PrintMarch 8, 2010
Rep. Massa and the Chicago Boys (updated)
Last week, when Rep. Eric Massa announced he was not running for re-election, I wondered if it was only a coincidence that he had earlier announced he would not vote for the Senate version of Obamacare.
Now, there is a report that Massa claims he was framed by his party because he voted against Obamacare.
Roll Call reports this morning that on the local radio show he hosts in his district, Massa said he had not been informed of the sexual harassment allegations before they became public. He claimed that Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., spoke falsely when he said he had brought the matter to him previously, Massa said. "Steny Hoyer has never said a single word to me, at all, ever, not once," Massa said. "Not a word. This is a lie. It's a blatant, false statement." [...]
Massa, who voted against health care reform in November, accused Democratic leaders of driving him out of office in the cause of passing health care reform. "With the departure of Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D), who is running for the governorship of Hawaii, and with the tragic and very sad passing of my personal friend Jack Murtha (D-Pa.), mine is now the deciding vote on the health care bill and this administration and this House leadership have said, quote-unquote, they will stop at nothing to pass this health care bill. And now they've gotten rid of me and it will pass. You connect the dots."
Hat tip: Jammiewearingfool
Update from Thomas Lifson:
There is a lot of compelling audio of Massa, who even hints that he not submit his resignation if the bullying of him becomes a national issue. Rush Limbaugh is broadcasting the audio, and that alone is enough to propel the story into the national conversation. Massa makes the case he was bullied out of office because he stood in the way of healthcare reform.
"Rahm Emanuel is son of the devil's spawn. He is an individual who would sell his mother to get a vote. He would strap his children to the front end of a steam locomotive." More here.
"When I voted against the cap and trade bill, the phone rang and it was the chief of staff to the president of the United States of America, Rahm Emanuel, and he started swearing at me in terms and words that I hadn't heard since that crossing the line ceremony on the USS New Jersey in 1983." More highlights of the appearance here.
Hotline's summary of Massa's messages.
This is a Democrat denouncing the Chicago political thuggery being practiced against him. Obama's image takes another hit, as healthcare at any cost becomes the order of the day.
