Larry King: Are You Gay? Congressman Massa "I'm Not Gonna Answer That!"

[democracy1st]

Run time: 04:01 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2k7OSwKaAA   Posted on YouTube: March 10, 2010 By YouTube Member: MoxNewsDotCom Views on YouTube: 2972   Posted on DU: March 10, 2010 By DU Member: democracy1st Views on DU: 4986

 
http://MOXNews.com/
March 09, 2010 News Corp


Erick Massa disappoints Beck here's the interview skip forward 5min
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVSIt-CIWyM

[tishaLA]

1. Well that was ...something

Massa is more confounding outside of congress than he was in it.

[Go2Peace]

9. I haven't kept up on everything with this. But what was wrong with that interview?

If you are suspect I think you are carrying a bias. I thought that was a reasonable answer. People like to use the "G" word (Gay) as a slander and he refused the question. Then I thought the rest of this clip was reasonable?

[Mithreal]

13. Rahm is making himself part of the story again, this is making waves

Unless one of the bashers can explain otherwise I have no choice other than to believe what my instinct tells me. You don't cross Rahm Emanuel and you certainly don't speak openly about his harassment.

[mzmolly]

83. I think the fact that Massa has had "several" reasons for his retirement

as well as "several" accusers over the years suggests the instinct of some may be tainted in this case?

[Mithreal]

86. a possibility

[tishaLA]

20. I'm mostly neutral on Massa. Do I think Rahm can be a prick? Yes

Do I think Massa may have undermined his own credibility several times over by telling conflicting stories about why he was leaving congress? Yes. Do I care whether he is gay? No. Do I answer my own questions like Don Rumsfeld? Yes.

[Mithreal]

22. Me too, mostly neutral.

More interested in understanding why some need to bash him.

+1 for the Rumsfeld impression.

[whathehell]

42. The issue seems less about whether he is gay than

about whether he is closeted and whether or not he was sexually harassing.

[Mithreal]

62. JS - "I'm not saying your mother's a whore.

I'm just saying she has sex for money. With people."

[whathehell]

87. If THAT is what you think I'm saying

you are being defensive to the point of paranoia.

Unless, of course, you think the closet is a healthy abode and sexual harassment only sucks when straight people do it.

Double standard much?

[Bitwit1234]

43. What's wrong with being gay.

The more a person protests the more they usually are. And when someone keeps denying it over and over it shows what low character they are.

[axollot]

51. Nothing wrong with being gay but if the harassment charges are true -

and we dont really know what all they are then *that* is a concern. And I care not one wit whether he harassed a man or a woman. Just concerned about the behaviour. I think he has held himself up well, answered the questions very well on King and made Beckkk look like an even bigger tool than he is when he brought up the biggest problem in government - the $$$.
Saw a clip when Massa was doing the rounds for his campaign, he was so proud to be meeting with Rahm and Rahm wasnt mean to him, firm but not mean. The focus tho? $$$. 200g a day I think Rahm said Massa had to have to win. That's a lot of dough.
Then in another clip he was in a van with Cleland and as soon as Massa brought up Rahm's name, Max (I think it was him) said what I was thinking - FUCK RAHM!! But Massa seemed to have a lot of respect for how Rahm had guided him thus far. So I do believe there have been some major problems going back and forth for him and with his health, I hope Massa is able to enjoy time with his family again.

Cheers
/rant off
Sandy

[Drunken Irishman]

2. I thought he was going away? Why won't he go away? GO THE FUCK AWAY.

[xchrom]

3. -1

[Mithreal]

4. -1

[Drunken Irishman]

7. x2/3+4=

[Mithreal]

10. .

Normally would laugh at something like that, but really not into reinforcing the idea of shitting on this guy.

[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mithreal]

55. whatever floats your boat

[Historic NY]

5. Something is wrong with this guy, he has a lots of issues outside congress..

prehaps its good he is gone after one term.

[Mithreal]

6. Character assassination your thing? Or are you just concerned for his health?

[Drunken Irishman]

8. Sounds like character suicide to me...

[Mithreal]

11. Must be some reason why you need to get your kicks in on this man?

Explain please.

[Drunken Irishman]

14. Yes. Because he's saying it's a plot by the Obama administration.

He sounds like a raving loon who can't own up to his own mistakes.

[Mithreal]

17. Do you or do you not know how Rahm Emanuel operates?

Actually, if you listened, sounds like he did own up to his "mistakes."

