Massa To Resign
Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) will resign Monday at 5pm, a source close to the embattled incumbent tells Hotline OnCall.
Massa has been pressured by House Dems to step aside amid an ethics controversy that caused him to announce earlier this week he would not run for a second term.
Earlier this week, the House ethics committee confirmed it was looking in to allegations against Massa. Those allegations reportedly include sexual harassment of a member of the Congressman's staff.
Massa's decision to retire came as a surprise to both parties. While he said his decision was based on a recurrence of cancer, the ethics committee investigation made Dems push him out the door.
In a statement posted on his website, Massa maintained his medical issues were his reason for stepping down, but for the first time he acknowledged the ethics committee investigation.
"After I decided not to run again I was told, for the first time, that a member of my staff believed I had made statements that made him feel 'uncomfortable.' I was told that a report had been filed with the Congressional Ethics Committee. At no point prior to this had any member of the Ethics Committee communicated with me directly - if [sic] fact I first read it on the internet," Massa said in the statement.
"In fact, there is no doubt that this Ethics issue is my fault and mine alone. But in the incredibly toxic atmosphere that is Washington D.C., with the destruction of our elected leaders having become a blood sport, especially in talk radio and on the internet, there is also no doubt that an Ethics investigation would tear my family and my staff apart," Massa said. "My difficulties are of my own making. Period."
Massa's resignation doesn't necessarily mean there will be a special, as state law doesn't require that Gov. David Paterson (D) call one. If he does choose to declare a special, he'll have to issue a proclamation setting the date of the election. The election will then be held between 30-40 days from the date of that proclamation.
If there is a special election, it would be the fifth such contest between now and Nov. There will be a 4/13 contest to replace Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), where Dems are strongly favored, and two May contested specials in HI and PA. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) plans to resign at the end of Mar., and a date has not yet been picked for an election to fill that heavily GOP seat.
Before the news of Massa's resignation hit today, candidates were already emerging for the open seat contest. The GOPer on the top of the party's wish list -- Monroe Co. Exec. Maggie Brooks (R) -- appears ready to make a decision within the week. If she doesn't run, there are a bevy of legislators ready to jump into the contest.
But Corning Mayor Tom Reed (R) has been in the race for months, and appears loathe to exit. (For more, check out our earlier coverage of the emerging GOP field)
On the Dem side, Massa's pick appears to be Hornell Mayor Shawn Hogan (D), but he has yet to decide on a bid. Assemb. David Koon (D), though, has told county chairs he'll run. And several other legislators are also taking a look at the contest.
A special would benefit GOPers, should Brooks -- with her considerable name ID in the CD's largest county -- get into the race. She should have the ability to raise a quick amount of money for the race as well. Reed has been a solid candidate, but his fundraising isn't particularly strong, and county chairs -- who would pick a nominee for a special election -- would surely favor Brooks over Reed.
After the jump, Massa's full statement.
Massa's full statement:
"Two days ago as I sat reading my new annual CAT scan, having been told that the anomalies in the films may or may not be scar tissue, I decided to finally take the advice that my doctors have repeatedly given me, and that is to take care of my family and myself before my profession. After I decided not to run again I was told, for the first time, that a member of my staff believed I had made statements that made him feel 'uncomfortable.' I was told that a report had been filed with the Congressional Ethics Committee. At no point prior to this had any member of the Ethics Committee communicated with me directly - if fact I first read it on the internet.
"I own this reality. 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. In fact, there is no doubt that this Ethics issue is my fault and mine alone. But in the incredibly toxic atmosphere that is Washington D.C., with the destruction of our elected leaders having become a blood sport, especially in talk radio and on the internet, there is also no doubt that an Ethics investigation would tear my family and my staff apart. Some would say that this is what happens when you stand apart from political parties, which I have done. Others will say that this is what happens to a non politician when they go to Washington DC. I want to make something perfectly clear. My difficulties are of my own making. Period. I am also aware that blogs and radio will have a field day with this in today's destructive and unforgiving political environment. In that investigators would be free to ask anything about me going back to my birth, I simply cannot rise to that level of perfection. God knows that I am a deeply flawed and imperfect person.
