Another Dem Incumbent Abandons Ship Obama: Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) Won’t Seek Re-Election (video)
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on March 3, 2010
I know Rep. Eric Massa from New York says his decision to not run for re-election is health-issue-based, but I can’t help but notice the escalating ship-jumping from congressional Democrats.
On the other hand, it makes one wonder: is this all part of a bigger, behind-the-scenes, kiss-off-your-political-career thug strategy from Rahm “F-You” Emanuel and Nancy “Where’s My Tiara?” Pelosi?
Cut the Democrat deadwood and the growing list of Democrat scandalmongers now and bring in fresh meat — liberal candidates without known ethics issues or sexual harassment problems or extramarital affairs or overspending histories — before the November elections?
Wouldn’t put it past them. Are they that smart, or that stupid?
Then again, Rep. Massa could be telling the truth… that’s it’s about his health, and nothing related to the sexual harassment charges of a young male staffer.
From The Fix, The Washington Post, Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) won’t run for reelection:
Democratic Rep. Eric Massa has decided against seeking re-election, creating an open seat in a very competitive New York congressional district.
Massa, a freshman congressman from western New York, told reporters Wednesday that he was retiring for health reasons. He has previously been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
‘This last December I underwent my third major cancer reoccurrence scare,” he said on a conference call, adding that he had kept the episode private to all but his close family.
“It was a very intense and personal experience,” one that made him realize that he needs to alter his lifestyle, Massa said.. “It is therefore only fair and right that I announce today that I will not seek re-election to this office.”
Massa did not take any questions from reporters. He denied that his decision had anything to do with scandal.
Politico reported Wednesday that the House ethics committee has received allegations that Massa sexually harassed a male staffer. It cited anonymous sources for its information.
“Now there are blogs who are saying that there were charges of harassment against my staff,” Massa said, admitting that he has been guilty of using “salty language” in his office. “Yes I have, and I have apologized for it.”
But Massa said that suggestions he was guilty of something more were “unsubstantiated, without … backing” and “a symptom of what’s wrong with this city.”
“I will now enter the final phase of my life at a more controlled pace,” he said.
Massa’s retirement creates another problem for House Democrats. His 29th district, which includes Elmira and Corning, went for Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) by a 51 percent to 48 percent margin in 2008 but George W. Bush carried it by 14 points in 2004.
Corning Mayor Tom Reed is already in the race for Republicans. It’s not immediately clear whether national GOPers will look around now that the seat is open, although Reid’s fundraising has not been particularly stellar with just $122,000 in the bank at the end of the year. The Democratic field remains unformed. Filing doesn’t close in the Empire State until July.
Massa is the 16th House Democrat to call it quits. Eighteen Republicans are retiring or seeking other office while a 19th — Florida Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart — is vacating his 25th district to run for an open seat in the neighboring 21st.
From Gateway Pundit, Democrat Eric Massa Lied… Hoyer Knew About Sexual Harassment Last Month:
…Massa was not being honest about his predicament. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer revealed later today that he received a report last month of allegations of misconduct against a New York congressman.
The AP reported:
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says he received a report last month of allegations of misconduct against a New York congressman who has announced he will not seek a second term.
A statement from Hoyer’s office late Wednesday says he was told the week of Feb. 8 about the allegations by a staff member in Rep. Eric Massa’s office. Hoyer directed Massa to report the allegations to the House Ethics Committee within 48 hours. Hoyer says he received confirmation within 48 hours that the Ethics Committee had received the report and would review the allegations.
Massa, a freshman Democrat who represents western New York, had announced Wednesday that he will not seek a second term after a recurrence of cancer late last year. In a conference call, Massa dismissed a report that he had been accused of harassing a staffer.