[Drunken Irishman]

19. I do not believe the Obama administration leaked these allegations because he was a no-vote.

[Mithreal]

21. Fair enough, but doesn't explain why you needed to get your kicks in.

[Go2Peace]

24. It's bizzarre isn't it? Character assasination is sooo 2003.

I had hoped our side would be more into using logic and discussion to counter arguments?

[Mithreal]

25. Hard to believe if I want to know what some DU'ers are thinking

I need to go watch a Glenn Beck clip.

Those people getting their kicks on Massa, not gonna forget they essentially forced me to watch Beck. Checking it out now.

[Go2Peace]

26. I don't understand why he did that. It's stupid. But not sure I should retaliate "just because"

like folks here seem to think. And I have a hard time not taking into account that the guy has cancer. I mean we are human and someone who is fighting a terminal illness could end up getting overwhelmed even to the point of making mistakes?
I guess I cut folks some slack in that situation unless they are like killing people or something. I would rather keep some humanity. Everything in life is not about politics.

[Mithreal]

30. Absolutely. Dignity, humanity, love, especially someone in these circumstances.

I think that is at the heart of what it means to be a Progressive, even though I have been reminded all too many times there are many types of Progressives.

[Go2Peace]

35. It's discouraging sometimes

One expects Authoritarians like Republicans to act as they do, but when you see it spreading into the supposedly liberal side of the country it really makes one take pause and wonder if we are going to be able to make our way out of this shit?

[Mithreal]

36. We just haven't made a persuasive enough case for justice, peace, and love

Anger and fear are relatively easy to sell in comparison.

There's the temporary shit in our lifetime and the overall existential threat to us as a species. I just don't know either.

[Go2Peace]

39. Or we are facing new science of propaganda more powerful than ever before

and that science has caught many off guard it is plunging the country into a regressive dark age.... Time will tell.

[Drunken Irishman]

28. I didn't watch Beck. Wouldn't watch Beck ever. I think it was ridiculous he went on Beck.

His sole purpose was to embarrass Obama. If I'm forced to choose sides, I will go with Obama on this one. He, in my book, is no different than the other Republicans out there who lie about the president on Beck.

[Go2Peace]

31. I agree, but I also think it is ridiculous that you trash a man with cancer too

have a little humanity. If you don't like it dismiss him. But really, you aren't hurting him here, but what are you doing to yourself?

[Drunken Irishman]

32. Well I'm sorry. It's horrible that he has cancer...

However, it would be the same if it were a Republican. I think what he's doing is very spiteful and his purpose is to harm the president. He said he was going away to deal with his cancer. I hope he does. I hope he battles and wins it, but that he just goes away.

[onpatrol98]

46. Hurt The President

I don't think he can hurt the president. I mean...Mr. Obama is "the" president. Not some 98 pound weakling that we have to protect at every turn. He was an aggressive campaigner, a shrewd politician, whose arrival in Washington was highly orchestrated by him. I feel like Massa is a man that has become expendable. He's giving a last shriek on his way out of the door.

I like to think of the president...of any president, as a strong leader. I just didn't like following some of them. Like you, I'll be glad to see the end of these interviews with Massa.

[Mithreal]

54. "like to think" - I like to think a lot of things too

minimalizing others, especially those who have been accused of speaking truth to power is fun, am I right

[smoogatz]

48. Is it actually established that his cancer is recurring?

Not sure that's the case. That was story #1. Story #2 was "Rahm is mean." Story #3 is the tickle fight, which is pretty much the equivalent of "I have a wide stance," except at least Larry Craig's thing was consensual. What I dislike about what Massa's doing is that instead of owning up to what at least appears to be going on, he's trying desperately to rescue his public identity while throwing anyone he can think of under the bus. The guy should take responsibility and move on. When in hole, stop digging.

[Mithreal]

56. Actually don't see this as damage control at all. Spin away.

Actually I take that back. This is about controlling damage to the image of this presidency.

[smoogatz]

60. I'm not spinning anything.

I'm just saying I've seen this pattern before. It's not a smear if the charges are true, and bit by bit, Massa's admitting that in fact, they are. Yesterday it was banter at a wedding reception, today it's a "tickle fight" and incriminating text messages. Message creep is never a good sign in these cases--it usually means the person accused of misconduct is trying to manufacture a story on the fly. And y'all are delusional if you think Massa's somehow the pivotal HCR vote--his story doesn't hold up from that perspective, either. Nor does the cancer story, which he's no longer repeating--in the Beck interview, he said he resigned because he's made his staffers "uncomfortable." Now, I know that for some DUers the "White House is evil" thing fits into your pre-fabricated narratives, but in this case I guess I'd like to see the evidence before I take Massa's already very compromised word for it.

