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Eric Massa exits House, but not quietly
Washington – For all intents and purposes, Eric Massa is no longer a member of the US House.
The embattled freshman Democrat from New York had said he would resign effective 5 p.m. Monday EST, and after some formalities in the House on Tuesday, he will be truly out.
But the story will not end there. On Tuesday afternoon, he will appear for the full hour on Glenn Beck’s show on Fox, followed by an appearance on CNN’s "Larry King Live." After some of the choice comments Mr. Massa made over the weekend, it could make for spicy viewing.
IN PICTURES: Retiring House Democrats
First Massa announced he was retiring for health reasons. Then he announced he would resign to avoid a House sexual harassment investigation over comments he made to a male staffer. Now Massa is claiming that Democratic leaders wanted him out because he voted against the party’s health reform legislation last November.
“If you think that somehow they didn’t come after me to get rid of me because my vote is the deciding vote in the healthcare bill, then ladies and gentlemen, you live today in a world that is so innocent as to not understand what is going on in Washington, D.C.,” he said Sunday on his weekly radio show on WKPQ-FM in Hornell, N.Y.
He also heaped particular scorn on White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who ironically, when still a member of the House, had worked to get Massa elected.
Indeed, every “no” vote on healthcare that exits Congress helps President Obama and the majority Democrats, who are engaged in a last-ditch effort to enact reform. The Democratic leadership denies that Massa was forced out.
But it's the more salacious bits of his radio broadcast that got the most attention, in which he described exactly what he said at a wedding reception that eventually got him reported to the House ethics committee. Massa has admitted he made an inappropriate statement to a staff member, calling it "salty" language from his days as a career Navy man.
"I own this reality," he wrote on his website last Friday.
Over the weekend, his remorse turned to fury.
“You have my apology and you have my resignation because I am a human being,” he said on his radio show. “But I will not go quietly into the evening.”
It’s possible, if not probable, that Massa’s seat will sit vacant until the November elections. If so, his absence could indeed help the Democrats on healthcare reform in a scenario where every vote is crucial. In November, the seat is expected to go to a Republican.
The embattled freshman Democrat from New York had said he would resign effective 5 p.m. Monday EST, and after some formalities in the House on Tuesday, he will be truly out.
But the story will not end there. On Tuesday afternoon, he will appear for the full hour on Glenn Beck’s show on Fox, followed by an appearance on CNN’s "Larry King Live." After some of the choice comments Mr. Massa made over the weekend, it could make for spicy viewing.
IN PICTURES: Retiring House Democrats
First Massa announced he was retiring for health reasons. Then he announced he would resign to avoid a House sexual harassment investigation over comments he made to a male staffer. Now Massa is claiming that Democratic leaders wanted him out because he voted against the party’s health reform legislation last November.
“If you think that somehow they didn’t come after me to get rid of me because my vote is the deciding vote in the healthcare bill, then ladies and gentlemen, you live today in a world that is so innocent as to not understand what is going on in Washington, D.C.,” he said Sunday on his weekly radio show on WKPQ-FM in Hornell, N.Y.
He also heaped particular scorn on White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who ironically, when still a member of the House, had worked to get Massa elected.
Indeed, every “no” vote on healthcare that exits Congress helps President Obama and the majority Democrats, who are engaged in a last-ditch effort to enact reform. The Democratic leadership denies that Massa was forced out.
But it's the more salacious bits of his radio broadcast that got the most attention, in which he described exactly what he said at a wedding reception that eventually got him reported to the House ethics committee. Massa has admitted he made an inappropriate statement to a staff member, calling it "salty" language from his days as a career Navy man.
"I own this reality," he wrote on his website last Friday.
Over the weekend, his remorse turned to fury.
“You have my apology and you have my resignation because I am a human being,” he said on his radio show. “But I will not go quietly into the evening.”
It’s possible, if not probable, that Massa’s seat will sit vacant until the November elections. If so, his absence could indeed help the Democrats on healthcare reform in a scenario where every vote is crucial. In November, the seat is expected to go to a Republican.
Well, I am really sorry his cancer is back, but beyond that, who knows. True, Not True, Media Hype? Time will tell. When the ethics investigation is complete, by that time no one will care anymore. IMO
The latest I heard was :
Massa Says Groping Of Male Staffer 'Not Sexual'
by The Associated Press
David Duprey/AP
Democrat Eric Massa resigned from New York's 29th Congressional District.
text sizeAAA
March 9, 2010
Former New York Congressman Eric Massa, who resigned from Congress amid sexual harassment allegations, acknowledged groping a staffer but denied it was sexual.
