TPMDC
Rep. Eric Massa Says He Won't Seek Re-Election In 'Final Phase' Of His Life
Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)
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Rep. Eric Massa told reporters today that as he enters the "final phase" of his life he will not seek reelection to Congress, adding a rebuke to the press. Massa said charges of sexual harassment being publicized by blogs are "unsubstantiated" and are an example of what's wrong with Washington.
"I do not have the life's energy to fight all the battles all the time. I will now enter the final phase of my life at a more controlled pace," Massa (D-NY) told reporters on a hastily arranged conference call. "I'm a very salty guy, a very direct guy and I run at about 100 miles an hour."
He said that after being briefly hospitalized due to his third major cancer scare in December his doctors "made clear" he couldn't keep up his current pace of work.
He said the reports of harassment by a male staffer are "unsubstantiated without fact or backing" and "are a symptom of what's wrong with this city." He said Washington is filled with "intense partisanship without rational thought."
"Do I or have I ever used salty language especially when I'm angry, in the privacy of my inner office or at home? Yes I have and I've apologized where it's appropriate," Massa said.
Massa said it's "only fair and right" he announce that he will not seek reelection now so that others can jump into the race. He read the brief statement and did not take questions.
Late Update: TPMDC's Brian Beutler waited outside Massa's office to try to get more information. Massa flatly denied the allegations, saying he's a "salty old sailor [and] that's that."
Additional reporting by Evan McMorris-Santoro
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EnnuiDivine
March 3, 2010 4:22 PM
I'm not holding my breath for a correction from Politico.
They've become a slightly more polished version of Drudge.
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barbara63
March 3, 2010 4:47 PM in reply to EnnuiDivine
It doesn't help that TPM has a front page item referring to this story as "Getting Strange." What's getting stranger and stranger is TPM's addiction to pushing Republican talking points.
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nomad28
March 3, 2010 4:56 PM
Pervert... If this guy was a Republican, you libs would have a field day with these allegations... If his doctors told him in Dec that he needs to slow down, why is he "hastily" retiring now?
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ogliberal
March 3, 2010 5:05 PM in reply to nomad28
It's more likely that he called a gay staffer (or a staffer he thought was gay) a "mary" or "sissy" or "fag". Stuff like that might have been OK in the Navy or in LBJ's Senate office back in the 50s but it's not appropriate in a congressional office today. (nor should it have ever been) Of course, if that is the case then I would expect all right wingers to run to Massa's side against these silly PC-fueld charges.
Or he could have a Mark Foley/Larry Craig problem.
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ogliberal
March 3, 2010 5:14 PM in reply to ogliberal
A commenter on the other thread noted that Massa simply dropping the F-bomb on a daily basis would be enough to at least file a sex harassment charge - the staffer needn't be female or gay. I shouldn't have went with the gay angle without knowing any details.
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Lucieann
March 3, 2010 5:26 PM
I pray that Rep. Massa will be okay and will find solace in his decision.
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Capers
March 3, 2010 6:51 PM
This is a case of sexual harassment. Massa's official statement makes that very clear.
In his statement Massa did not say he had had a recurrence of cancer. He said he had had a cancer scare. Two totally different things. Cancer is cancer. A cancer scare is not cancer.
In his statement Massa did not say his doctor(s) recommended retirement. He said his doctors recommended a less salty lifestyle.
In his statement Massa said the accusations of sexual harassment were due to his "salty" nature.
Massa has confirmed the Politico story in his statement. Pure non-denial denial.
Statement:
“This last December, I underwent my third major cancer reoccurrence scare. I was briefly hospitalized and kept it private between myself and my immediate family. It was a very intense and personal experience, especially with my having gone through this before. I’m a very salty guy. I’m a very direct guy, and I run at about 100 mph, and my doctors have made it clear to me that I can no longer do that. It is therefore only fair and right that I announce today that I will not seek re-election to this office, and I’m making this announcement early so that others may consider a run, should they decide to do so.
“Now, there are blogs who are saying I am leaving because there were charges of harassment against my staff. Do I, or have I ever used salty language when I’m angry, especially in the privacy of my inner office or even at home? Yes, I have, and I have apologized to those where it’s appropriate. But those kinds of article, unsubstantiated without fact or backing, are a symptom of what’s wrong with this city, and it’s why so many have looked at the absolute gridlock in Washington, the intense partisanship without rational thought, and decided, like I, I do not have the life energy to fight all the battles all the time.
“I will now enter a final phase of my life at a more controlled pace, and I’d like my constituents to know that I remain fully committed to helping the families of the 29th Congressional District. I leave you all as I have always left at press conferences – with my personal wishes of good health and God bless.”
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