Eric Massa

4 Mar

I’m disappointed in his retirement, and saddened by the news that his cancer has re-appeared. Best wishes to him – a principled and honorable guy.

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39 Responses to “Eric Massa”

  1. Get Off My Lawn March 4, 2010 at 7:59 am #

    “Principled and honorable guy” who is under investigation for alleged misconduct by the House Ethics Commission. Didn’t you have room to add this bit of information to your post or was this another case of selective omission of information that hurts your liberal cause?

    Reply
    • Alan Bedenko March 4, 2010 at 8:03 am #

      So, tell me what he’s accused of doing or saying. You can’t.

      Reply
      • Get Off My Lawn March 4, 2010 at 8:24 am #

        HERE YOU GO….

        [S]everal House aides told POLITICO that the House ethics committee has been informed of allegations that the New York Democrat, who is married with two children, made unwanted advances toward a junior male staffer.
        A more senior staffer — Ronald Hikel, Massa’s former deputy chief of staff and legislative director — took the complaints to the ethics committee and was interviewed about them twice…
        [Steny] Hoyer’s office released the following statement Wednesday night:
        “The week of February 8th, a member of Rep. Massa’s staff brought to the attention of Mr. Hoyer’s staff allegations of misconduct that had been made against Mr. Massa. Mr. Hoyer’s staff immediately informed him of what they had been told. Mr. Hoyer instructed his staff that if Mr. Massa or his staff did not bring the matter to the attention of the bipartisan Ethics Committee within 48 hours, Mr. Hoyer would do so. Within 48 hours, Mr. Hoyer received confirmation from both the Ethics Committee staff and Mr. Massa’s staff that the Ethics Committee had been contacted and would review the allegations. Mr. Hoyer does not know whether the allegations are true or false, but wanted to ensure that the bipartisan committee charged with overseeing conduct of Members was immediately involved to determine the facts.”

      • Alan Bedenko March 4, 2010 at 8:49 am #

        allegations of misconduct

        Wow! Thanks for the detail! That’s so informative!

        I can’t wait until they “determine the facts”!

  2. mike March 4, 2010 at 8:13 am #

    Just google it and you will see he is accused of smiling on a cloudy day!

    Reply
  3. Mike March 4, 2010 at 10:32 am #

    http://www.boblonsberry.com/writings.cfm?go=4 Yikes!

    Reply
    • Christopher Smith March 4, 2010 at 10:49 am #

      Bob Lonsberry, the half-witted cousin of Tom Bauerle. Ugh.

      My thinking was this. Though the stories and how they developed seemed genuine, I recognized that it was possible they could have been mere gossip about a caustic and unpopular officer. They may also have been an orchestrated lie.

      So, he didn’t report it when it might have mattered because, he had no official reports or sources, but he’ll release it now with no corroboration to kick a guy when he’s down. Real courageous fucking journalism, that.

      Reply
      • Mike March 4, 2010 at 10:56 am #

        I do believe in innocence until proven otherwise. I offered the link for conversation only…

      • Carl March 4, 2010 at 3:16 pm #

        And, to make matters worse, Bob doesn’t even LIVE in WNY anymore…the last I knew, dude lived out in Utah with his family and does his show on WHAM via ISDN(or some sort of link that allows him to do the show from his home). Dude’s worse than worthless.

  4. Jon Splett March 4, 2010 at 2:37 pm #

    Sad to see one of the only guys in the House pushing for a real single-payer plan gone after just one term.

    And lobbing vague allegations of wrong doing with zero details when a guy is quitting his job because he’s got cancer? Stay classy conservatives.

    Reply
  5. tim March 4, 2010 at 6:57 pm #

    Alan, its pretty embarassing that you would leave out the sexual misconduct allegations to your story and then have the audacity to attack commenters who bring it up. These are allegations that are at the center and in the headlines of every single news story about this and were considered serious enough for a member of Massa’s own staff (other than the alleged victim) to seek counsel from the Majority Leaders office, who found them serious enough to demand an Ethics investigation.

