Are dishonest and illegal behaviors – cheating and lying – any different when it comes from our national leaders or from our professional athletes? Is individual quality of life and safety better protected by a president or a pitcher?

Recently the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform concluded its hearings on abuse of performance enhancing drugs in major league baseball. And what a performance it was, replete with a galaxy of baseball stars that seemed to dazzle a number of committee members – I thought some were ready to leave their seats and ask for a personalized autograph.

Yet, Congress chooses not to take effective action on the gravely more serious failure to abide by the rules of the Bush-Cheney administration. Why spend the time on cheating in baseball when the president and vice president have deceived the country and flouted the Constitution and the laws on a regular basis? Baseball investigated and produced the Mitchell Report, but Congress refused to investigate and get a Mitchell-type report of its own on the administration’s activities.

Why is Congress so concerned about steroids in baseball? I guess Rep. Henry Waxman’s, D-Calif., committee did not want to miss the opportunity to make headlines with the stars. And yes, they provided compelling rationales: Chairman Waxman offered, “If a cheating scandal broke out at any university, the bare minimum we would expect is a thorough review of what happened and how it happened.” Waxman also mentioned, “… young athletes are very impressed by what their sports heroes say and do. There’s a real authority carry-over there.” Thus, the committee’s chair is concerned about cheating and inappropriate modeling behavior.

Congress is overlooking the fact that professional sports are best considered a form of entertainment. No other entertainment industry has attracted such attention by Congress. So why the concern? Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., got it right when she said, “I think there are billions of dollars being wasted every minute … and what this committee ought to be doing is government oversight.”

Congress’ concern for the health of our youth and the consequences of exposure to bad behavior on the part of role models is admirable. Yet, there is more than a great deal of hypocrisy in choosing to spend time and public attention on baseball. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and most members of the House have argued that impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Cheney is not wise because it will interfere with the necessary work of Congress.

If part of the necessary work of Congress is to protect the health of our youth and provide positive role models, then how is it possible to reconcile an illegal and immoral war in Iraq, which costs the lives and health of our young soldiers, and a chief executive and members of his administration who regularly lie, cheat and shred the fabric of our Constitution, and not hold them accountable for high crimes and misdemeanors? Are these the role models we are holding up to our vulnerable youth: a president who lies about torture; a vice president who destroys the careers of those who do not support him; an attorney general who fails to act on behalf of the people and uphold the rule of law?

The executive branch has all but destroyed the Constitution’s core concept of the balance of power by signing statements to undermine the legislative process and invoking state secrets to preclude the courts from administering justice and thereby denying due process. Congress has but one viable tool left in its toolbox – impeachment.

By acting to hold the executive accountable, Congress will stand up and send a message of courage and integrity to our youth; Congress will stand up and send a message that lying and cheating will not be tolerated and consequences will follow; Congress will stand up and send a message that we are going to protect the health of our youth and bring them home from Iraq.

Acting with integrity, honesty and principle are the modeling behaviors that our congressmen and congresswomen should be displaying – to all people, both here and abroad.

Herbert J. Hoffman of Ogunquit is an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate.