Massa Drama: Democratic Congressman Muddles Rahm’s Message
EmailBy Rick Klein Since everything on health care apparently hasn’t been said yet — or, at least, hasn’t been said yet by Eric Massa… The drama gets a voice. And it’s salty. Massa, the soon-to-be-former Democratic congressman from upstate New York, gets another spin through the news cycle, with a series of interviews on Tuesday that probably won’t be the last we hear of him, if we are to believe his hardly credible word. Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings need not necessarily be taken seriously, even when uttered by someone who, until now, held a seat in Congress — or who was part of Rahm Emanuel’s crop of “Fightin’ Dems” back in 2006. (They got the fighting part right.) But the difficulty for Democrats is that Massa’s conspiracy theories take on just a whiff of believability after deals so famous that they instantly earned nicknames. And in Emanuel, Massa is naming a scapegoat who was vulnerable even fully clothed, in a town that’s in a scapegoating mood at the moment. This is a (shower?) curtain the White House didn’t need lifted this week. Context just might make this bigger than it would otherwise be: “Conservatives have complained about other examples of what they see as illegitimate deal-making to secure votes: what they call the ‘Cornhusker Kickback’ and the ‘Louisiana Purchase’ in the Senate to line up Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.), respectively, and Obama's appointment last week of a Utah professor — the brother of Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah), an opponent of the health bill — to the federal appeals bench,” Paul Kane writes in The Washington Post. “He is an individual who would sell his mother to get a vote,” Massa said of the White House chief of staff, which takes on more meaning you realize that he also called Rahm “the son of the devil’s spawn.” Tuesday brings Massa appearances on Glenn Beck and Larry King. Not that he’s prone to say anything surprising… White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, to George Stephanopoulos on “Good Morning America” Tuesday: “I think this whole story is ridiculous. I think the latest excuse is silly and ridiculous. … We’re focused not on crazy allegations, but instead of making this system work for the American people, rather than work for insurance companies.” (On political fallout of health care: “I don’t think it’s going to cost Democrats the House. I think this will be an accomplishment that members can be proud of, not just in this election, George, but in decades to come,” Gibbs said.) (And on the Rahm/Axe stories: “The president has confidence in each and every person who works here,” Gibbs said. “The president is not focused on palace intrigue. It says something about this town that this goes for entertainment.”) ABC’s Jonathan Karl, on “GMA” Tuesday: “These allegations from a fellow Democrat are coming just as the president is launching his final push for health care reform.” Who wants to dance with this guy? “Meet Eric Massa, conservative media hero,” Politico’s John Bresnahan writes. “The New York Democrat’s weekend radio rant against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel has his star rising on the right even as he resigns from Congress under an ethical cloud.” And who wants one of these? “Whether Massa’s claim has credence adds to the political drama that has engulfed New York the past week. New Yorkers can only hope to learn who is telling the unadulterated truth over time,” the Rochester Democrat and Gazette editorial reads. “The stage has been set for another national referendum on President Obama’s administration and health care reform, again in upstate New York.” Raymond Hernandez, in The New York Times: “Republicans in the district outnumber Democrats by more than 45,000. Gov. David A. Paterson could call a special election for the seat as soon as next month, although he could also let it remain vacant until the November election.” And it’s already a Rahm week — and weekend. Peter Baker, in the forthcoming New York Times Magazine: “The stupid season has arrived for Barack Obama and Rahm Emanuel, the unlikely tandem of inspirational leader and legislative mechanic that was supposed to enact the most expansive domestic program since the Great Society.” “After the debacle in Massachusetts that cost Democrats their supermajority in the Senate, Washington has engaged in a favorite exercise, conducting the autopsy before the body is actually dead. How had it come to this? How did the president’s legislative drive drag on for so long that the surprise loss of a Senate seat could unravel it? Did Obama make a mistake by disregarding his top adviser’s counsel? Or was it Emanuel who failed to execute the president’s strategy? Was it both, or perhaps neither?” All of which obscures a revitalized White House effort on health care: “I'm kind of fired up,” the president said Monday at his health care rally (and it sounded better when said then when read). “If not now, when? If not us, who?” “At times it sounded like the president was back on the 2008 campaign trail as he addressed the raucous crowd of about 1800 here in the perennially politically critical suburbs of Philadelphia,” ABC’s Karen Travers reports. “President Obama turned up his vintage campaign-style fire Monday to rip Republicans and insurers for obstructing health care reform,” Ken Bazinet reports in the New York Daily News. “The Congressional Budget Office, meanwhile, is crunching the cost of Obama's revamped health care plan, a source said. Once that ‘score’ is released, House leaders can schedule a floor vote.” Even more 2008 than 2008: “The messages are part of a strategy that Obama and those around him have begun to employ lately, to ratchet up the pace and the populist appeal of their rhetoric against the health insurance industry. The barbed tone moves far beyond that of the 2008 presidential campaign, when Obama began to say that medical coverage should be accessible and affordable for more Americans,” The Washington Post’s Amy Goldstein and Scott Wilson report. Taking a meme and rewriting it: “Mr. Obama jettisoned the professorial demeanor that has cloaked many of his public pronouncements on the issue, instead making an emotional pitch for public support as he tries to push the legislation through a final series of votes in Congress in the next several weeks,” The New York Times’ Helene Cooper and David Herszenhorn report. Wonder why… “Saying he was happy to be out of Washington — in a visit that had him on the ground for only about two hours before he returned to the White House — Obama said the capital had grown obsessed with how a vote on health care legislation would affect the November congressional elections,” McClatchy’s Steven Thomma writes. Just complicating that effort to blast the insurance companies, just a touch: “The Senate health reform bill, which is the basis for Democrats' last best chance at comprehensive reform, would give the insurance companies millions of new customers required by law to buy health insurance. It would also require insurers to cover everyone, regardless of age, gender or pre-existing condition,” ABC’s Z. Byron Wolf reports. “To help pay for the new insurance requirements the government would give to people money to buy insurance — $336 billion over the next ten years. That money, ultimately, would have to go to… drum roll… insurance companies.” Do some no’s count more than others? “Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) are firm ‘no’s on the bill, according to their offices,” The Hill’s Bob Cusack and Jeffrey Young report. “Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.), Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.) and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) are undecided. Meanwhile, Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), who supports Rep. Bart Stupak’s (D-Mich.) anti-abortion rights language, is leaning yes, according to his spokesman.” Two plays: “House Democratic leaders’ ideal solution would be to find enough votes in the Caucus for the Senate bill to offset as many as a dozen Members like Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who vow to oppose it unless abortion language is tightened,” Roll Call’s Steven T. Dennis and Emily Pierce report. “Barring that, they will have to find room for an abortion fix either attached to the reconciliation bill or added to yet another bill that would face an uncertain future in the Senate.” Stupak, to the AP in Michigan: “I'm more optimistic than I was a week ago.” And one other play: “At this late stage in the debate, influencing public opinion is no small thing. Obama has elevated healthcare to the top of his domestic agenda and has spent the last year attempting to pass a bill. Yet polls show most people don't like what they have heard about the legislation moving through Congress,” the Los Angeles Times’ Peter Nicholas reports. Bad timing for this storyline: “Over the past two weeks, Pelosi has faced a series of subtle but significant challenges to her authority — revolts from Democrats on the Ways and Means Committee, the Congressional Black Caucus, the Blue Dog Coalition and politically vulnerable first- and second-term members,” Politico’s Jonathan Allen reports. “The dynamic stems from an ‘every man for himself’ attitude developing in the Democratic Caucus rather than a loss of respect for Pelosi, according to a senior Democratic aide. But it’s making Pelosi’s life — and efforts to maintain Democratic unity — harder.” In any event — enough talking: “Lead and the people will — or will not — follow. Either way, ram the damn thing, Mr. President. Ram it!” Richard Cohen writes in his column. Time to be done with it, for other reasons: “Health care reform is important. But what the public has wanted and still badly needs above all else from Mr. Obama and the Democrats are bold efforts to put