    Crappy work on your part

    Reply
    • Alan Bedenko March 4, 2010 at 9:31 pm #

      What precisely did Massa do? What is it that you’d have me condemn? Until and unless you can answer that, I have nothing to say about it.

      Reply
  6. Ward March 5, 2010 at 2:21 pm #

    Hmm–suggestive text messages to young male staffers (Foley). Suggestive face-to-face comments to young male staffer (Massa). One is a “principled and honorable guy”; one is the great Satan–along with his entire House leadership.
    We’ll let Pundit explain which–and why.

    Reply
    • Eric Saldanha March 5, 2010 at 4:58 pm #

      Republicans sure love beating up on cancer victims. They must take their cue from Dick “I love the taste of infant blood” Cheney.

      Reply
  7. Get Off My Lawn March 5, 2010 at 3:49 pm #

    Massa is going to resign on Monday. There is a mountain of informaiton pouring in on Massa and his creepy habits. I think that we’re going to find out that the health issue was just an attempt for a soft landing. I feel sorry for his children.
    http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/03/massa_to_resign.php

    Reply
    • Roaring Republican March 5, 2010 at 4:14 pm #

      Love how you completely ignored why he was leaving office. He is racing out REAL quick for someone who supposedly just used some “salty” language especially considering how many years he spent trying to get this seat.

      “I own this reality. There is no doubt in my mind that I did in fact, use language in the privacy of my own home and in my inner office that, after 24 years in the Navy, might make a Chief Petty Officer feel uncomfortable,” Massa said. “In fact, there is no doubt that this Ethics issue is my fault and mine alone. But in the incredibly toxic atmosphere that is Washington D.C., with the destruction of our elected leaders having become a blood sport, especially in talk radio and on the internet, there is also no doubt that an Ethics investigation would tear my family and my staff apart.”

      Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/34001.html#ixzz0hL4ByShg

      Reply
  8. Alan Bedenko March 5, 2010 at 4:10 pm #

    First of all, you guys have absolutely no fucking clue what Massa supposedly did or said, nor to whom he did or said them.
    Secondly, the only new information contained in the Hotline On Call article is that he’s going to resign on Monday. The article offers up absolutely zero – nada – nichts – about what Massa is accused of doing. You know, sexual harrassment could mean he touched someone’s schween, or it could mean he called someone a name. We don’t know yet.
    Thirdly, what we do know is that Massa also has health issues that may be more immediate and acute than anyone’s let on. His statement included the passage,

    It is only fair and right that I announce that I will not run again in time for others to consider a run for this office. I will now enter a final phase of my life at a more controlled pace and remained fully committed to helping the families of the 29th District.

    I don’t think people use the phrase “final phase of my life” all that often if they’re doing just fine physically.

    Lastly, at the time that Tom Reynolds was busy covering up for Mark Foley, it should be remembered that the Foley story wasn’t just about soliciting sex from congressional teenage pages. It was about the fact that Foley is an anti-gay hypocrite who worked tirelessly as a public servant to ensure that homosexuals like he are treated as second class citizens.

    And on top of that, Foley’s escapades with pages went on as an open secret in Washington for a decade.
    But in the end I’ll reiterate that none of you have any detail, proof, or information concerning the nature of the alleged harassment. So, until we do have that information it’d probably be prudent to STFU and stop repeating the same non-information.

    Reply
  9. Alan Bedenko March 5, 2010 at 4:30 pm #

    @”Roaring Republican”: Interesting that you should lecture me on what I “completely ignored” when you selectively quote one paragraph from a Massa statement that was literally released minutes ago, and omit the health issue. But that figures.

    So, what is Massa saying: he used bad language and a staff member didn’t like it. Without knowing more – which you don’t, and I don’t – I’ll let you have your case of the vapors based on vaporware.