"During long car rides, in the early hours of the evening, late at night and always in private, I know that my own language failed to meet the standards that I set for all around me and myself. I fell short and I believe now, as I have always believed, that it is not enough to simply talk the talk, but rather I must take action to hold myself accountable.
"Therefore, effective at 5 PM on Monday the 8th of March I will resign my position as the Federal Representative of New York's 29th Congressional District in the 111th Congress. I do so with a profound sense of failure and a deep apology to all those whom, for the past year, I tried to represent as our Nation struggles with problems far greater than anyone can possibly imagine. I hope that my family, constituents, and fellow Members of Congress can accept this apology as being both genuine and heartfelt and I wish for them and all Americans only the best. I will take all actions possible to ensure that my personal health is secured in that I know that mine is a far more fragile lifeline than most. For the millions of fellow cancer survivors with whom I share this experience, they, more than anyone else, will understand the honesty and openness in this statement.
"I ask that members of the press respect the privacy of my family, my staff, and me at this time."
Well, Stretch Pelousy? How's that 0BowMao-care vote going NOW?! Hmmm? One less vote to count on for the Marxist takeover of every American's healthcare!
And it was a MALE member of his staff! A MAAAAN, baby!
Massa was a no vote on HCR.
Ironic isn't it? The person that is alledged to have committed sexual harrassment, is the one that is resigning while Pelosi who stated that her party that was to drain the swamp that is Congress has yet to demand that ANY democrat under a cloud resign or step down.
A delicious dichotomy, isn't it?
Timing is everything (and perhaps no small bit of kharma).
Yep, they keep Rangle close by since he is a yes but push out man crush because he was a no. I'd rather keep Massa who is chasing men around than keep Rangle who was working with tax law and HC. I can run faster than Massa.
The person that is alledged to have committed sexual harrassment, is the one that is resigning while Pelosi who stated that her party that was to drain the swamp that is Congress has yet to demand that ANY democrat under a cloud resign or step down.
The swap is draining, one resignation at a time.
Another one bites the ?????????
Massa did vote no on the original house bill - he voted against it because it lacked single payer.
Obama has been working on these far left members by promising that they can pass the public option, and other far left components thru reconciliation AFTER the original senate bill is signed into law.
I think the far left members (Massa, and Kucinich) will/would have ended up voting yes for the Senate bill. So overall this is most likely a loss for Pelosei.
If this guy was a sure yes vote, he could commit murder several times over and there would never be a word said by the socialists.
Now, let's see if we can figure out why they were pressuring him to go. I think I need Beck's pipe.
It's as good as a YES vote, because losing a member lowers the threshold for passage by one. That's why Nathan Deal (R-GA) decided not to resign as he had planned.
I have to go with the gepaza comment. The Dems haven't suddenly found a moral compass.
Massa was NO WAY a 'sure yes vote.'
Word has it that Rep. Massa, who's known to have a temper, verbally berated a junior staffer with a tirade of very explicit, curse-laden sailor-type insults.
His resignation actually makes it easier for Pelosi to get the votes to pass HCR.
LOL@comments.
Yes, it's "ironic" that a Dem caught in such a situation would resign. It's the Republican tradition to hold onto your position with a death grip. Do we really need to go down the list of righties involved in sex scandals in the last year that are still at their posts?
As for "one less vote for marxist health care!" Mass had voted against the bill. So, yeah. That's one less vote AGAINST it.
Clever of Nancy - she pressures a former "nay" to resign, so that now she only needs 216 to pass Obamacare, which is the same thing as swinging Massa from a "nay" to an "aye." Note that nobody is on record (yet) as switching to "aye" but this has the same effect. Now if she can just get 30 or so of the BlueDog "nays" to resign, she can offset the effect of the Stupak defections!
"Yes, it's "ironic" that a Dem caught in such a situation would resign. It's the Republican tradition to hold onto your position with a death grip. Do we really need to go down the list of righties involved in sex scandals in the last year that are still at their posts?"