people back to work,” Bob Herbert writes in his New York Times column. “But while the nation is desperate for jobs, jobs, jobs, the Democrats have spent most of the Obama era chanting health care, health care, health care.” Coming Tuesday, in the health care wars: “A health insurance industry conference taking place on Tuesday at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C., is being targeted by liberal health-care reform advocates,” ABC’s Teddy Davis reports. “The protest, which is being organized by 50 groups including Health Care for America Now, Democracy for America, and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), will begin in Dupont Circle with an 11:00 am ET speech by former DNC Chairman Howard Dean.” Still talking about that PowerPoint… “fight the smears,” meet “fight the fear.” From the DNC e-mail going out Tuesday: “We'll count on volunteers like you all around the country to let us know at FightFear@DNC.org when Republican candidates or groups: * Air misleading ads or offer false claims intended to poison the political debate, * Incite fear of President Obama and Democratic leaders in an attempt to stir up their base, or * Align themselves with the most extreme fringes of the Republican Party. We'll read the responses and call out the most egregious examples to continually expose the GOP's fear tactics. And we'll hit back hard with the truth in ads and organizing against the Republican candidates involved.” On the president’s schedule: “After his regular round of morning briefings, President Obama will have lunch today with business leaders in the Private Dining Room,” ABC’s Sunlen Miller reports. “The White House says this lunch – as with other meetings with business leaders over the past year, are to look for ways the administration and the business community can work together to grow the economy and create jobs.” Worth tracking: “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is building a large-scale grass-roots political operation that has begun to rival those of the major political parties, funded by record-setting amounts of money raised from corporations and wealthy individuals,” Tom Hamburger reports in the Los Angeles Times. “The chamber has signed up some 6 million individuals who are not chamber members and has begun asking them to help with lobbying and, soon, with get-out-the-vote efforts in upcoming congressional campaigns. The chamber's expansion into grass-roots organizing — coupled with a large and growing fundraising apparatus that got a lift from Supreme Court rulings — is part of a trend in which the traditional parties are losing ground to well-financed and increasingly assertive outside groups,” Hamburger writes. Annals of immigration reform: “Lawmakers working to craft a new comprehensive immigration bill have settled on a way to prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants: a national biometric identification card all American workers would eventually be required to obtain,” The Wall Street Journal’s Laura Meckler writes. “Under the potentially controversial plan still taking shape in the Senate, all legal U.S. workers, including citizens and immigrants, would be issued an ID card with embedded information, such as fingerprints, to tie the card to the worker.” Moving it along… “Leaders of nearly a dozen grass-roots immigrant rights groups excoriated President Obama and congressional Democrats on Monday, accusing them of moving too slowly to legalize the status of undocumented immigrants and citing a record number of deportations in 2009,” The Washington Post’s N.C. Aizenman and Spencer S. Hsu report. Coincidence, or convenience? “When the White House announced last week it would be losing the services of Lewis A. Sachs, one of the president's top economic advisers, the reason given for Sachs's departure was that his work was largely complete,” ABC’s Matthew Mosk reports. “But Sachs's quiet exit, reported in a blog entry on the New York Times web site, comes without any apparent next move for the Wall Street veteran, except for what he told the Times was his desire for time to ‘catch up on some sleep.’ Not factoring into the decision, Williams said, were recent reports suggesting Sachs's old employer could be the subject of a federal probe.” Also Tuesday — Alexi in town: “Embattled Illinois Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias — an old Obama ally, but not his preferred candidate — will be by the White House for Greek Independence Day,” Politico’s Ben Smith reports. “I'm told he's likely to stop in and chat with political aides like Axelrod and Patrick Gaspard, part of a running effort to convince national Democrats not to write the race off.” The NRSC has some questions: “Considering there’s now a ‘fat cat’ banker who is running for the his former Senate seat and looking to get rewarded for his own banking failures, we will encourage folks to ask the White House: Does President Obama stand by Giannoulias’ candidacy, and if so, how does he differ from these ‘fat cats’ who the President vehemently condemned?” In Pennsylvania: “Former congressional aide Mark Critz on Monday won the Democratic nomination for the special election to succeed his former boss, the late U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown,” the Pittsburg Post-Gazette’s Dennis B. Roddy reports. “Members of the 50-member executive committee of the state Democratic Party selected Mr. Critz two days after he won a non-binding preference vote by delegates to a special meeting held to gauge party sentiment on who should replace Mr. Murtha, who died Feb. 8 after 36 years in office.” In New York: “New York Republican Rick Lazio's lackluster gubernatorial campaign has propelled some members of his own party to court a Democrat to switch sides and lead the charge against likely Democratic nominee Andrew Cuomo this fall,” Michael Howard Saul writes for The Wall Street Journal. “Top Republican officials are scheduled to meet Tuesday with Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy in Albany, signaling a lack of confidence in Mr. Lazio's low-buzz campaign and his anemic fund raising.” And an Obama no-show — but a pretty good replacement: “Former President Bill Clinton will pinch hit for President Obama at the March 20 Gridiron Club and Foundation spring dinner,” Lynn Sweet reports. “Clinton will substitute for Obama because Obama and First Lady Michelle will be on a swing to Indonesia, Guam and Australia in March. The club marks its 125th annual dinner this year.” The Kicker: “Do you know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man?” — Former Rep. Eric Massa, on a confrontation he said he had with Rahm Emanuel, making good on his pledge to not go quietly. “You've got to smile more… or people are going to think you're angry.” — Rahm Emanuel, to Eric Massa, in 2006. For up-to-the-minute political updates check out The Note’s blog . . . all day every day:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/
Intern for the ABC News Political Unit: The ABC News Political Unit is now seeking full-time summer 2010 interns in Washington, D.C. The paid internship begins Monday, May 24, 2010, and runs through Friday, Aug. 27, 2010. Political Unit interns attend political events and contribute to stories for the politics page of ABCNews.com. They also help ABC News by conducting research, maintaining our calendar of upcoming political events, and posting stories to ABCNews.com. In order to apply, you MUST be either a graduate student or an undergraduate student who has completed his or her first year of college. The internship is NOT open to recent graduates. You also must be able to work eight hours per day, Monday through Friday. Interns will be paid $8.50/hour. If you write well, follow politics closely, and have some familiarity with web publishing, send a cover letter and resume to Teddy Davis, ABC News' Deputy Political Director, at teddy.davis@abc.com, by Friday, March 12, with the subject line: "INTERN" in all caps. Please indicate in both your cover letter and the body of your email your student status and the specific dates and hours of your availability.
Sen. DeMint: GOP Race Could Go Until Convention 
Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
What did he say? Never let a crisis waste….don’t let a crisist go to waste?….I can’t even spell this crap…
Posted by: LongT | March 9, 2010, 8:44 am 8:44 am
They look like buds….we should be only afraid until 2012…I really can’t stand the guy…
Posted by: LongT | March 9, 2010, 8:46 am 8:46 am
Why not address the accuracy of the allegations.. one by one… instead of trying to talk past them?
I think Rick should volunteer for the downsizing. Clearly there is a spot in the WH for him…. or is he already paid from both sides already?
Where is Fox when we need them
Posted by: Tom | March 9, 2010, 8:48 am 8:48 am
Klein – Are you serious? Of course it’s true. With all the other BS the lame administration has already done, I believe Massa gets the benefit of the doubt. I know ABC won’t let you report the truth…maybe you can send it out in code.
Posted by: rarl kove | March 9, 2010, 8:50 am 8:50 am
Maybe so . . . but Mr. Emanuel scares me. This entire episode contributes to the already rampant distrust of American leaders.
Today’s issue is TRUST. It seems as though everyday Americans can trust only those they know. That excludes virtually every talking head on TV, every reporter, every politician, every actor, and every athlete.
Posted by: Mark Chatfield | March 9, 2010, 8:50 am 8:50 am
Why are you asking us the questions? you are the “journalist” I’ll tell you why it is taking so long if you haven’t figured it out… WE DON’T WANT IT!!! straight from an American mouth. They represent us. Your incessant attacks on a man looking out for his fellow Americans only hurts your cause. ABC you are disgusting, your plummeting ratings should tell you that, but your journalists are so stupid that you’ll never figure it out.
Posted by: Melee | March 9, 2010, 8:51 am 8:51 am
Good for you Klein! …doing your part for the administration. Eventually there will be a cabinet post for ya.
When you add this debacle to everything else the Chicago gang has pulled off, it actually makes more sense to have Massa explain it.
Posted by: One American | March 9, 2010, 8:53 am 8:53 am
I see ABC is out of the box quickly trying to kill the Massa story, lest it harm the health care bill, or Obama and the Democrats in general. I assume you won’t even bother asking Rahm, Gibbs or any ones else in the administration whether the creepy shower incident really happened, as you may not like the answer? Better to quickly attempt to discredit and destroy the messenger than investigate the message. Talk about gutter journalism.
Posted by: Ken | March 9, 2010, 8:54 am 8:54 am
Unfortunately, the lying Republican/Democrat politician critters and the federal reserve, (which is neither federal nor reserve), since 1913, have printed (counterfeited) trillions of dollars out of thin air to help fix problems they help create.
Trade your green toilet paper for things that have actual value while you still can.
If you’re not petrified of the coming dollar collapse, you aren’t paying attention.
Posted by: s.houston | March 9, 2010, 8:54 am 8:54 am
Wondering how this story would be spun had it been two years ago and the charges were leveled at Carl Rove…
Posted by: JustaDad | March 9, 2010, 8:55 am 8:55 am
I can see Rahm doing the shower thing. There is more to this than meets the eye.
Posted by: Billy Bob | March 9, 2010, 8:56 am 8:56 am
Looks like ABC news is out in front doing damage control and spin for Obungler and Reambo again. Funny how midway through this trash which passes for journalism, this moron begins to mention Glenn Beck and the right. In the world of state run media hacks, accusations FROM the left are the work of brave heroes which deserve headlines for weeks, and accusations AGAINST the left are the work of paranoid delusionals which deserve to be mocked and buried.
Posted by: StateRunMedia | March 9, 2010, 8:56 am 8:56 am
I could agree with the “paranoid ramblings,” except it is consistent with what has been happening since this unseemly process started.
Posted by: Nexialist | March 9, 2010, 8:56 am 8:56 am
Intern for the ABC News Political Unit:
Don’t forget to cc: ACORN and the SEIU.
Posted by: mark c | March 9, 2010, 8:57 am 8:57 am
Klein, Massa sounded like a victim of the Chicago mafia which has invaded the white house. Stop defending Obama and his thugs.
Posted by: Brian | March 9, 2010, 8:58 am 8:58 am
I agree with LongT. Klein is no “Journalist” and should be replaced with a credible professional. However, I’m sure if there are any still left our there, they wouldn’t work for ABC.
Posted by: LarryT | March 9, 2010, 8:59 am 8:59 am
This article confirms that ABC News has become a mouthpiece for the Obama Administration (not that there was any doubt). Rather than going after Emanuel and hounding him, as was done to Jim Bunning, you call Massa’s claims “Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings “.
I tend to believe Massa on this issue, anyway. Rahm Emanuel is well known for his filthy mouth and filthy tactics.
Posted by: mardec | March 9, 2010, 9:00 am 9:00 am
While Massa comes off as a complete jerk himself, I don’t have any reason to disbelieve him. That, after all, has long been Rahm Emanuel’s reputation.
Posted by: Scott | March 9, 2010, 9:01 am 9:01 am
ABC = Another Bureau Closed.
Keep rearranging those deck chairs.
Posted by: PaulinNY | March 9, 2010, 9:01 am 9:01 am
So, the DNC talking points fax was to bury this quickly for health care takeover can take place and the so-called “journalists” can feel good about themselves.
Really, should we be surprised? Should we really expect honest journalism from ABC? Do you think they care about reporting the facts or investigating a story? Remember, they also ignored to Edwards’ debacle that Nat’l Enquirer just might when a Pulitzer for. Shows you just how far lame-stream media (formerly known as mainstream media) has fallen.
You also have to realize how much they have invested in this administration. Don’t look to ABC or other lame-stream media outlets as credible sources for mid-term elections or 2012. They outed themselves for what they are in the 2008 election.
Pull the plug on mainstream media. It has slipped too far and isn’t coming back. Articles like this remind us.
Posted by: doesitreallymatter | March 9, 2010, 9:01 am 9:01 am
There is no possible audio and video proof while naked in the showers-smart move Rahm, BUT this is weird behavior for a grown ballerina.
Posted by: bonnie dudley | March 9, 2010, 9:02 am 9:02 am
And the news staff at ABC wonder WHY they are being downsized. Klein is the manifestation of the kind of reporting that results in layoffs and downsizing. ABC News really needs to re-evaluate their biases and consider, just consider, reporting in an unbiased manner. Perhaps in time this will result in ratings increases and increases in revenue for ABC. However, they have so damaged the brand that recovering their credibility will take a considerable amount of time. Good luck to them, until they change, it’s Fox for me.
Posted by: John So | March 9, 2010, 9:02 am 9:02 am
All this about a threat to Obama that the media doesn’t like, yet Dan Rather’s Watermelon comments go un-noticed?
Posted by: NYmike | March 9, 2010, 9:03 am 9:03 am
I’m sure ABC would have as easily dismissed the allegations of a Congressman against someone from the Bush administration.
Posted by: Indiana_Dave | March 9, 2010, 9:03 am 9:03 am
Since when does a news story describe a subject press conference as “Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings need not necessarily be taken seriously, even when uttered by someone who, until now, held a seat in Congress”
Now I don’t know about the rest of America, but I call that editorializing. The author may have come across the term in J-school or it may be completely new.
Here’s a flash… I don’t care about the authors opinion… or politics… or feelings. I want facts.
Posted by: Mike | March 9, 2010, 9:04 am 9:04 am
ABC news never partisan
LMAO
Posted by: Terry | March 9, 2010, 9:04 am 9:04 am
I believe Eric Massa because his story is like so many other stories you hear about how Emanuel and Obama conduct business when they disagree with you. Chicago politics at its best.
But I think the White House really likes this because it draws the attention away from the budget busting bill they are ramming through. What’s going to be great is when the House passes the Senate bill and there is no reconciliation bill and the unions get what’s coming to them.
Posted by: ChicagoPolitics | March 9, 2010, 9:04 am 9:04 am
Hey Rick, get another job. Journalism isn’t for you. Keep kissing the a$$ of the White House and you can work there. Just stay out of the showers and Rham won’t find you.
Posted by: Chas | March 9, 2010, 9:05 am 9:05 am
Simply put, this piece is nothing even close to journalism. It’s the same old MSM advocacy for ANYthing liberal.
Posted by: Jeff | March 9, 2010, 9:05 am 9:05 am
Nobody wants this healthcare reform. This is only democrats power and money grab. Wait for this boondoggle to pass and corruption will be even bigger.
Posted by: myohmy | March 9, 2010, 9:06 am 9:06 am
Jeez Klein, I could only read through less than half of this dribble of an article. The numerous quotes from the liberal media dinosaurs (NYT, WP, etc) were only punctuated by your constant fawning over Obama. Are you really the best that ABC could find?
Posted by: MattD | March 9, 2010, 9:06 am 9:06 am
Just because he’s paranoid doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re really NOT out to get him. But then being a progressive/liberal/marxist/socialist whatever like minded fool is definitely a sure sign of mental illness.
Posted by: NoMoreApologies | March 9, 2010, 9:07 am 9:07 am
I cannot stand that ABC’s Rick Klien is not doing what he is supposed to do. GET THE FACTS!! Report the FACTS!! The writing is on the wall, the floor, the ceiling. the PROGRESSIVE Demorcrats will do what they need to do, including killing their own, lie, cheat, steal, backroom deals, fabricate, make up and bully whoever they need to to push their agenda. And Rahm is one of the progressives. I applaud Massa for standing up and opening the curtains!! The allagations are precisely that ALLAGATIONS. He is being forced out because he does not suppport what the PROGRESSIVES are pushing through!! GET THE FACTS and wake up Rick. Otherwise I would start looking for another jobe being that ABC is cutting jobs.
