First it was a cancer scare. Then it was sexual harassment allegations. Now, Eric Massa’s traded in his captain’s cap for a tinfoil helmet:
Embattled Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) lashed out in an emotional radio appearance Sunday, accusing Dem leaders of what he suggested was an orchestrated campaign to force his resignation.
“There’s a reason that this has all happened, frankly one that I had not realized,” Massa said on WKPQ radio on Sunday. “Mine is now the deciding vote on the health care bill, and this administration and this House leadership have said, quote unquote, they will stop at nothing to pass this health care bill. And now they’ve gotten rid of me and it’ll pass.”
This is sun-drenched lunacy, of course. Massa originally claimed he voted against the healthcare bill from the left. The only other person to do so was Dennis Kucinich. Every other freshman voted against it from the conservadem point of view, so Massa couldn’t possible be made into an example for them.
But whatever – that’s all nuts. You think Steny Hoyer would trade all this bad press just to break some balls? That’s absurd. Massa wouldn’t quit unless someone really had the goods on him. Even if the D-Trip completely cut him off, he’s a prolific fundraiser and could well have won re-election against Tom Reed. At the very least, he could have served out his term if he wanted to. You don’t bail midstream without a damn good reason. I only wish Hoyer were that all-powerful!
Anyhow, get a load of Massa recollecting his alleged transgression:
“I said goodnight to the bridesmaid,” Massa continued. “I sat down at the table where my whole staff was, all of them by the way bachelors.”
“One of them looked at me and as they would do after, I don’t know, 15 gin and tonics, and goodness only knows how many bottles of champagne, a staff member made an intonation to me that maybe I should be chasing after the bridesmaid and his points were clear and his words were far more colorful than that,” Massa said. “And I grabbed the staff member sitting next to me and said, ‘Well, what I really ought to be doing is fracking you.’ And then [I] tossled the guy’s hair and left, went to my room, because I knew the party was getting to a point where it wasn’t right for me to be there. Now was that inappropriate of me? Absolutely. Am I guilty? Yes.”
Because that’s how I always react when a buddy ribs me for leering at bridesmaid…. Ugh, whatever. Why doesn’t this guy have the good sense to shut up? This dingbat is going on the Glenn Beck show tomorrow, and I’m sure we’ll be hearing more crap like this:
“Eric Massa’s probably not going to go back to Congress, because the only way I would go back there would be as an independent. A pox on both parties.”
I can’t believe I supported this guy through two election cycles, helping to raise six figures for him across a few different ActBlue pages with Daily Kos. What an asshole. Glad he’s gone.
Though Massa’s not the only one expressing these kinds of Broderite sentiments – Hornell Mayor Shawn Hogan (D) says he won’t run, because the “atmosphere in politics today is toxic, fueled by extremism on both sides of the aisle.” Can’t say I’m unhappy he’s declining – doesn’t sound like my type of Democrat at all. Fortunately, CQ mentions several other names, some of which are new (to me, at least):
Democrats continue to emerge in the 29th district, which takes in a big chunk of eastern New York state. Democratic Assemblywomen Barbara Lifton and Susan John and Assemblyman David Koon have all expressed interest in the seat. And local Democrats are also now talking up Monroe County District Attorney Michael Green, a former Republican, as a strong possible contender.
No word yet on when the special might be held. Since David Paterson is a man without a future, he can do whatever he pleases, which could include holding the special at some random date, scheduling it to coincide with the September primary, scheduling it to coincide with the general, or not having one at all. Who knows.
Obviously we wouldn’t have supported him if we knew he was a fraking nutcase. But are there any things he said that, in retrospect, forshadowed any of this?
Did he actually resign? It sounded like he was considering walking back the resignation.
how (naked) Rahm supposedly goes to the Congressional gym showers to intimidate members of Congress.
Of him during the 2006 camapign and his interactions with Rahm Emanuel. It’s kind of funny to hear Rahm Emanuel telling someone to be less angry when he’s not exactly the most peaceful guy himself.
http://politicalwire.com/archi…
Massa seems really angry at Emanuel, he was complaining pretty harshly about him earlier today:
You can’t trust anyone these days, whether it is in politics or in any other setting.
If Massa’s version is accurate, oh brother…
That he’s totally lost it, or that what he’s saying is essentially true. As with Howard Beale, I’m not sure they’re mutually exclusive.
the guy was on the Ed Show calling out Cheney regarding GOP criticisms to Obama’s national defense strategies. He was great, and his video was even posted on Daily Kos.
Now, it seems like he’s a total whackoooooo. What a loser; I don’t know what to say. I even gerrymandered my New York map to save him!!!
Boy my state’s politics suck.
BTW, DavidNYC, I couldn’t agree more with your assessment about the future of New York politics:
Yeah, probably not a good time to ask…
I’m pretty sure he’s not being truthful about that lil wedding incident leading to the sexual harassment complaint.
A one-time offhanded comment like that when you and everyone around you has been drinking, and when all your staffers were around (who know you’re a happily-married man with kids, supposedly), would be completely excusable if it was a weird, one-time event. At least in this non-lawyer’s opinion.
However, if there had been a lot of creepy leering and vaguely sexual comments before, that comment could’ve been the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back.
Btw, “Broderite sentiments” made me LOL, even though I think we were thinking of different references. “Tousled his hair” is the new “hand on my thigh.”
needs to be primaried bad. Did anyone see him on countdown tonight? He sounded like he was the only one who cared about HCR and that he would vote against anything not single payer. Now I fully support single payer, and by all means he should fight for it. However he shouldn’t single handily derail HCR. He said he didn’t care if his vote was the difference between passing and failing. He is a lose hinge and should get the boot. I wouldn’t be surprised if he challenges Obama in 2012, or even runs third party. What district does Jennifer Brunner live in? She could do the job, and clear the field for Fisher. We have a great bench in his district, and Rahm should be looking for some challengers. I’m not trying to sound whiney, but Kucinich is not a team player. Kucinich is a waste of a safe district. I know this is random, but that interview just made me mad!
when he spoke to us Bruin Democrats at last week’s meeting, (paraphrasing) if you’re into the kinky stuff, more power to you, but don’t run for public office!!!
BTW, Dukakis said that for ANY candidate running for public office who asks for his support, one of the first things Dukakis asks is how many precincts are in that person’s district. If the candidate has no idea, then Dukakis knows this person is simply not serious about the grassroots and the ground game.
Unfortunately Eric Massa is a poor imitation. I demand the real thing!
If the progressive movement in general can as one denounce the rantings of Eric Massa as a man of the irrational left, would that give other progressives credibility
in the same way Bill Clinton’s Sister Soljah move gave him credibility in ’92?
Seriously, first all the stuff with Paterson, then Rangel and now this guy Massa. I know for NY this is not the first time, we have dealt with dysfuntion (Spitzer and all the crap that goes on in the NY state senate). But it seems as of late, it’s just wow.
Leaving just when we get to like ya
Seriously though, this guy could turn into a major pain in the ass for Dems.
Who wants to bet he runs in the special election as an Indy now?
Seriously!
This dude is totally unhinged. In what alternate reality is he the deciding vote on health care reform? I can’t wait to hear the crazy that’s going to spew when he spends time with Glenn Beck tomorrow (ewwww). He’s mighty delusional if he believes he’s important enough to be plotted against by Rahm Emanuel and the House Democratic leadership.
There is probably a lot more to the alleged sexual harassment aspect of this story that will emerge in the weeks to come.