Massa vs Rahm: It felt like a Scott Brown moment

"Speaking on his local radio show on WKPQ-FM, [embattled NY Rep. Eric Massa] accused House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of lying and the Democratic Party of pushing him out of Congress over sexual harassment allegations in order to pass health care reform." (AP photo)

"Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.), the disgraced resigning congressman, is going down swinging and taking the news cycle with him," writes David Weigel at The Washington Independent. Prof. Jacobson, as usual, was ahead of the curve, urging his readers to call the beleagered congressman's office to beseech him not to resign. It felt like a Scott Brown moment, fraught with hope and horror as tea partiers like ourselves contemplated the possibility that the vote of one man — this time a Blue Dog Democrat instead of a moderate Republican — might have the power to stop the Obama machine's relentless power grab for control of 17 percent of the nation's economy:

Eric Massa (D-NY) is set to resign today. If he has not yet tendered his resignation, he should not do so. At least not if he is being forced out because of his health care vote, which is what he alleged over the weekend in a radio interview, as reported by Hotline On Call:

Massa maintained his comments were inappropriate, but he blamed "political correcctness" and accused Dems of a setup. Massa voted against health care legislation in Nov., and he has not been a reliable vote for Dem leadership. That, he said, has put a target on his back.

"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 …"

The story's got legs! Fox News is all over it mid-afternoon. Sampling of Drudge links, above left: Embattled Dem Congressman: I was pushed out for Healthcare! 'They knew I would vote no so they got rid of me and now it will pass,' Update: Will resign Monday as planned, Audio, Audio edits, Lashes out in emotional radio appearance, Naked showdown in gym showers.

We watched the buzz crescendo on twitter all morning, and now it's taken on a life of its own, as we just twittered:

ALL MASSA ALL RED ALERT ABOVE THE FOLD at Drudge Report. "I was pushed out for health care!" Hints he could rescind resignation. Rahm's last stand.

Reports of Massa's political death may have been greatly exaggerated. Chief of Staff Emanuel has become a "lightning rod for Obama administration criticism" of late. The kiss of death in reverse?

Update: Afternoon buzz on Twitter from Glenn Beck:

Tomorrow at five: congressman Massa for the full hour. I just spoke with him off air. All Americans need To hear him. Exclusive 2morrow fox

Sounds like maybe the Congressman decided to take Prof. Jacobson's advice and stand his ground.

Update II: Manhood-a-Manhood in the shower:

Do you know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man?

Update III: Another thought, twittered in the wake of breaking news that Massa will indeed go through with his previously announced resignation:

Whether or not Eric Massa resigns, he's pulled back the curtain for all to see & shifted news focus from HCR to Obama's Chicago-style tactics.

Comments

[Gayle Miller]

From all indications (behavior, attitude, etc.) Rahm Emanuel has very little of which to brag! If ever there was a human male with a Napoleon complex - that's the one. Ditto Axelrod. Dr. Utopia's house of cards is beginning to avalanche or landslide into the ocean!

And of course, it's all George W. Bush's fault!

[goomp]

Let us have Change. Change in the character of our politicians. Honest people who represent and stand by what the founders of this great country laid out in the Constitution. We don't want people indebted to special interest groups who bribe to get votes

[Gayle Miller]

Wouldn't that be a breath of fresh air?!