Video Memory Lane… here’s a post with accompanying video from summer 2009 on Rep. Massa. Not flattering nor does it speak well of your leadership when you’re not engaging in sexual harassment, Eric:
In the video below, Rep. Massa addresses an intimate gathering of Net Roots activists during a round table discussion at the annual Netroots Nation conference in Pittsburgh this past weekend. He discusses his support of a single-payer health care system and the risk his vote may have to holding down his congressional seat.
Ya think? Glad you’re so honest about shafting your district’s constituents… I’d be boiling mad if this clown was MY representative.
Rep. Massa (D-NY) Addresses Netroots: I WILL vote against the interests of my district | August 2009
From Hotline On Call: Spotlight After Dark: Eric Massa Isn’t Mark Foley:
House Dems are in big trouble, and reports of Rep. Eric Massa’s (D-NY) wrongdoing, if true, make matters worse. But let’s get one thing straight: Massa is not Mark Foley.
The media is cuing up the Massa = Foley meme this p.m. to set the stage for a mantra about how ’10 increasingly resembles ’06, when House Dems rode a wave of GOP ethics scandals back to power. To be sure, there are similarities between the two campaign cycles. Massa isn’t one of them.
Foley was forced to resign in ’06 after he admitted making inappropriate sexual advances to underage House pages. Massa’s conduct may have been egregious. But there’s no evidence so far to suggest the male aide he harrassed was younger than 18. More importantly, the Foley case erupted into a partywide scandal only when it was revealed that House GOP leaders had been aware of his conduct weeks before it was reported, but did little to address it. Nothing so far suggests Pelosi et al responded similarly.
Over the next few days there will be efforts, by GOPers and the media, to play “gotcha” with House Dems, who said one thing about Foley and another about Massa. Will Dems weather the storm?
From NY Daily News:
Rep. Eric Massa is poised to announce this afternoon that he will not seek re-election in the 29th Congressional District this fall as planned, a Democratic source confirms.
The freshman congressman is going to make his announcement at 3 p.m., according to the source. It’s unclear if that event is taking place in the district or in Wahsington, D.C. A call to Massa’s spokesman has so far not been returned.
UPDATE: Massa’s office says he will be speaking with the press on a “very important” conference call at 3:30 p.m. He’s in Washington.
Massa is calling around the district to inform party leaders and supporters of his decision.
The source said he assumed that Massa’s move is “health related,” but said the congressman also gave him a rather nebulous warning that he would be “hearing things that aren’t true.”
Sources close to the congressman say there has been talk of an ethics investigation, but a staffer in Massa’s district office contacted yesterday insisted he had no knowledge of that.
Another YouTube gem with Massa’s cretin thoughts on treason… h/t to Moe Lane at RedState.
Eye-opener on Massa’s predilection… From Bob Lonsberry: WHAT I HAVE KNOWN ABOUT ERIC MASSA
Update, March 5, 2010: Breaking news from Gateway Pundit… Dem Rep. Massa Will Resign After Allegations of Sexual Harassment …Update: Says He’s Guilty
Congressman? DLTDHYOTWO.
Rep. Eric Massa (D, NY-29) accuses Senator Chuck Grassley of treason
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[...] Café: Another Dem Incumbent Abandons Ship Obama: Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) Won’t Seek Re-Election (video) and The Charlie Rangel “Ethics Hokey-Pokey”: First He’s Out, Then He’s Back In, Then [...]
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[...] Café: Another Dem Incumbent Abandons Ship Obama: Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) Won’t Seek Re-Election (video) and The Charlie Rangel “Ethics Hokey-Pokey”: First He’s Out, Then He’s Back In, Then [...]
Someone walked into the congress and flipped the light on.
The roaches are running from the room.
The rats are jumping from the ship (Obama) that threatens to ruin their career if they attempt to stick out this election cycle, spending their “hard earned money” to get re-elected.
Obama cares nothing about anybody except for himself, and his legacy.
Someone, that he respects, should do him a favor and inform him of the legacy he is building. Not good.
Carter should step in, or for that matter Clinton should take this amateur to school.
There is no slam dunk for the dems this time.
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