"It doesn't make any difference what my intentions were, it's how it's perceived by the individual who receives that action," Massa said Tuesday on conservative commentator Glenn Beck's Fox News Channel show. "I'm telling you I was wrong. I was wrong. My behavior was wrong. I should have never allowed myself to be as familiar with my staff as I was."
The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, reported Tuesday that the House ethics panel is investigating allegations Massa groped multiple male staffers in his office. Massa has previously claimed his misconduct was limited to using inappropriate language with staffers.
Asked directly on Beck's program whether he sexually groped anyone, Massa replied: "No, no, no."
Massa, however, recalled tickling a staffer at a birthday party.
"Now they're saying I groped a male staffer," Massa said. "Yeah, I did. Not only did I grope him, I tickled him until he couldn't breathe and four guys jumped on top of me. It was my 50th birthday and it was kill the old guy."
Massa said his actions may have been misinterpreted.
"If somebody on my staff was offended, uncomfortable, thought I was inappropriate, I own that," Massa said. "It's why I resigned."
Massa has given different reasons over the past week for quitting his seat before completing his first term, including health worries, a House ethics probe and charges fellow Democrats pushed him out because he opposed their health care bill. Democrats deny the charge. He took a slightly different tack Tuesday.
"I wasn't forced out," he said. "I forced myself out."
Massa added he did not live up to his own personal code of conduct.
Massa, 50, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1996, defeated Republican Rep. Randy Kuhl in 2008 in a district long dominated by Republicans. He said his cancer returned in December.
Massa, who is married, is a 24-year retired Navy commander who served during the 1991 U.S.-Iraq war and later was special assistant to Gen. Wesley Clark during the conflict in Bosnia. His cancer diagnosis forced him and his family back to the U.S. for treatment. He spent his last year in the Navy as a cancer outreach advocate and later took a professional staff job with the House Armed Services Committee
Massa Says Groping Of Male Staffer 'Not Sexual'
by The Associated Press
David Duprey/AP
Democrat Eric Massa resigned from New York's 29th Congressional District.
text sizeAAA
March 9, 2010
Former New York Congressman Eric Massa, who resigned from Congress amid sexual harassment allegations, acknowledged groping a staffer but denied it was sexual.
"It doesn't make any difference what my intentions were, it's how it's perceived by the individual who receives that action," Massa said Tuesday on conservative commentator Glenn Beck's Fox News Channel show. "I'm telling you I was wrong. I was wrong. My behavior was wrong. I should have never allowed myself to be as familiar with my staff as I was."
The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, reported Tuesday that the House ethics panel is investigating allegations Massa groped multiple male staffers in his office. Massa has previously claimed his misconduct was limited to using inappropriate language with staffers.
Asked directly on Beck's program whether he sexually groped anyone, Massa replied: "No, no, no."
Massa, however, recalled tickling a staffer at a birthday party.
"Now they're saying I groped a male staffer," Massa said. "Yeah, I did. Not only did I grope him, I tickled him until he couldn't breathe and four guys jumped on top of me. It was my 50th birthday and it was kill the old guy."
Massa said his actions may have been misinterpreted.
"If somebody on my staff was offended, uncomfortable, thought I was inappropriate, I own that," Massa said. "It's why I resigned."
Massa has given different reasons over the past week for quitting his seat before completing his first term, including health worries, a House ethics probe and charges fellow Democrats pushed him out because he opposed their health care bill. Democrats deny the charge. He took a slightly different tack Tuesday.
"I wasn't forced out," he said. "I forced myself out."
Massa added he did not live up to his own personal code of conduct.
Massa, 50, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 1996, defeated Republican Rep. Randy Kuhl in 2008 in a district long dominated by Republicans. He said his cancer returned in December.
Massa, who is married, is a 24-year retired Navy commander who served during the 1991 U.S.-Iraq war and later was special assistant to Gen. Wesley Clark during the conflict in Bosnia. His cancer diagnosis forced him and his family back to the U.S. for treatment. He spent his last year in the Navy as a cancer outreach advocate and later took a professional staff job with the House Armed Services Committee
I heard there are multiple allegations being made that he groped several male interns among other things. I do not know how factual it is, but I did hear him less than a week ago say he was leaving due to cancer. He needs to make up his mind. Which is it? And I do imagine that if he was voting down health care reform that they would be glad to see him gone as well. That would make sense as well. But whichever it is, he has killed whatever credibility he had.
Yeah, I been following this one too. First it was an ethics investigation, then it was resigning over health issues, then he is being ousted because he would vote no on the health reform bill. Which is it Messa? He otta pair up with Palin and start their own group, it just keeps gettin better and better! lol
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