Posted by: Todd | March 9, 2010, 9:08 am 9:08 am
@Scott
I totally agree with you. In a town where there are payoffs to senators to buy healthcare votes, family members are appointed judgeships to get a vote why is it “nonsense” or “unrealistic” for a man who has a lot of dirt on himself not to be blackmailed for a vote or brought up on charges?
MSM c’mon dont discredit the guy! of course he is guilty of sexual misconduct towards his staffer and also of course this administration is guilty of blackmailing the guy!
Report the truth!!!!
Posted by: Carl | March 9, 2010, 9:08 am 9:08 am
Is this what passes for compensated opinion at ABC? There isnt a single original idea in this post- its nothing but pull quotes.
Can I have a job ABC? All I apparently have to do is read some newsmakers opinions and cut and paste them to my blog…..I will have to come up with a title though….I rescind my offer for employment.
Whatever happened to that old phrase,”its not the nature of the evidence but the seriousness of the allegation.”
Posted by: Patrick | March 9, 2010, 9:09 am 9:09 am
ABC thinks everything sounds like borderline paranoid ramblings if it fits what they want the public to think. Why don’t they talk about how smokers are becoming violently ill by FSC Cigarettes. For more info on that click my name.
Posted by: FSC Cigarettes | March 9, 2010, 9:09 am 9:09 am
ABC- a damage control member of the BO WH!
Posted by: stevemb12 | March 9, 2010, 9:09 am 9:09 am
Hey Klein,
Maybe you like it in the shower with Rahm. Great unbiased news reporting, by the way. Painting this guy as a paranoid whack job. Maybe he is. Time will tell. But the response by the Dems tells alot. They are freaking out all over the place.
Maybe this guy was in it up to his eyeballs and was just shat upon, and now he’s going to do what Blogo didn’t have the guts to do: tell what is really the man behind the facade that is the administration and congress…
Posted by: sixpacktr | March 9, 2010, 9:09 am 9:09 am
Massa is a traitor!!!! Lord Obama NEEDS this bill so he can claim his rightful seat to the right of The Father!!! He needs this bill to show the people he loves them and cares for them. Anyone who is against giving away free everything is against America!!!!! If only people would open their minds and their hearts they would see that Lord Obama truly loves us and wants to care for us. Lord Obama wants to make sure that the rich pay for their greed by helping those of us who don’t want to work!!!!
Posted by: Rob | March 9, 2010, 9:10 am 9:10 am
Rick, Why the spin ?
Massa ia paranoid ???
I thought whistleblowers were sacred cows th dems.
Posted by: Johnny56 | March 9, 2010, 9:10 am 9:10 am
‘I did not have a shower with Massa….’
Ron Emanuel.
A triumph for “soap on a rope” diplmacy..by Ronny.
I hope Saterday night live does this one..endless possiblities.. a shower scene to equel Dallas…throw in Bill and Hilliary for good measure..
Posted by: gram | March 9, 2010, 9:11 am 9:11 am
“Paranoid ramblings”? Don’t forget that sometimes even paranoids get it right, they _are_ after you. Massa’s fear is apparent and real enough for him to cast all off in a rite of cleansing. The stench of DC, however, will follow him (and us) for years; long after this administration is gone. What a pitiful waste of power, opportunity and lack of grace.
Posted by: Homer | March 9, 2010, 9:12 am 9:12 am
Another Pravda “story” on ABC News. Unlike the former Soviet Union comrades, Americans have other sources for actual news. ABC has long been irrelevant for pushing this kind of nonsense. We should believe anything Rahm says? He’s Obama’s pit bulldog, and would do anything to save his master’s skinny rear.
Posted by: JFrykman | March 9, 2010, 9:13 am 9:13 am
nothing this administration of crooks could do would surprise me. Why wouldn’t we believe Massa, these commies and rahm have a long history of this type of crap. These democrats are all nuts and thugs.
NEVER EVER VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: doc | March 9, 2010, 9:13 am 9:13 am
Sounds like a case of sexual harassment to me. Rahm wanted a piece of Massa’s butt. Massa should have broken Rahm’s finger.
Posted by: Upyouns | March 9, 2010, 9:13 am 9:13 am
Kennedy, Edwards, Clinton and many more Dems. had behavior problems and none of the Democrats raised even an eyebrow. Now Massa is torn to shreds and also the current gov. of N.Y. accepts World Series tickers (whoa!!) and the Dems. have found religion.
Posted by: Mimsey | March 9, 2010, 9:13 am 9:13 am
“Paranoid ramblings” is it? I see you’re trotting out the despicable, tired old Clintonian “nuts and sluts” defense, but this time it will be on steroids. Can’t have any ‘Rats wandering off of Obama’s plantation. Better destroy them before they have a chance to tarnish the burnished glory of The One.
Look, it’s obvious to anyone what is happening here. The knives are coming out for this guy, and Rahmbum is leading the pack. They’re going to slice and dice and run over him because that’s what Chicago politics is all about. There are thugs leading this country, nothing more or less.
Posted by: MrT | March 9, 2010, 9:15 am 9:15 am
Have to agree with other members of the commentariat here. Rick Klein is most certainly a candidate for ABC News downsizing. I hope Mr. Westin takes note of this non-journalist’s talents and sends him packing to a more suitable vocation.
Posted by: jcarob | March 9, 2010, 9:16 am 9:16 am
It’s pretty obvious that the mainstream media is on the take. You gotta wonder how much Soros and Lewis et al are paying these mainstream media sycophants – who seem to defend Obama – REGARDLESS of their sinking ratings. I hate to go against the Goodwin law, but this is Goebbels-esque. SHAME on the Democrats for putting their party in front of the country….again.
Posted by: DurwoodMcMac | March 9, 2010, 9:16 am 9:16 am
So let me get this straight Klein. Massa is a Navy veteran of 24 years and won a seat for the Democrats in a Republican district in 2008. As a result he’s a darling of the left and the new face of the ruling party. But now he levies charges against Emanual and he’s a loon and delusional? Really? Do you really think We The People are so dumb, like the Europeans and Chinese like to think, that we can’t see your motive? If you think that then you’re as soft as a month old grape. JustaDad wrote it best, were it Karl Rove you would have written an entirely different article and eviscerated the man. Shame on your for your one-sided reporting and lousy writing.
Posted by: MattD | March 9, 2010, 9:16 am 9:16 am
Wow. We’re now seeing full Democrat FREAKOUT mode to get their hate and spin out there before this guy lets loose on Glenn Beck’s show later.
Of course, if this guy had voted for Obamacare, he’d be a national “progressive” hero.
*gets popcorn*
Posted by: Good Lt. | March 9, 2010, 9:17 am 9:17 am
Massa might be a loon, but he raises quite a few interesting questions. Questions on which I didn’t expect soon to be WH media czar Klein to answer. Instead we get more of the smoke and mirrors tactics employed by the white house propaganda machine. Modern journalism is a joke, and although media outlets like to blame the economy for dwindling profits, the reality is that its the complete lack of integrity in the media which is causing reduced interest. Maybe we can look forward to a free lance piece from Klein about how someone can right themselves out of a paycheck.
Posted by: DownandOutInDetroit | March 9, 2010, 9:17 am 9:17 am
So ABC, where were your reports on Van Jones?? Your reports on John Edwards??
Your vetting of Comrade in Chief?? 600% the coverage given to a recent non story vs coverage given to Charlie Rangel?? And exactly what is Tom DeLay GUILTY of?? You may be correct on this one, but where were your stories on Massa before this, and why did you not report negativity on this Democrat before now??
I see a clear pattern here. MSM covering for their socialist agenda.
Posted by: moron | March 9, 2010, 9:18 am 9:18 am
Written like a true Dembot Klein. Expecting a check soon?
Posted by: Dan | March 9, 2010, 9:18 am 9:18 am
Rick, speaking of contradictions: He was one Obama’s fighters in 2006 but he is a scumbag now. So, if he votes with ABC and Barak, then he is a fighter, if he exposes the frauds for what they are then he is a scumbag. Come on Rick, you’re not better than that?
Posted by: george | March 9, 2010, 9:19 am 9:19 am
LMBO @ Klein! “Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings need not necessarily be taken seriously”; LOL…you can’t be serious.
Never in the history of this nation have we seen so much bribery and thuggery as we are witnessing from this administration.
Considering Emanuel’s propensity for threats and bullying, I have NO doubts, but what Massa’s account isn’t 100% spot on. But…nice pandering on your part Klein. Maybe Obama can find you a czar position.
Posted by: Colt | March 9, 2010, 9:19 am 9:19 am
Rick Klein, how long will you play the fool for the puppet masters at ABC? Looks like a little more down sizing may be required at ABC before we uncover the real journalists willing to investigate and address facts. Rather than doing such, your article appears more like a writing sample of someone trying to land a job in the Obama administration. At some point your puppet masters will awake to their demise as the American public is showing their ability to look past articles such as yours that masquerade as journalism, but in the end are nothing more than opinion pieces that deftly step beyond facts and realities in their efforts to achieve a political end. I do have to admit though, your attempt to gloss over the truth does make for a pretty entertaining read — albeit fiction. Maybe when the additional down sizing comes you can find a creer their. Keep practicing.
Posted by: Fred | March 9, 2010, 9:19 am 9:19 am
Aren’t you the same people who were trashing Karl Rove and blaming him for everything from the common cold to destruction of the planet.
In this case Rahm Emanuel is more Karl Rove than Karl Rove ever was and ever COULD BE.
In my view, Rahm Emanuel is a VERY DANGEROUS MAN.
ABC should be checking Massa’s statement line by line and word for word. If half is true RAHM SHOULD GO!
Posted by: Jake | March 9, 2010, 9:20 am 9:20 am
Aren’t you the same people who were trashing Karl Rove and blaming him for everything from the common cold to destruction of the planet.
In this case Rahm Emanuel is more Karl Rove than Karl Rove ever was and ever COULD BE.
In my view, Rahm Emanuel is a VERY DANGEROUS MAN.
ABC should be checking Massa’s statement line by line and word for word. If half is true RAHM SHOULD GO!
Posted by: Jake | March 9, 2010, 9:20 am 9:20 am
While I’m sure this “news” piece has Fred Friendly spinning in his grave due to its complete lack of objectivity, I’d like to point out one small part. Have you noticed how DNC propaganda machines, like ABCNews, are working overtime to paint Rahm Emanuel as a scapegoat in Washington? Contrast this to how they treated Karl Rove. The liberals are circling the wagons around Emanuel and ABCNews is one of the wagons. I only check ABCNews for giggles occasionally, but if you think you are getting objective reporting from ABC then you’re clearly not thinking.
Posted by: Expat | March 9, 2010, 9:20 am 9:20 am
Rick, if you consider yourself a journalist, you should take some time to self reflect and consider if you really are one..
Have you really taken the time to look into these allegations? Have you spent days and weeks digging? If not, see the appended link.
Posted by: joe | March 9, 2010, 9:20 am 9:20 am
Bad move ABC. Masa will be on Fox tonight with Beck for a full hour. Something tells me you will have egg all over your face Mr. Klien, again.
On a side note, how does one become a paid schill for the administration? I needs me some of that Obama money too!
Posted by: Evasive | March 9, 2010, 9:20 am 9:20 am
What a waste of my time.
Posted by: DEI | March 9, 2010, 9:20 am 9:20 am
Rick Klein, I guess you guys only speak “Truth to Power” when you don’t march Lock-Step with those in the White House. Your journalistic integrity is totally ruined. Rick, try to ask some difficult questions instead of dancing to drumbeat of the powers that be. You are starting to make “Baghdad Bob” look like a Pulitzer Prize winner, no wonder why they are shutting down operations at ABC News.
Posted by: Dissent is Patriotic | March 9, 2010, 9:21 am 9:21 am
What a complete and utter waste of time to read this dribble. It is sooo painfully obvious that you and your brethren at ABC are trying to destroy the message by killing the messenger.
“Move along folks, nothing to see here.”
How can you call yourself a “journalist” and sleep at night. You my friend are nothing more than a propagandist and your days of being employed are numbered because “we the people” don’t buy your BS anymore!
Posted by: Mike in Dallas | March 9, 2010, 9:21 am 9:21 am
Replace Emmanuel’s name with that of Karl Rove and you’d praising Massa to the heavens for his attack. I believe Massa – Emmanuel is not to be trusted.
Posted by: Citizen | March 9, 2010, 9:22 am 9:22 am
Rick…….no wonder ABC News is trusted the LEAST by Americans, only 21% trust vs. FOX News which is the most trusted name in NEWS at 49%.
ABC NEWS is a flaming liberal/progressive propaganda outlet for the Democrat Party that COOKS their polls with the equally corrupt Washington POST.
Our Free Left-wing press continues to Lie and Mislead the American people…….sad.
Posted by: Allen Ridge | March 9, 2010, 9:22 am 9:22 am
Rick…….no wonder ABC News is trusted the LEAST by Americans, only 21% trust vs. FOX News which is the most trusted name in NEWS at 49%.
ABC NEWS is a flaming liberal/progressive propaganda outlet for the Democrat Party that COOKS their polls with the equally corrupt Washington POST.
Our Free Left-wing press continues to Lie and Mislead the American people…….sad.
Posted by: Allen Ridge | March 9, 2010, 9:22 am 9:22 am
BREAKING FROM ABC: Retiring Democrat Congressman Who Didn’t Even Exist Weeks Ago Until Disapproving of ObamaCare Is Suddenly Insane Crazy Person Wingnut, No Matter What He Says About Other Democrats On Glenn Beck
Audio at 11.
Posted by: Good Lt. | March 9, 2010, 9:22 am 9:22 am
Just more of the same from ABC. Massa is a liability to the administration goal. He must go! ABC will belittle massa to aid the goal.
Posted by: Ben | March 9, 2010, 9:22 am 9:22 am
Rick Klein… if you like your job in the least you might try being a little more objective. Also, considering liberalism is imploding before our very eyes, it might be a safe bet that liberal slanted journalism isn’t a big seller. You are nothing more than a dispensable young puppet with minimal journalistic ability. Rick Klein… you are a dime a dozen
Posted by: PharmacyStudent | March 9, 2010, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Klein, you are just a symptom of the disease that runs rampant through ABC: intellectual dishonesty and outright bias. Is there any question why your network audience is now tuning you out?
Posted by: Jake | March 9, 2010, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Tom stated: “…maybe you can send it out in code.”
————————————–
Stop it ! I fell off my chair laughing…Damn, that’s funny !
Posted by: El Gordo | March 9, 2010, 9:24 am 9:24 am
How many ways and how many times do we have to tell these arrogant jerks that we do not want what they are cramming down our throats? I have been voting Democrat since 1976 and that ends in NOVEMBER! (PS – We do need reform that attacks costs. Not a giant play at social engineering.)
Posted by: Maria | March 9, 2010, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Friend of Mr. Emanuel’s are ya Mr. Klein? This article is a prime reason why I detest the MSM and also an example of the sort of the sort of hand holding the MSM does with this administration that leads to their huge losses of viewership. Take a walk
Posted by: Elian | March 9, 2010, 9:25 am 9:25 am
Finally some transparency…..no shower curtains!
Posted by: CCCo | March 9, 2010, 9:25 am 9:25 am
I heard the interview of Massa and he doesn’t sound like he was “self-contradicting, borderline paranoid” or “rambling.” Great article otherwise Klein. Your objectivity on the topic is so readily apparent. I have no idea how anyone could accuse you of of of not demonstrating journalistic integrity! Next time it might be important though that you let us know you are writing the article while sitting at Rahm’s desk.
Posted by: thenaughto | March 9, 2010, 9:25 am 9:25 am
It is stories like this that prove to everyone exactly why ABC News is a dying news organization. This is why ABC News is closing almost all of its news offices and laying off a ton of its people.
Posted by: tom harlen | March 9, 2010, 9:25 am 9:25 am
rahm enjoys getting rammed. no doubt about it. klein too.
Posted by: john gotti | March 9, 2010, 9:26 am 9:26 am
ABC, do your job and investigate the allegations!!!
Posted by: fred | March 9, 2010, 9:26 am 9:26 am
…Massa’s message spoke damn plainly and articulately for those of us who are pulling the wagon, Rick. Remove thy plank and you shall see more clearly.
Posted by: NO to Obama's Reparations | March 9, 2010, 9:26 am 9:26 am
Well, I guess we know that Klein thinks Massa is an idiot. WH can do no wrong, right? Problem is, you’re supposed to be a journalist. You’re supposed to look at things objectively.
You know, I’m so disgusted with this entry I can’t even go on. I just kmow I won’t be back.
Posted by: Liz | March 9, 2010, 9:26 am 9:26 am
“Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings need not necessarily be taken seriously…”
Are you speaking of Massa or yourself. You dirty communist.
Posted by: Scott | March 9, 2010, 9:27 am 9:27 am
Of course the President and Democrats wanted to get rid of a “no” vote that would prevent them from jamming more taxes and mandates on the US citizens.
It is easy to visulize Rahm doing what Massa says he did when you find out Rahm sent a dead fish to someone who opposed him.
Rahm the Chicago thug.
Posted by: wildhorses | March 9, 2010, 9:27 am 9:27 am
Amazingly low-quality editorializing. Massa’s word is “hardly credible” because he used hyperbole in describing someone, sometime in the past?
Elephant in the room: Healthcare legislation is written by big insurance companies.
Elephant in the room: Healthcare legislation is having trouble passing because the American People, by vast margins, do not want it.
Elephant in the room: Rahm has a long history of threatening and intimidating people, to achieve his ends.
Massa’s “conspiracy theories” are never identified? Plain ol’ sloppy writing. C’mon, Klein, this isn’t high school.
When a newspaper allows crap like this to be printed, we call that paper “a rag.”
Posted by: Randolph | March 9, 2010, 9:27 am 9:27 am
ABC got its marching orders I see. “Sink the loose lipped Massa”
Govt employees in Senate and House have been advised to stay off of Drudge Report “for now” LMFAO!!
This is Communist behaviors. YES I suggested the C word. Cuz if it smells like it, looks like it, must be
Posted by: Mikein MD | March 9, 2010, 9:28 am 9:28 am
Larry Craig tapping foot in restroom = NATIONAL SCANDAL!!@#!$!!!!
WH Democrat Chief of Staff Walking Around in Congressional Showers Threatening Congress members = Ranting of insane crazy person, not to be taken seriously.
Right, ABC?
Posted by: Good Lt. | March 9, 2010, 9:28 am 9:28 am
Reading the comments, Klein? The American people have awaken from their long slumber and are no longer believing the crap spewed from the MSM. Pick your side Klein. The Country or The party. As a lifelong Democrat, even I can tell when something smells to high heaven, like this administration, for example.
Posted by: Andy | March 9, 2010, 9:29 am 9:29 am
Interestingly NOTHING that Massa share concerning Rahm Emanuel IS consistent with
Emanuel’s character and methodology – not a slam on the Presidential advisor – he is just who he is.
For Massa – listen to what he is saying is happening … why he (Massa) did – resigning and such is secondary to what I think is the main revelation that for many, only confirms what is happening in Washington. Doesn’t mean that Massa is a pillar of fortitude or is a saint among men – that is a secondary story.
The important to listen and determine is what he is saying is TRUE – regarding how congress operates.
Posted by: Dale Caruso | March 9, 2010, 9:29 am 9:29 am
I think there is a mistake with this story. Shouldn’t this be under the heading of “EDITORIAL” and not “NEWS”?!?!?!?! If this had been Carl Rove, the networks would have broke regular programming to cover it 24/7 for the next week. What freaking joke ABC News is.
Posted by: Frustrated Federalist | March 9, 2010, 9:30 am 9:30 am
I meant to say inconsistent – rather than consistent. sorry for the typing error.
Posted by: Dale Caruso | March 9, 2010, 9:30 am 9:30 am
You ain’t paranoid if some really is following you! Rambo set the stage for this by his past behavior.
Posted by: Mike Benton | March 9, 2010, 9:31 am 9:31 am
Mr. Klien, you should have learned some time ago, that when Gibbs dismisses someone with the words ‘silly’ or ‘ridiculous’, it means they’re telling the truth.
Posted by: Mike Hunt | March 9, 2010, 9:31 am 9:31 am
Nice try Rick. Anyone with an ounce of common sense is not buying it.
Posted by: Smitty | March 9, 2010, 9:31 am 9:31 am
I’d say the man has far more credibility than ABC news. Who is in perfect lockstep with Obama. If Obama announced he was opening detention center for Jewish, ABC would put a positive spin on it!
Posted by: Scott N TX | March 9, 2010, 9:32 am 9:32 am
Mr. Klein, get a glass of warm milk, put on your Obama T-shirt and watch the Glenn Beck show at 5 PM. Beck is a PRO.
Posted by: ed chicago | March 9, 2010, 9:32 am 9:32 am
Hey ABC, you wonder why you are losing people when you write junk like this? The more you cry about Glenn Beck, Fox, etc., the more you lose to them. We know you are in the tank with Obama and the rest of the leftist commies, so you can just go down with them.
Posted by: TJRedNeck | March 9, 2010, 9:32 am 9:32 am
Anybody that has lived in Chicago knows that the shower is where alot of “political business” is conducted. No possibility of mic’s or camera’s, so, no proof. Too bad Rick wasn’t there to witness the conversation, maybe he’d get his story straight.
Posted by: cgb | March 9, 2010, 9:33 am 9:33 am
Is providing political cover a new class in journalism school.
Posted by: jim | March 9, 2010, 9:33 am 9:33 am
And why exactly are these conspiracy theories and paranoid ramblings Rick? Thanks for your biased opinion instead of your investigative journalism… this new generation of reporters like Rick Klein are so freakin lazy! get off your laptop and go do some journalism!
Posted by: Brian Ross | March 9, 2010, 9:34 am 9:34 am
ABC. you should read your own post. Most writers believe ABC News is in the bag for Obama and the White House. As one poster put it… what would have happend had this been Karl Rove???
Posted by: Dlong | March 9, 2010, 9:34 am 9:34 am
Yep the All Barack Channel, National Barack Channel and Central Barack Channel have been hush hush on this. They are protecting the candidate they never vetted but invented in their eyes. I’m watching Glenn Beck tonight! P.S. The Clinton News Network and PMSNBC are bashing him.
Posted by: Willy | March 9, 2010, 9:35 am 9:35 am
I am curious, how do we know ANYTHING about Massa? Someone in the Democrat machine leaked information on him. When did Democrats suddenly get all serious over odd sexual behavior? Barney Frank had a brothel for men running in his house, of course he maintains he knew nothing about it… It was his gay lover’s program.
Give me a break, there is something weird going on in DC and people that turn a blind eye for it are insane. Your Republic is going to collapse over your panty waist crying for “free” health care.
Don’t be sheeple, think for yourself.
Posted by: Gil | March 9, 2010, 9:35 am 9:35 am
Another great story from ABC! They need to wake up, but they won’t the have to protect the chosen one and his corrupt staff!
Posted by: get a clue | March 9, 2010, 9:35 am 9:35 am
I wouldn’t touch Massa with a 10′ pole, but there’s no reason to not believe him. He has nothing to lose. Also, his allegations are entirely believable.
I agree with all the posters here that wish Klein good luck in his upcoming administration position. Maybe he’ll replace Gibbs? I hope Klein is funny, because Gibbs surely is.
Posted by: Timstigator | March 9, 2010, 9:36 am 9:36 am
Seems like Klein is just a little too anxious to get out in front of what this Congressman – who would’ve been a hero to him and other Democrats had supported the White House’s agenda – is going to say.
Because it will likely be DAMAGING to a lot of Democrats and their “image.” And can’t be ignored.
