Washington reps need a NASCAR education

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Just when you think the world is getting to be a better place, just when you let a little optimism seep some sunshine into your life, along comes some ignorant politician to remind you that there still are plenty of folks in positions of power these days who don't take the time to think or learn about a subject before opening their fat mouths as if they were experts on it.

Racing fans, meet Rep. Larry Seaquist of Washington state and his buddy, Frank Chopp, a fellow Democrat who happens to be Speaker of the House in Washington and therefore one of the most influential politicians in the state.

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Before throwing Seaquist under the proverbial bus, and rightfully so, for his utterly senseless and stupid comments about NASCAR, it should be noted that this is a man who has done much in his lifetime of which he should be proud. He served as commanding officer on the battleship Iowa for 32 years, for instance.

On his Web site, Seaquist states that he "wants to solve the health-care crises that is crushing our businesses and bankrupting our families." He says he wants to create new industries and wean us off the dependence of foreign oil.

He states: "If we are to thrive in the competitive world of the 21st century, we must leave no citizens on the sidelines."

Unless, of course, they are associated in some way with NASCAR and the sport's push to have a racetrack built in his district just outside of Seattle. By now you've no doubt heard or read of the comments attributed to Seaquist recently, where he underscored his opposition to the track by adding: "These people are not the kind of people you would want living next door to you. They'd be the ones with the junky cars in the front yard and would try to slip around the law."

Asked to explain his comments a few days later on a Sirius radio show (Seaquist declined invitations to speak directly to NASCAR.COM), the deft politician claimed: "I have never said a word against NASCAR fans. I've got voters in my district who are NASCAR fans. I grew up listening to car races myself on the radio. I was going after the International Speedway Corporation, the ISC. That's who I had in mind.

"Now, it's my own fault I wasn't clear enough [about] what I was saying and I apologize to anybody who did take offense. But my concerns are solely about the track corporation and that's because they're trying to come out here, build a track, make a lot of money and leave the taxpayers in the dirt out here."

Easy, Larry. You don't get off that easy. (Continued)