| Former Congressman Eric Massa has been caught up in scandal for the past week. I've attempted to keep up with this one as best I could despite being mired in all the Mark Critz scandal. Massa was in Philadelphia March 1st to endorse Joe Sestak then the next day began talking about resigning from his New York Congressional seat. Allegations are that he "groped" male staffers and used inappropriate language. He say the groping wasn't sexual and involved tickling and wrestling.
Let's recap here: Republican Larry "wide stance" Craig can get arrested for soliciting public sex from another man and remain in the Senate, David Vitter can be exposed as a diaper wearing deviant prostitution customer and remain in the Senate but Massa can't have a bit of fun with staffers? It's all really inappropriate but Massa's claims that the White House brought him down so they can pass health insurance reform brings a new angle to this scandal.
I don't care if Eric Massa is gay. If he chooses to be in the closet that's his business as long as he doesn't vote against the gay community on legislation. I know lots of closeted legislators and unless they betray the community they don't deserve to be outed. Stabbing someone in the back in order to pass some piece of legislation though is a sin in my book. Did Rahm Emmanuel come after Eric Massa because he was a no vote? I'm not sure how that can be either proven or disproven. Rahm is someone fully capable of such an action and his conduct as Obama's Chief of Staff is no different as his conduct in the House and with the DCCC.
To Eric Massa's credit he admitted his behavior, whether sexual or not, was inappropriate. Now it is Rahm's turn. I wish Eric Massa well, especially with the recurrence of his cancer. He has more important issues with which to wrestle than Rahm.
Update: The Messa is more complicated than I thought. Eric Massa seems to have a history of sexually groping other men. Perhaps this explains he comment that doubters can check with the 10,000 Navy seamen with whom he served. It seem sthat if 10,000 Navy seamen have intimate knowledge of Eric Massa's sexuality then that answers the question for us. I doubt we need to probe any deeper into that part of the issue. I must take my hat off to Mr. Massa though, 10,000 is a lot of seamen. (double entendres are intentional)
Massa seems to have a penchant for retaliation against anyone who disparages his character. This would explain his accusation against Rahm Emmanuel. In the Navy his subordinates to whom he attempted to "go snorkeling" were afraid to report him because they worried about retaliation. In a lawsuit filed against him by a former campaign manager who sued for back pay Massa seems to have transferred his own transgressions onto his foe. That is always to disturbing to witness and indicates possible unbalance.
The bottom line is that Eric Massa's conduct has been questionable in the least, perhaps criminal in the worst case (for him). Worse his retaliation against anyone who questions his integrity tells us much about his lack of character. The right wing ought to be very careful before making Eric Massa its poster boy for attacking Rahm. History tells us he isn't to be believed. |