Of course, if this were a retiring GOP Congressperson poised to go nuclear on the GOP on Keith Olbermann’s show tonight, the reporters at all major news networks would giddily be tuning in and pre-writing tomorrow’s “hottest political story” and inserting the juiciest bites and dirtiest dirt. Because, you know, “it’s news” and it’s a Republican. This? Eh. It’s not “news.” It’s just “crazy rambling.”
Funny that when the parties are switched, the media acts differently and their agenda becomes strangely similar to that of the Democrat Party.
Posted by: Good Lt. | March 9, 2010, 9:37 am 9:37 am
Mr. Klein: What part is “hardly credible” and why do you consider it “hardly credible”? Shouldn’t that be included in an article such as this? I think the part about the devil spawn was hyperbole, but I just think he was just trying to make a point. This is why people call you ‘drive by” journalist. Just spray some shots with no reason, inflict damage and drive away like you accomplished something.
Posted by: twilliam | March 9, 2010, 9:37 am 9:37 am
Typical attempt at a cover-up sotry by the “All Barack Communism” channel. How and why would anyone support these low life pieces of trash no matter what your party affiliation is?
Posted by: Jason | March 9, 2010, 9:38 am 9:38 am
This is specifically why I cannot watch ABC News anymore. They have no credibility! Perhaps Massa is off kilter, but to summarily brush aside what he has said indicates that this joke of a reporter is in the tank for the Obama’ites.
Posted by: Minnesota Joe | March 9, 2010, 9:39 am 9:39 am
Lets see, you were right up there reporting the facts on John Edwards during the primaries so I must believe you will dig deep for the facts in this case and not smear people.
Posted by: TJ | March 9, 2010, 9:42 am 9:42 am
What a joke. If this bill is so good for America why are we still talking about it? This is a debacle of unproportioned magnitude and it not only shows the lack of leadership in the White House, it clearly shows the ineptitude of Pelosi, Reid and the Democratic party. It’s obvious from the last 13 months that the democrats can’t trusted to manage the government, the economy, the military or our saftey.
Posted by: toledofan | March 9, 2010, 9:43 am 9:43 am
If the politicians really meant what they are saying “WE ARE TRYING TO GIVE THE POOR AND UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE” why are they not fixing what they have? If they really were not working with the insurance carriers then Medicare would be fixed. Just stop and think, if Medicare was repaired (made to work under the rules and regs the insurance industry does) who would lose? The healthcare industry. They would not receive the money the government will pay under this new program or from those forced to pay for their own insurance. Using their own figures there are 57 million retired people paying over $100.00 and month for Medicare. This does not include the disabled paying the same. That makes over 5.7 BILLION DOLLARS A MONTH government is now receiving but wants to give to private insurance. Not all of this goes to Medicare, they have their own private agenda to spend it somewhere else and say Medicare is broke. If you don’t believe this try checking out Social Security. THIS PROGRAM WAS WORKING AND DID NOT NEED FEDERAL FUNDING UNTIL CONGRESS DECIDED TO TAKE THE FUNDS IT HAD AND PUT THEM IN THE GENERAL FUND AND THEN SAY THEY DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY. RETIREMENT WILL HAVE TO BE EXTENDED. Where do all the money go? In my opinion they Congress will take the funds from any program that is working and has money to sustain it and then say THEY HAVE TO RAISE TAXES TO SUPPORT IT.
Please tell me where I am wrong on my thinking. Look at the price tag that will raise taxes on the new healthcare program. Imagine the savings if both SS and Medicare were put into the proper funds. After a year or two it would take to reset it (provided Congress put people in charge that were not hacks and did not bow to Congress). Once the funds were set and running each program would pay for itself and there would be no taxes got to them. There would be a reduction in the Nation Debt and tax payers would actually believe the Congress when they said “SEE WHAT WE DID” instead of now “SEE HOW WE SCREWED YOU”.
Posted by: Dan | March 9, 2010, 9:43 am 9:43 am
“Paranoid ramblings” huh. Maybe next we’ll start putting the opposition into “mental health facilities” where they can be “cured” of their inability to follow the leader. Sure worked for Uncle Joe!
Posted by: Always Right | March 9, 2010, 9:43 am 9:43 am
Well, what kind of facts can you expect from a news organization that pays its college interns $8.50 an hour? Wasn’t ABC one of those same news agencies that thought the Internet was a fad even in 1998?
Seriously funny.
Posted by: Mark | March 9, 2010, 9:44 am 9:44 am
I wonder why ABC News is downsizing? How about reporting the news from both sides!
By the way it took 8 years to have Health Insurance prices double, under your saviour it only took 8 months.
I ask who does Obama really work?
Posted by: Dan | March 9, 2010, 9:44 am 9:44 am
I can not add much to the vast majority (must be a right wing conspiracy) of comments save to say I am disgusted more than ever with Obama and his ilk. My opinion of the M.S.M. is as low as it gets. When will they wake up to their unprofessional,degrading and partison performance.
Posted by: d bianco | March 9, 2010, 9:45 am 9:45 am
Typical main stream media reporting now a days.. Hey ABC, why don’t you do some real journalism and dig into these allegations? I think this is the “tip of the iceberg” with this administration and how they do things. I believe that all the dems that are dropping out of the race in November might actually be necessary casualities of this administration. Harold Ford of TN wants to run for senate in NY and then all of a sudden, no?? There is more to this than meets the eye. Shame on every news organization for not looking in to this! Shame on you for judging Massa to protect this White House. We are in big trouble in this country right now!
Posted by: teresa | March 9, 2010, 9:45 am 9:45 am
Eric Massa was my representative. Even though I am a Republican, I was impressed with him for one reason – he listened to his constituents. I attended a town hall meeting he had in August and he stayed until every person there had a chance to ask a question or voice an opinion. He was honest about what he stood for – even if people disagreed. I completely believe his allegations against the administration and, ABC, it would be in your best interest to investigate them instead of immediately castigating Massa.
Posted by: Cave Canem | March 9, 2010, 9:46 am 9:46 am
The MSM also tried to sell us that the Edwards affair story was just not true or newsworthy. The only magazine to do actual dectective reporting was the national enquirer. What is wrong with the American media! They defend Omama at each and every step. I’m no longer buying the propaganda you are selling. Do your job…be unbiased!
Posted by: Will | March 9, 2010, 9:46 am 9:46 am
Can you see beyond the agenda they allow you? You are not a journalist, your nothing more then a parrot.
Nothing he is saying is beyond belief when looked at through the eyes of the Chicago Thugs.
Man up and take a stand based in reality rather then be a puppet of the admin.
Posted by: SteveO | March 9, 2010, 9:46 am 9:46 am
I love it! Democrat cat fight with two naked guys in the showers! One, an ex ballet dancer and the other accused of sexually harassing a male staffer. What’s next? Nude greco-roman wrestling between Barney Frank and Stupak? I haven’t seen so much idiotic amusement in Washington since the days of Billy and Lillian and Jimmah mandating who used the WH tennis court! And they said that the democrats couldn’t run anything! Of course they can….. into the ground per usual!
Posted by: Mike | March 9, 2010, 9:47 am 9:47 am
What is that I hear? The slow, rotting from within of the what used to be the envy of the world – a truly free press.
Enjoy your Obama underoos Klein, you just put one more nail in your own industry’s coffin.
Long live the new media.
Posted by: EdSki | March 9, 2010, 9:47 am 9:47 am
I agree with the poster who mentioned Bunning, who was voting against a bill because WE COULD NOT PAY FOR IT (what a novel idea!). ABC, why go after a representative who is behaving in an economically responsible manner? Why give the likes of Rangel a pass?
Posted by: Cave Canem | March 9, 2010, 9:48 am 9:48 am
Bought and paid for. this guy fits in perfectly at abc
wake up sheep
Posted by: A.Patriot | March 9, 2010, 9:49 am 9:49 am
Typical liberal response, calling him ‘paranoid.’ Paranoid people usually do not have facts – Massa had facts, dates, situations – not typical of ‘paranoid ramblings.’ Sounds like the truth to me, and completely congruent with Emanuel’s style and liberal perambulation of the truth.