[Mithreal]

64. Stick with your story. Who uses "message creep" other than a marketer or wannabe?

I know, it's because you are knowledgeable and intelligent, ok.

[smoogatz]

66. Translation:

You got nothin'. Goes without saying.

[Mithreal]

69. I'll let you wallow in your mud.

[madmom]

52. What about the people (yes on the board) who went after Elizabeth Edwards just because she

stayed with her husband? I found that more inhumane than the people questioning Massa.

[Mithreal]

33. Except when they are not lies. Massa isn't a Republican.

There are DU'ers here who know this guy personally and have shared what they know about him. He is someone who tells it like it is and doesn't go along to get along. Based on what I have read from these other DU'er posts, I give Massa benefit of the doubt. Massa is not your sort of team player. I get that.

[Drunken Irishman]

37. I don't give him the benefit of the doubt.

So there you go. You wanted to know why I don't like him and there you have it. I think he's only trying to deflect from his wrong by sliming Obama. Fuck that.

[Mithreal]

38. Certainly you're entitled.

"his wrong" is a lil weak and it seems more like he is exposing himself than doing any kind of damage control.

Actually I knew you didn't like him and there is no evidence he is deflecting. The allegations are weak too.

The visceral feelings though are quite intriguing. I have my suspicions that they come from some sort of ultra-alignment with the President, where perceived insults to the President are taken as personal attacks. Not knocking what is going on, it seems like a natural human type of bonding. This probably has nothing to do with you, just thinking aloud, really. I am pretty careful how I pick my teams, so I don't get pegged as a team player very often. Massa, as DU'ers have described him, is more like people I am intimately familiar, ass kicking truth seekers, speak truth to power types. Believe me, it is a difficult path to walk, not very popular at all.

[Drunken Irishman]

41. At least we agree his allegations toward the President are weak.

[Mithreal]

53. actually was referring to allegations against Massa

[Drunken Irishman]

27. Because I think he's lying.

[Mithreal]

34. Across the board or only on those points you found hurtful to the President?

Imagine what DU would look like if discussion just came down to calling the other a liar.

[smoogatz]

49. It certainly looks like he's trying to deflect the blame

or at least muddy the waters as best he can, when in fact the issue is not what Rahm said or did, but Massa's alleged inappropriate and possibly criminal behavior. Now he's saying that there are incriminating text messages, but we should ignore that because it was just banter. Hence the reference to Foley, evidently. The pattern's just too, too familiar by now: congressman gets caught doing weird, inappropriate sexual shit. Shortly before the story breaks, congressman preemptively issues statement about his health. Congressman blames victim, and/or media, and/or police, and/or whoever happens to be standing close by. Further incriminating/embarrassing details are revealed. Congressman tries to minimize his bad behavior; suggests conspiracy is afoot: people are out to get him, because he's so tough on _______. Still to come: congressman appears in tearful confessional press conference with spouse in tow. Spouse vows to stand by her man (meanwhile negotiations are under way to transfer all marital property to her name). Congressman resigns, if he hasn't already, in order to spend more time with family--despite the fact that they now loathe him. Congressman snags lucrative lobbying gig. The end.

[Mithreal]

57. Yes, I am sure that's it. Rahm is noble, Progressives are "fucking retards."

None so blind as those who refuse to see.

[smoogatz]

61. And that relates to Massa's tickle fight how, again?

Rahm hates me, and that made me grope my male staffers? Makes perfect sense.

[Mithreal]

65. groping, stay on message

[smoogatz]

67. He ADMITS it.

It's not my message--it's Massa's. Man, you're SO determined to make this thing fit your narrative. Must be driving you a little crazy that Rahm isn't actually the culprit.

[Mithreal]

70. Focus.

[girl gone mad]

40. It sure looks like they threatened to.

A lot of arm twisting going on right now. DeLay had nothing on Rahm.

[provis99]

23. well it is a plot by Rahm "Shank in the Back" Emmanuel.

several other liberal democrats are on his target list to, with George Miller probably being at the top.

[Historic NY]

12. Then why quit?

[Mithreal]

15. Did you even listen?

I am not trying to take you to the mat, necessarily, but come on.

[Historic NY]

16. Yeah Rahm peed in his coffee...

http://trueslant.com/level/2010/03/09/report-eric-massa-groped-male-staffers-glenn-beck-schedulers-need-some-tums/

[Mithreal]

18. A link with references to Michelle Malkin and Glenn Beck?

How do you live with yourself? Don't send me to a story that is full of them, just won't read.

