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. |
