wonder the Washtimes is such a rag. THIS story was on your front cover? Besides being just another daily dose of Republican propaganda, this article attempts to ridicule Democratic staffers for following PROPER and COMMON SENSE safety procedures. If you were going to study how an extremely large event was prepared to respond to a potential biological terrorist attack, wouldn't you want to be completely immunized? Pathetic. Additionally, your headline writer is the worst ever...I had to come to the website just to figure out what the headline meant.

Must be Jeff Gordon fans.

NASCAR races have not been health dangers in the past, at least no more dangerous than Bennie Thompson's home district in Mississippi. Now these Democrat staffers are being told to get immunized against certain diseases before attending NASCAR races, do they know something that they aren't telling? I would just shrug it off and mark it down to simple minded ignorance if it was a congressman from Massachusetts or Connecticut. Bennie Thompson, on the other hand would know what a NASCAR race is like. He is hiding something.

This just shows the arrogance of our Democrat leaders, they certainly won't win any votes this way, after all, isn't this is what they are always trying to do?

If Democrats can insult "Christians" all across America, why not nascar Fans??

Defeat Terrorists Defeat Democrats

Umm...this is the sickest form of political opportunism. Democratic staffers followed medical recommendations and it is a huge story? Come on. I suppose this is one of the reasons I moved from being a Republican to an Independent in the past 4 years. The Times should be ashamed of themselves for reporting this.

Umm...this is the sickest form of political opportunism. Democratic staffers followed medical recommendations and it is a huge story? Come on. I suppose this is one of the reasons I moved from being a Republican to an Independent in the past 4 years. The Times should be ashamed of themselves for reporting this.

hey - one needs to be protected from those inbreed folks that get off on watching cars making left turns all day

I bet if this was the other way around and the Republican's took the shots and the Democrats
didn't it would have been on the front page of the WASHINGTON POST PAPER. So don't go blasting the WASHINGTON TIMES for telling it like it is.
The NASCAR sports fans are hard working people that pay their taxes and support the USA.

If some one needs to be immunized it's the America people from the infectious socialism of rhe Democratic Party.

The Naivete of some people does not befit them. This is one right out of James Carvilles play book and it's about time. The main problem here is that it was not used seven years sooner. If they don't want to read it then go the New York Times.

This is front page news???

The real proof of the Democrats' sincerity (or rather, utter lack of it) would be for them to recommend the same series of inoculations for those attending, uh, say, Gay Pride events, NORML rallies, and Grateful Dead concerts--all of which certainly present much greater threats to public health than any NASCAR race ever will.

"I would have gotten one before I went too! But then, I got one before I went into a WalMart! Who cares, people have stigmas about everybody...When was the last time you saw a Republican strolling through the hood? When was the last time you saw a Republican politician helping anyone out other than a rich buddy these days? So it doesn't have to be the ghetto, or the NASCAR crowd, Republican politicians don't deal with anyone that isn't rich or outwardly religious...until it comes time for a vote...Even then, they won't come to a black neighborhood. Get over it, at least the Dems went to the event!"

Ah yes, the Liberals' attitudes are emerging.

IF ANY Republican Congessional staffer HAD gotten shots before attending ANY event where there were African-Americans in the majority, Je$$e Jackson and Al $harpton would be marching on the Capitol.

NASCAR is an all-inclusive sport and quite squeaky clean....unlike some other sports. Indeed, NASCAR spends MILLIONS on getting more diversity into motorsports by going directly into inner city neighborhoods to recruit youngsters into jobs and opportunities.

I smell racism and classism but certainly not on the part of the NASCAR community.

If I was going to a Democrat event I would like to have protection against getting AIDS.

To Duane:

Dear haughty liberal,

Greetings from a diehard NASCAR fan, that happens to be a Republican, living in Brooklyn. Come to my 'hood and run your mouth like that. Thanks for displaying exactly the kind of attitude that is the reason that many Americans hate Al Gore and other "holier-than-thou" liberals. Your ignorance is just astounding. While I agree that this issue is probably overblown, it does go to show the lengths that the Democrats will go to protect themselves from everyday America. Come down from your ivory tower and see the real world. The article cites that the staffers will not be visiting an actual hospital, just an infield treatment clinic WITH NO PATIENTS and first aid stations. Wow -- I'm sure worried they might get an STD from those locations. I'll bet they're more likely to catch one of those from hanging around Bill Clinton too long. Previous post authors have it exactly right, why a NASCAR event and not the opera, or a baseball game, or an art museum? Oh, because the "dirty, ignorant" conservatives won't be there. You make me sick.

So the democratic party feels that we NASCAR fans have infectious diseases. Well, there goes my vote.