You mean like Bill Clinton?
Now that the lefties (phinn) are responding that the righties did it all along, they are conveniently overlooking the fact that Nancy Pelosi has not drained the swamp, as she said the dems were going to do. It's the same old song and dance from the lefties...it's always the other that did it before, "so there!". Sure as there will be a tomorrow, they will find some way to blame this on Bush, Cheney, or Haliburton.
I guess the skipper got caught looking in the porthole.
It is time to replace them all,both sides of the fence.Washington is a cesspool of deviants,liars and privileged thieves.Every week another slime senator or congressman slithers out from beneath a rock.
Nice moral repubs who stayed put:
Senator david vitter-family values clown who prefers sex w hookers (plural) to sex w spouse
Senator larry craig-no explanation needed
Senator john ensign-sex w BF's wife. paid off hubby, mistress' kid, mistress...but hubby ratted him out anyway
Gov jim gibbons. too much to list. look up his most recent debacle w girlfriend hiding in airport.
Gov mark sanford-nut
look up the GA state speaker (who did resign) and his band new replacement for even more fun.
I could go on and on and on......
So....rudolfschmidt....why not go to the leader of the pack of nice moral leaders who stayed in office?? Who can ever forget that beacon of moral integrity, William J. Clinton, and his accomplice, the ever expanding Secretary of Stench, Hillary R. Clinton?
While Massa's resignation DOES lower the number for passage from 217 to 216, I think he was being counted on to flip from no to yes (he was supposedly one of those votes in Pelosi's "pocket"). In the end, it's a wash. They probably gave him a choice, flip or resign. If he flipped, conservative media types would be camping on his doorstep looking for further improprieties (which may exist, seeing as how a temper tantrum is generally not considered a resigning offense). He's got a family, they don't need that.
I just answered the previous inquiry.
Those who deserve ouster are those who present themselves as family-values bastions of morality; those voting to limit birth control, gay rights, abortion etc. and pushing their fundamentalist claptrap on the rest of the country.
It could go two ways. A guy says to another guy. wanna come see my etchings? Or, a boss says to a flunky, you misspell another effing word and I'll shove that pencil where the sun don't shine. Both may refer to similar actions, but there is a difference.
There is a poll taking the temperature of Senate term limits at tryamericafirst.com
So far,a huge majority wants to limit terms.
Perhaps we beat the ethics drum and the term limit drum at the same time. It would also be interesting to get both incumbents and wannabes on record saying why they support (or oppose - ha!) term limits.
Gee we will never get that Obey / Massa sponsored bill on the draft that was due to be releaseed after health reform.
I learned a lot here. Will you share more about it? We just want to know more.
Gezzz.... I am surprized nobody pointed out the most disgusting one of all...good Ole pageboy chaser, deviant, self-righteous, Barbie Franks...Hmmm Franks, weenies...Oh well, throw one out another one spouts up...Just like weeds..and was there not a "weed" scandal with good Ole Barney as well ?? What does it take to get rid of all the corruption ??? Rumor is that Obama is the one of the Antichrist's ...quick, look for the 666 behind one of his big ears
Yes, I agree with this topics.... As for "one less vote for marxist health care!" Mass had voted against the bill. So, yeah. That's one less vote AGAINST it.
Denta Smile MD
politics... is there anything worse? all corrupt
His Resignation actually turns the vote to the Doomedcrats favor now. Your best bet is to launch a investigation and see if the "Salty talk" from the President constituted intimidation. If it did, he can be impeached. (Which would be true divine comedy. First Black President, first impeached?)
Aside from that if you wish to stop Health care by the legal venues, then vote Republican in the 2010 election. If a 2/3 Majority is gained this thing can be repealed.
I make my own drums out of kitty litter tubs, and an old suitcase for kick-drum and cymbals made from pan lids. It sounds great!
I never knew how much stuff you could find on the internet on this! Thanks for making this all easy to take in
Massa To Resign - Hotline On Call
a title that says it all, thanks
There is obviously a lot to know about this.
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