    Reply
    • Roaring Republican March 5, 2010 at 7:37 pm #

      You are right I have no idea what he said but he does and he suddenly announced he wasn’t running for re-election when it hit. Then he moved real quick as it has developed to get out ASAP. If he has health concerns in addition to whatever he did, I wish him well and he is making the right decision to get out quick if there is something. Let’s not pretend like the health is the reason he is racing out the door at marathon speed. That is the “spend more time with my family” routinue & the fact that you are towing it is HILARIOUS! Love watching you get burned by your love of all things Party!

      Reply
      • Alan Bedenko March 6, 2010 at 6:53 am #

        Actually, I’ve met Massa and I think he’s an honest guy, a good guy, and a guy who really did what he thought was in the best interests of his constituents – even if that meant he might risk losing re-election. I realize that this might be anathema to you, but it’s meaningful to me. You don’t see a lot of that in politics nowadays. It was embodied in the fact that Massa was the singular WNY-area congressman to hold town halls during the 2009 health care debates. Perhaps you prefer Chris Lee’s bullshit, staged, moderated “phone town-halls”, but I don’t – particularly when they call smack in the middle of the time when we’re preparing dinner. Attaway to depress participation, Chris.

        It has nothing to do with party politics. It has to do with quality of representation. But since you have a crystal ball or are psychic, perhaps you have more insight into my state of mind than I do.

        Since you have no idea what he said, it would seem premature to condemn him for whatever it is that he’s under investigation for. He says he used “salty” language that was hurtful to a staffer. For all we know, that could consist of him telling a staffer to “go fuck yourself” or maybe he called him a “fucking faggot” or told him in a moment of exasperation to, “blow me”. Heavens, Gertude, pass me my inhaler!

        Any one of those phrases, uttered in a professional setting from boss to subordinate, would be actionable anywhere. If Massa is quitting because he put his hands in someone’s pants – I’ll condemn it to high heaven right here. If he asked a subordinate to do something sexual to him – I’ll be shocked & write something that would make even you blush. But if all he did was use a profane word or phrase, I’m not going to be all that worked up about it, if that’s ok with you.

        And on top of that, given the phrase he used about his illness that I highlighted earlier, I suspect that health is the motivating force behind the quick exit.

        So, while you’re on your epic journey of ignorant speculation, I’ll wait to see what actually happened. I’m not going to knee-jerkedly motherfuck Massa because Politico wrote something non-substantive, and everyone other media outlet is carbon-copying it. K?

      • Roaring Republican March 6, 2010 at 7:56 am #

        Look at you suddenly high & mighty and putting away the jump to conclusions board the moment it is a Democrat you personally like. You have no problem spewing venom, pushing rumor and attacking families and personal lives when it is George Bush, Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin or any other Republican local or national. I get the game, all the fake outrage and the ignoring of ones own faults. I just find it funny that you actually seem to be delusional enough to think you are different.

        My “ignorant” logic tells me a first term Congressman doesn’t pack up and race out of town like a hurricane for a few off color remarks to staff regardless of what kind of man he is. Stick to your guns though, I like watching you shoot yourself in the foot defending these people. Few months ago we had this exact same conversation about Charlie Rangel. Too much fun!

      • Alan Bedenko March 6, 2010 at 8:16 am #

        You have no problem spewing venom, pushing rumor and attacking families and personal lives when it is George Bush, Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin or any other Republican local or national.

        Oh. Ok. I mean, you must be right. We don’t need examples of that or anything. Your bare allegation is proof enough. (I’ve “attacked” the families and personal lives of Bush, Cheney, and Palin? I’ve “pushed rumor”? Ok. That’s news to me, but what do I know. I only write this thing.) I’ll grant you “spewing venom”, because I find the three people you cite to be truly awful political figures who embody pretty much everything that is wrong with American politics. But attacking their personal lives or pushing rumor? That’s news to me.

        Few months ago we had this exact same conversation about Charlie Rangel.