All of these mini-gods in Washington will never go out into the public and see how the average person
lives. These Liberals or as they like to refer to themselves, Progressives (which is worse), feel that the normal run-of-the-mill outsiders are all physically and/or mentally ill and they would not wish physical contact less they catch a life-threatening virus. The only time contact is even dared, is to get the little peoples votes so they can continue their money gathering and power grabbing. An attempt to clean up the little people is being pushed through free governmental health care. Then maybe they would go out in public. But then they would have to answer for their life of corruption and failure to uphold the Constitution of the U.S. But they do not really care about the little people.

How is this possibly a more important story than the Nobel Peace Prize winners? Why on earth did you place it ABOVE that story?
Three out of four times that I read this paper I see idiocy like this. Your spin zone is a vortex.

Can you imagine the uproar if George Bush said people should immunize their kids before attending San Francisco's Gay Pride Parade?! Imagine the outrage. Barney Frank would be apoleptic. Nancy Pelosi would demand his impeachment.

Congess' approval rating is currently 14%. I think they're way overrated.

Dear Duane:

I'd like to echo what Jacob said, and add the following: I suspect the only folks welcome in your "hood" are the Democrats handing out 5,000 dollar Hillary baby bonds.

Let's see...
... Troops getting killed in Iraq...
... Dissidents getting crushed and tortured in Myanmar...
... Candidates gearing up for the Presidential campaign season...
... Subprime problems plague homeowners...
... Rich get richer...
And the least story is... Whether or not it's going to offend NASCAR fans if people get immunized before they attend a race?!

I think these comments are racist. If a republican would of said this about a Grambling Football game or Cinco De Mayo their would of been hell to pay!

Not living in the DC area but actually living in the real world I can tell you what an extreme insult this is, and I don't even like NASCAR. Again the Dems have found a way to alienate the type of people that work for a living. It just never ends. I wouldn't come to DC without a gun for my protection and I guess they won't come to the south without shots. Idiots.

Could you imagine if a member of the GOP said this in regards to a rap concert. Not sure why the DNC would want to go to where the military has a hugh presence and Old Glory flies high. It just make them feel uncomfortable-and not alot of DNC voters anyways, especially after that comment.

I don't even watch NASCAR, and I felt that slap! Obviously, the demotraitors feel that the great, unwashed masses would somehow contaminate their squeaky-clean neo-communist butts.
This shows what we can look forward to if one of those surrender-monkies gets into the White House. Any conservative, or anyone suspected of being one, will become a second-class citizen; and will be treated as such.

I don't even watch NASCAR, and I felt that slap! Obviously, the demotraitors feel that the great, unwashed masses would somehow contaminate their squeaky-clean neo-communist butts.
This shows what we can look forward to if one of those surrender-monkies gets into the White House. Any conservative, or anyone suspected of being one, will become a second-class citizen; and will be treated as such.

I guess the remnats of Woodstock Nation are too urbane to mingle with main- street America. These Chardonnay sipping liberals are going to get us killed if they control the whole government.

Could he have thought there might be biological tools used in the mock terror attack? I haven't heard a word he said about this yet. Why is everybody assuming it was pointed toward the NASCAR crowds? Did he ever tell anyone that?

Whats the big deal? I always have a few shots before I leave for the track then switch to beer after we get there!

DANGER, WILL ROBINSON, DANGER!
CONGRESSMEN COMING!
DANGER! DANGER!

It is now being reported that to qualify to sightsee in Washington DC, people will have to supply personal innoculation records from the U.S.D.A. to prove they have been immunized from Bovine Flatulance Disorder other wise known as B.F.D. This way when the rank odor that eminates from Capital Hill enters one's nasal passages, brain damage will not occur. However, if one is not immunized and is exposed, the victim will have an uncontrolable desire to become a Democraptic congressman from some stupid, elitist, high unemployment state.

Like Hank Jr. sang, "A country boy can survive".

Hired Pen,

First, the deaths in Iraq are being made by REAL heroes sacrificing everything defending your right to write your trash and drivel.
Second, people are dying in Darfur and Nepal, but I don't hear those concerns about them emanating from your piehole, pinhead.
Third, the only thing I see gearing up are the ego races being fueled by the special interest groups. The people running now a so narcissistic and shallow, it can't be defined.
Fourth, the reason so many people are in a bind over subprime mortgagaes is because they didn't learn to read well enough in the public schools. They were too busy being taught how not to offend people and put condoms on cucumbers.
Fifth, when the rich get richer, they provide more jobs for those who aren't, and they live a little better because of it, instead of leeching off the welfare system. I never received a paycheck from a broke man.
This story is just highlighting the absolute stupidity and ignorance that has infected (get it; infected and innoculations) Washington D.C. and those who pretend (very poorly I might add) to be our leaders.

I suspect that the real reason for recommending innoculations had to do with the large number of hispanic immigrants in the Charlotte/Conway area. These politicians probably never interact with this group of people beyond standing at a podium in front of them. Actually shaking their hands at a health care facility may have terrified them. It's always a good idea to have your shots, but the timing is clearly suspicious and bigoted.

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