Massa: stepping down. They say it's good news for health reform.

[The Backlash Cometh]

I don't know anything about this guy, but, I wish all elected officials would just leave in the same manner if they're guilty.


Massa resigns under ethics cloud
LAURIE KELLMAN
From Associated Press
March 05, 2010 7:47 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — New York Democratic Rep. Eric Massa, facing a harassment complaint by a male staffer, said Friday that he is stepping down from his seat with "a profound sense of failure."

"I am guilty," Massa told his House and campaign staff in a conference call Friday, according to a participant.

Later in the day, Massa released a statement saying that after learning he had a recurrence of cancer, he learned he was the subject of an ethics complaint by a male staffer who felt "uncomfortable" during an exchange with Massa. The exchange reportedly had sexual overtones.

"I will resign my position," Massa said in the statement.

"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 added. "In fact, there is no doubt that this ethics issue is my fault and mine alone."

http://enews.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20100305/5ce0d32d-2b8d-4bd6-8e0f-9fb407121404

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

1. He was a "No" vote on Healthcare reform

Bart Stupak just lost one of his buddies.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. The article points out that it's good news for Nancy Pelosi.

[DURHAM D]

12. Please see post #9 below. I put it in the wrong place. nt

[cutlassmama]

3. then it's a good thing he's leaving. Too bad about the cancer though

[DURHAM D]

7. I assume you are aware that Massa was/is against the bill because -

he was a hold out for single payer.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

10. If I remember my parliamentary procedure....

Your options when voting are "No" and "Yes"

You don't get half points for being wrong for all the right reasons.

[DURHAM D]

14. Why not.? Most everyone at DU was against the reform bill before

they were for it.

[AllentownJake]

6. Stupak voted for the bill

and Massa is ardently pro-choice

:shrug:

[Warpy]

4. While he's not much of a loss to any of us

I have a great deal of sympathy for any former sailor who is being investigated for cussing like a sailor.

Shoot, I once made a longshoreman blush.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

11. Oh Dear God, That Was YOU?!

:blush:

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. LOL!

[inna]

20. "he's not much of a loss to any of us" - Please speak for yourself.

Many of us consider this a great loss.

Massa was one of the few progressives in Congress.

[napi21]

5. I can't imagine what he could have said that made a CPO feel

uncomfortable. My son was in the Navy for 16 years & my BIL was in the Marines for 24 yrs, and I can't even guess anything that anyoe could say, short of direct criticism which makes everyone uncomfortable. Last night someoe mentioned salty language. Where do you think that term came from???? The NAVY!!!!

[bluestateguy]

8. Now we just have to kick Kucinich and Artur Davis to the curb and then we only need 215

Kucinich is like a 17 year old hippie from the 60's who never grew up and seems to be an intractable no, while Artur Davis represents the only safe blue district in Alabama. He thinks that voting no will impress white conservatives so he can get elected governor this November. Fat chance.

[tmyers09]

16. You have to be being sarcastic about the first one.

[DURHAM D]

9. That depends on whether or not you like the current bill.

Massa voted against it because he held out for single payer. It was a protest vote. I would think most DUers would appreciate that stance. Seems like they are a little too glad (WH, Pelosi, Hoyer) that he is out of the way.

Edit - This is in the wrong place. I meant to respond to post #2.

[gateley]

13. I heard that they were considering him a 'possible' yes, because even though

he had been holding out for single payer, they felt they could lure him with the changes they are implementing. :shrug:

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. Eric was never afraid to stand up for the people against powerful interests

He was a single payer advocate. He pushed for withdrawal from Iraq. He boldly took on Dick Cheney for all of his outrageous anti-Obama statements when most every other Democrat was still staying silent. This is all just very sad. It is not good news for any of us when a man like Eric Massa leaves Congress. He was fearless and tireless and no one could buy him. He won election in a Republican district because he was so passionate about fighting for regular Americans. Eric Massa was never in the pocket of corporate America, he refused to accept their political donations when he ran for Congress.

[inna]

22. +1,000. Thank you.

Massa was one of the few progressives in Congress; I would not be surprised at all if he was "blacklisted".

[OregonBlue]

17. I don't think this is good for Pelosi. He would have ultimately voted Yea even though he's

pro-choice and pro public option, he would have voted yes. I'm sorry to see him go. He was a real Dem.

[laughingliberal]

18. Sad. nt

[inna]

21. BAD news for health care reform, good news for Insurance Profits Protection Act.

[kudzu22]

23. +1 he was forced out by Rahm for voting no

Rahm should be the one forced out. That guy is cancer.