        I don’t remember ever writing a word about Charlie Rangel. I might be wrong, but I have no recollection of that.

      • Roaring Republican March 8, 2010 at 12:00 pm #

        Rangel discussion was awhile ago on Twitter. Twitter only serves up the last 3200, so I don’t have it.

  10. Ward March 6, 2010 at 10:26 am #

    Alan, some sound advice: when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

    Reply
    • Eric Saldanha March 6, 2010 at 11:05 am #

      …when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

      Sez the guy from the party that has Michael Steele, Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney and the two-headed Congressional leadership of Boehner and McConnell as standard-bearers.

      Reply
      • Ward March 6, 2010 at 2:44 pm #

        Eric — from today’s headlines alone: Paterson, Rangel, Massa. From last week’s, Murtha. Next week’s indictment–John Edwards. The two-headed viper of Reid and Pelosi is so anathema that Pundit avoids it like a turd on the sidewalk these days.

      • Eric Saldanha March 6, 2010 at 6:22 pm #

        Murtha? Lovely….the man died a month ago. To call you classless would be an insult to the Palin family.
        Speaking of headlines, did you hear about the Republican State Senator in California (rabid anti-gay, natch) who got picked up on a DUI (see Fossella, Vito or Cheney, Dick x6) after leaving a gay night club? Who will think of the children?!!

    • Alan Bedenko March 6, 2010 at 11:17 am #

      I’ll remember that. When I find myself in a hole, that is. You’re the one who jumped the gun with the Mark Foley trollerie.

      Reply
      • Ward March 6, 2010 at 2:39 pm #

        Jumped the gun? The guy admits and quits after he gets the “principled and honorable guy” endorsement.
        Yeah–somebody jumped the gun indeed. Epic blog FAIL.

      • Alan Bedenko March 6, 2010 at 3:08 pm #

        Your side is replete with guys who (a) deny gay people civil rights; and almost immediately thereafter (b) get their “wide stance” ready in toilets and solicit and/or fuck young teen pages. If there’s epic fail afoot, it’s not because Massa did something – something that neither you nor I know anything about.

        When you’re deep inside a hole, stop digging I think someone once said.

  11. Roaring Republican March 6, 2010 at 12:15 pm #

    Funny how you forget everything you say on Twitter and the BS you spew there!

    Reply
  12. tim March 6, 2010 at 5:48 pm #

    Alan, No one is asking you to suggest exactly what he did, but to write this post and completely ignore the massive cloud over his resignation is pretty ridiculous, then you attack commenters who note that you failed to do so.

    You can keep pretending that nothing happened, but his own staff and his own party bosses both forced his actions to the ethics committee and forced his resignation just 2 days later.

    Reply
    • Alan Bedenko March 6, 2010 at 6:04 pm #

      I didn’t say nothing happened. I said we have no idea what happened. I’m not going to condemn something I know nothing about.

      Also, I’m not attacking anyone. I’m the one being attacked. I’m just responding.

      Hope that helps.

      Reply
  13. Starbuck March 7, 2010 at 11:37 pm #

    Interesting. Massa said on his radio show Sunday that the Dem leadership is forcing him out of office due to his ‘No’ position on the upcoming Obamacare vote.

    He accuses House leadership of masterminding an ethics investigation to get rid of him so the healthcare reform bill will pass.
    …
    “If you don’t believe they came after me to get rid of me because my vote is the deciding vote in the healthcare bill, then you live in a world that is so innocent that you don’t understand what’s going on in Washington, DC.”

    summary: http://www.fighting29th.com/2010/03/we-wont-have-eric-massa-kick-around-anymore.html

    audio (Massa starts about 5 minutes in): http://drop.io/massa3710

    Reply

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  1. Massa’s Shock Disclosure: He Curses When Drunkedly Joking | WNYmedia.net - March 8, 2010

    […] the meantime, I reiterate my earlier statement. I’m disappointed in his retirement, and saddened by the news that his cancer has re-appeared. […]

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