[Bitwit1234]

44. Malkin is without a doubt the most dispicible piece of dung

to ever hit this planet. She tries to pretend she is something, but I haven't heard a truthful word out of her yet.

[Mithreal]

59. You said it.

[Go2Peace]

29. well

walks like a duck and links like a duck?

[southernyankeebelle]

47. I only heard pieces. What is his beef what healthcare?

[smoogatz]

50. Seems like a fair question, at this point.

Why not answer it? I suspect it's because Massa doesn't actually know the answer, or does and is in deep denial. In any case, who the fuck has tickle fights with employees of either gender? Hard to think of anything more inappropriate. From the employee's perspective (again of either gender)--ew, motherfucker. Get the fuck off me.

[Mithreal]

58. What is your malfunction? So, "progressives" are going to encourage

that McCarthy style question?

Try being a real human being for a change.

[smoogatz]

63. Why do you want to make this personal?

Do you have tickle fights with your employees? Do you consider such behavior appropriate? Massa says it's okay because he engaged in sexualized play with men in the Navy. Would you agree that that's a reasonable excuse for a fifty-year-old congressman who's engaged in unwanted sexualized "play" with his employees?

[Mithreal]

68. I'll be honest and tell you why I might take it personal, not saying I am btw

I think that there are any number of ways to make normal human experience look foolish or worse.

If you are going to kick people when they are down, let's say you were doing it on the street and I saw it. I would at least pull you off that person, but if you fought me back after that, I would probably respond in kind. It's my malfunction, I have had to live with it.

Folks that speak truth to power should never be taken seriously either.

[smoogatz]

71. Oh, please.

You're defending Massa, a guy who at BEST has inappropriately hit on, groped and humiliated his staffers while manufacturing stories about his health and his place in the legislative universe in order to muddy the waters. You're not doing it because he's down--if he was a Republican and this scandal was breaking you'd be ripping him for a liar and a hypocrite. You're defending him because his claim that the Evil Overload Rahm made him do bad things fits your little pre-fab narrative about the Corporatist Obama White House. Come on--man up. Admit it.

[Mithreal]

72. I'll admit I have a bias. You, of course, don't.

[smoogatz]

73. My bias is actually with those in congress who support the public option.

But it sure looks to me as though Massa's using that as a smokescreen to try to win the sympathy of credulous souls like yourself. I could be wrong, of course--but so far this thing has played out pretty much to form. It's "wide stance" all over again, except that unlike Larry Craig, Massa was preying on unwilling subordinates.

[Mithreal]

74. Yes, preying and wide stance. Stick with that.

It's offensive to the extreme for a fellow DU'er to push that bullshit. Live with yourself.

[smoogatz]

75. It's offensive to you, you mean.

To me what's offensive is Massa's behavior--illegally and unethically harassing subordinates, and than making up some big, goofy conspiracy story that paints him as both hero and victim in a lame attempt to shift the blame. You should be ashamed for defending this shit, regardless of party or politics.

[Mithreal]

76. I'll wait for more of the story to come out

but you seem immune to looking in the mirror.

[smoogatz]

77. I'll stand my credentials as a progressive up against anyone here.

I've been actively engaged in progressive politics since the 1970s, locally, regionally and nationally. I protested the Vietnam war when I was in junior high, and ran from the cops when they came to tear-gas and beat us. I don't need to be lectured on how to comport myself as a progressive by you or anybody else. But I've also been around long enough to know a bullshit story when I hear one. You have not, apparently.

[Mithreal]

78. There are many types of progressives. I am sure you can pass a test for sanity too.

Your heart though



It must be that you have seen more.

Maybe you are righteous, but if you can't understand you are smearing someone I have little else to say, but drag this out some more.

[smoogatz]

79. "Smear" doesn't mean what you think it means.

There's no smear if the charges are true. He's obviously lying, and probably pathological. But yeah, you've clearly got your hobby-horse to ride, so happy trails.

[Mithreal]

80. Obviously. You are a worthy adversary to bounce ideas off.

See you later on the trails. I really mean you no harm.

[smoogatz]

81. If that's the case,

then you probably ought to keep the personal attacks and insinuations to yourself. They are offensive.

[Mithreal]

82. I am not against holding up mirrors and pushing back hard.

Offensiveness is not the worst "sin" either.

We'll live.

[smoogatz]

84. I think that earns you big fat "ignore."

Hasta con queso, dude.

[Mithreal]

85. Thanks, considering your McCarthy style that started this

I relish your ignore.