How Much Of The Massa Coverage Is Infected By Homophobia?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I am not getting into his politics or his role in health care reform but it seems much of the coverage surrounds titillating tidbits about his personal life. If Massa liked to give massages to women would there still be such a fuss? Ditto for his boorish attempts at sexual banter.

It seems the press is making fun of Massa's sexual orientation or alleged sexual orientation and not Massa himself.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

1. If a congressman was accused of sexually harassing women, I feel that the media would not be making

a joke of it. It seems there is nothing funny about sexual harassment, unless it's a man being harassed. I'm not sure how much of that stems from the idea that men are not supposed to be the victims of sexual harassment and how much stems from homophobia. I suspect it's both as I can imagine that if a woman sexually harassed a man, that would be a joke to a lot of people too.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. I'm Hearing Lots Of Sailor Jokes

~

[dkf]

5. Agree.

He wouldn't be making jokes about tickle fights if it were a woman as that would obviously be wrong.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. From the GOP pov, probably ALL of it..

From "our" side.... hard to say. There's a lot to sort thru there in a short amount of time. Massa himself has complicated things by shifting accounts and globally 'outside of the box' behavior.

It's a shame about that seat, though. That was hard to come by.

[DrDan]

4. well - we certainly had plenty of coverage of Vitter, Eliot Spitzer,

even the Ted Kennedy coverage (and jokes) continued for decades.

and let's face it . . . Massa is feeding the media.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Not Homophobia As Much As Voueyrism...

The corporate media is obsessed with sex...the ultimate taboo in this society. It's as if there's a hint of a sex scandal they're drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Doesn't necessarily matter if its same sex or not, just the word "sex" is all it takes, then off we go. Once a scandal is uncovered, then our "beloved" corporate media feels its their right to know every scurilous detail in excruciating detail...and if the perpetrator doesn't fess up, then they're obviously guilty.

I do see homophobia in action after the first round of "outrage" flows...when they want the specifics. Then, if its the live boy/dead girl scenario...it just adds to the piling on. Massa's eratic behavior is what's pushing this story and the questions about his sexual orientation and the corporate media is right there to pound on it.

[Bitwit1234]

7. I find the fact that they are bringing Pelosi in this very offensive

Back when Mark Foley was outed for attempting to solicit the pages who served in his office there was proof given that Hassert was told almost a whole YEAR BEFORE the news broke to the public. That he and his staff covered it up. Really truly covered it up. Now because someone said that Nancy Pelosi was supposed to have found out about this several months before the news broke she is being screamed at and the republicans want her to resign.

Again we sure as heck have two sets of rules in congress. If you are a republican oh heck just push it to the back burner. But if you are a democrat and there is any way in the world, even if it isn't true, that you can put it on the democrat than whine and moan get them to resign.

[stray cat]

8. Sexual orientation doesn't affect gropeing staff

[old mark]

9. I think most of the Massa coverage derives from himself, and the media's

desire for constant spectacle at the expense of substance. He is an almost perfect TV subject - splashy, with little real importance, will be forgotten in a month or so, then on to the next one.

How many in media are still excited about Rangel or Foley?

mark