Massa Backtracks: "I Wasn't Forced Out"

Updated: Disgraced former congressman Eric Massa sat down with Glenn Beck today and appeared to backtrack on his claims of Democratic dirty tricks.

Whenever Beck would try to push Massa to provide concrete examples of corruption, the best that he could get out of him were accusations of ‘whipping’ and threats that Democrats made not to support him with money for his reelection if he didn’t vote for healthcare.

Massa was once a Democrat. The Democratic Party has a platform. Part of that platform involves changing the current healthcare system to ‘increase access.’ President Obama is also a Democrat and has a bill in mind that he believes would help do this. Since Massa (was) a member of the legislature, party leadership will try to get Massa to vote in favor of their legislation. Sometimes, this may indeed mean getting some harsh comments from a man like Rahm Emmanuel.

Beck was largely correct in his assessment, what Massa is describing isn’t corruption, “it’s lobbying.” Whipping votes up isn’t corruption, it’s how a party tries to maintain discipline among its caucus.

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Glenn Beck's final thoughts: "We learned a lot I think, but I think we learned doesn't affect you at all."

Posted at 6:00pm

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From the Twittersphere:

@bdomenech: This should be a teachable moment for people who don't pay attention: most of your congressmen are insane. #massappeal

Posted at 5:59pm

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Massa says: "Everyone tells me you have to vote with the President because it is his first piece of legislation, but the President didn't vote for me!"

It's clear that this man is not a master politician.

Posted at 5:58pm

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Glenn Beck: "America I think I have wasted your time!"

Posted at 5:56pm

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Massa tries to claim that "You can be a progressive" and also be a part of the Tea Party. It's unclear what he is trying to do here, and Beck looks disappointed. He did not want generalities that equate party whips trying to round up votes with "corruption".

Posted at 5:54pm

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Beck finally says, "I don't want to be a defender of the White House... is there anything SPECIFIC that you have?"  Massa still can't point to any specific examples of Democratic leadership arm-twisting or bullying.  Massa finally tries to blame the House Whip for pressuring him to change his vote and likens it to bribery: "I don't know how to be specific... Its called Whipping!"

Massa can't seem to come up with any better examples.

Posted at 5:53pm

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More from the Twittersphere:

@jamisonfoser: Glenn Beck is getting a taste of what it's like to watch Glenn Beck. #p2 #massappeal

Posted at 5:49pm

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Best on Massa from the Twittersphere:

@samsteinhp: WE NEED MORE CHALKBOARD!

@TPCarney: Eric Massa is the new spokesman for campaign finance reform. Pass it on. #massappeal

Posted at 5:46pm

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Beck uses a questionable metaphor to explain why he wanted actual names from Massa.  Beck compares Massa to a fireman running out of the World Trade Center when its burning and telling bystanders to ask for better 911 service.

Beck: "People are asking if there is anything new to your charges."  Beck then shakes his head.  He wants examples of "specific arm twisting."

Posted at 5:41pm

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Massa resorts to empty slogans including "Show us where to throw the dirt" and "Get involved and vote".

Beck is not impressed and admonishes him: "Please don't be a commercial."

Massa changes gears and turns his appearance into an appeal for campaign finance reform claiming that "until we change that nothing can change!"

Beck is unhappy, he wanted Massa to name names.

Posted at 5:38pm

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From the Twittersphere:

@daveweigel: "Whole Schmazole" would be a good porn name when Massa resorts to that. #massappeal #salty

Posted at 5:37pm

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Massa: "I can't fight this, I can't fight cancer, I can't fight the White House, I can't do this anymore. I have completely abandoned my family for five years."

It's hard not to be sympathetic to Massa. While Beck does point out that Massa is complaining about a system of systemic corruption which can only be changed from the inside, it is clear: this man is tired.

Posted at 5:31pm

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Glenn Beck calls out Massa's inability to stand up to lobbying money, crying "Bullcrap!"

Posted at 5:30pm

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Massa seems to be shocked to learn there is money in politics: "People come up to me and say if you are not going to support this bill, we won't support you. That's a bribe!"

Beck is being the odd voice of reason on this: "No its not" he responds, "that's lobbying money."

Posted at 5:28pm

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Beck is back and the glasses are on, so you can tell he is serious.

Massa says: "People doing the math are a lot smarter then me. My vote has been a consistent "no" against this healthcare bill."  Massa seems to be implying that he was not aware how his vote would change the dynamics of the healthcare debate.

Massa then returns to arguing that he is resigning out of principle. Beck is not convinced and says: "I can't buy the fact that over tickle fights you would step down."

Posted at 5:26pm

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Beck's humility should be noted:

Beck: "Why are you here?"
Massa: "I want the toughest interview possible."
Beck: "That would be Bill O'Reilly."

Posted at 5:17pm

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Massa argues that "It doesn't make any difference what my intentions were, it's how it is perceived... I never should have transferred my behavior from my days in my Navy to being a congressman."

Posted at 5:15pm

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Massa also brings out a photo book showing images from his Navy days.

Massa: "It looks like an orgy in Caligula"

Beck is less then convinced, and it's not clear that the photos back this up.

Posted at 5:10pm

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Massa's opening line was: "I wasn't forced out, I forced myself out, I failed, I take full and complete responsibility."  Beck doesn't seem to be convinced.

Posted at 5:05pm

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FrumForum will be liveblogging Glenn Beck’s hour-long interview with Congressman Eric Massa. Before it starts though, it is worth catching up with how some prominent movement conservatives in the media are divided over how to handle this.

One developing story is how prolific conservative blogger Michelle Malkin has already attacked Glenn Beck for giving Massa a full hour of air time.

The video has been embedded below: (Hat-Tip to LittleGreenFootballs)

Malkin’s argument is that Massa should not be given any airtime and that Beck is being an unwitting pawn in the rehabilitation of Massa’s political career. Beck counter-argues that Massa’s political career is dead and that anyone who wants to speak out against the administration should be heard. (Always keeping socialist metaphors on his mind, Beck argues that listening to Massa is like listening to a Soviet agent spill the beans on what it is like to live behind the Iron Curtain.)

Beck isn't the only conservative who has been put in an awkward spot because of Massa. While Massa is attacking the White House now, he is also a proponent of single-payer healthcare. His attack on the White House is coming from the left, not the right. This might explain why Rush Limbaugh has alternated between doing his part to make Massa “a national story” one day, and disavowing him as a “kook” the next. Limbaugh has also stated that “Anybody who embraces this guy is going to get caught.”

Glenn Beck also came under fire from movement conservatives yesterday after calling Dutch politician Greet Wilders a “fascist” on his television show. (Wilders is seen as a hero to many bloggers on the right because of his strong position against Islam.) It’s unclear what Beck’s standing among movement conservatives will be after his interview with Massa is done.

Posted at 4:45pm