Posted by: Irish96 | March 9, 2010, 9:49 am 9:49 am
I think he has changed his story about why he is quitting because he is mad and wants to tell the truth about why they are forcing him out of congress. Since when have the Dems ever forced someone to leave because of sexual harassment. That other Dem several yrs back was messing around with the house pages. Instead of running him out they applauded when he enter the house floor, to show the Rep. how much they supported him. Everyone knows he wouldn’t be leaving if he was a big supporter of the health care bill. I bet whoever takes his place will be a Yes man to the Pres. and Rahm.
Posted by: Neal Ramsey WV | March 9, 2010, 9:49 am 9:49 am
It is not for Rick Klein to decide what is to be take seriously. When he begins his report in such a dismissive manner perhaps it is he we should not take seriously.
Posted by: Saeed Mahboub | March 9, 2010, 9:49 am 9:49 am
ABC= anotherone broadcasting communism
Posted by: A.Patriot | March 9, 2010, 9:50 am 9:50 am
Rick, I am impressed. Hwo can you tyoe with your nose wedged between Obama’s “two pillows…..those aren’t pillows”….seriously, I can read the love dripping from your words. It makes me sick to my stomach.
Posted by: mrcohiba | March 9, 2010, 9:50 am 9:50 am
No one can be surprised at the slant ABC has on this. STILL in the tank after all this time.
Posted by: Nick | March 9, 2010, 9:50 am 9:50 am
When you talk about News Media look at how Obama’s career started The Chicago Sun Times sent their exec.s to California to dig up dirt on his opposition. What would the News Media want for this? They don’t believe in charity. That was for Senator now he is President and the News Media still is watching out for him. What is the President giving them?
Not rambling, check his election in Chicago, if they haven’t lost their coverage of that period.
Posted by: Dan | March 9, 2010, 9:50 am 9:50 am
Would anybody have predicted this article 13 months ago?After the press kept up the myth of the brilliant Obama, we see a totally disfunctional administration.What was Rahm doing in a shower with this character?Who is minding the store?
Posted by: Nephron | March 9, 2010, 9:50 am 9:50 am
Does anyone think Rahm isn’t capable of this stuff? Huh?
So if anyone had a real set of media cubes THAT’S what they’d be focusing on instead of reflexively attacking Massa. Regardless of whatever Massa has otherwise done.
Posted by: bubbabgone | March 9, 2010, 9:50 am 9:50 am
ABC=aint believable cr&p
Posted by: A.Patriot | March 9, 2010, 9:51 am 9:51 am
ABC: Absolutely Bama’ Channel
Posted by: SunnyDisposition | March 9, 2010, 9:52 am 9:52 am
So my question is to any ABC bigwig that might be reading these comments (not likely but you never know).
Your ratings are way down.
Your add revenue is at rock bottom and you are having to downsize to stay afloat.
When are you going to realize that being in the tank for Obama is going to be your downfall?
Posted by: Mikey | March 9, 2010, 9:52 am 9:52 am
How can abc allow this propoganda to be associated with them. When their last viewer leaves, are they gonna get a “bailout”? code for pay off.
Posted by: A.patriot | March 9, 2010, 9:53 am 9:53 am
Klein, your not believable!
Careless reporting.
Your going to ruin your reporting career if you keep it up.
Posted by: A. James | March 9, 2010, 9:54 am 9:54 am
Why they keep talking about health care when most of the American people are against it is just mind boggling. What we really need are jobs. This administration is against the private sector so we will be in a funk until the next election for president.Obama is only working for andy stern and the seiu to take down the country with their rules for radical agenda. The Cloward–Piven strategy is a political strategy to overwhelm the system. The government cannot solve all the problems. Government needs to shrink and get out of the way. Abc and the rest of the progressive/liberal ilk need to stop with their death march for the progressives because the rest of us Americans have figuared it out.
Posted by: toray99 | March 9, 2010, 9:55 am 9:55 am
I can see Rahn Emanuel doing this. The man is a squirt and clearly has a Napoelonic Complex and loves throwing his weight around. Bribing and imtimidation is his craft.
Posted by: Dorothy | March 9, 2010, 9:55 am 9:55 am
Typical reaction from someone who is drinking the statist kool aid. The author, Rick Klein, is not just drinking it, he’s pouring. When the message is not one that the White house likes, Klein is there to try his darndest to throw some more lye on the body.
Posted by: Bren | March 9, 2010, 9:55 am 9:55 am
LOL! Dems on Dems! Now at your favorite newstand!
The REAL STORY my friends is that we have Dems attacking Insurance Companies that “cost too much” and I will agree…insurance costs too much! But what we DON’T Hear from Dems is why health care Provider costs are so high!
The reason…Providers charge what they know they can negotiate down to with Insurance Companies. How about regulating EVERYONE’s salary, EVERYONE’s fee schedules. Oh? What? That would be socialistic? You got it! So why JUST Insurance?…Follow the campaign funds folks!
Posted by: ClarkOHrepub | March 9, 2010, 9:57 am 9:57 am
…”silly and ridiculous”…”self-contradicting”…”borderline paranoid ramblings”…Do these describe the current President? His mouthpiece? Is this the “naked” truth?
Posted by: what Not | March 9, 2010, 9:57 am 9:57 am
Rick Klein, don’t you understand that to come out denouncing someone without any facts at all and injecting your personal opinion into your story takes away from your status as a reporter? You should re-read your story as if you were a non-reporter and try to determine if you have any facts in your story. Then, imagine if this was a story in 2006 about a new Senator John Thune making these remarks about the President’s Chief of Staff Karl Rove. Would you have written the story the same way? Look deep within yourself and ask yourself that question and answer as truthfully as you can. Perhaps the answer to your question will make you a better reporter, sir. I certainly hope so.
Posted by: JcT | March 9, 2010, 9:57 am 9:57 am
abc has to read all these posts. They really must be in bed with BO, et al, because I think maybe 1% of these posts are pro abc. If a news alert came on I would watch scyfy for news before I would trust abc.
Posted by: A.Patriot | March 9, 2010, 9:58 am 9:58 am
Mr Klein, if Congressman Massa is so unbelievable why did it take you 51 paragraphs and 2,762 words to try to convince us?
Posted by: Randy | March 9, 2010, 9:59 am 9:59 am
This article is such political waste that I can’t force myself to read the entire thing. They will do an in depth report to vindicate their favorites (Dem. party) but completely gloss over something that is so apparently blantant, that they would have to be from another planet in order to miss the story in err i.e John Edwards. They have absolutely no credibility at all for they repeated and obvious journalistic malpractice.
Posted by: Neal Ramsey WV | March 9, 2010, 9:59 am 9:59 am
Nice try Rick. If it were a Republican administration and house member, this entire article would be skewed to illustrate “The divide inside the GOP”.
Yet another mainstream lackey – I hope you sleep well at night.
Posted by: calltoclaude | March 9, 2010, 10:00 am 10:00 am
Ughh I’m getting sick of all this trashing of the health insurance companies. Obama is an ignorant college professor who doesn’t know how the world or business works.
Posted by: The_Capitalist | March 9, 2010, 10:00 am 10:00 am
Klein isn’t a journalist-he’s a mouthpiece writing what he is told to write by the White House.
I’m sure we will see Klein be given a job there after his usefulness as a “reporter” is done.
And judging by these comments-I’d say he’s done.
Care to step out from behind the monitor and debate your critics Klein? I’m guessing NO.
Posted by: ironchefiofmunchies@yahoo.com | March 9, 2010, 10:00 am 10:00 am
In the third paragraph Klein teases the story…”Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings need not necessarily be taken seriously, even when uttered by someone who, until now, held a seat in Congress…”
And then?
Then nothing. Nada. Klein calls himself a journalist, but fails to even TRY to support the charge that Massa is either self-contradicting or paranoid. Not even a tiny attempt…
Journalist? No. Syncophant? Definitely.
Posted by: Bob Hayles | March 9, 2010, 10:04 am 10:04 am
And people were afraid of Carl Rove? George Bush and company were adults compared to Obama’s group of Chicago thugs. I hope all you who wanted this hope and change enjoy this rape of America.
Posted by: Milt | March 9, 2010, 10:04 am 10:04 am
Thank you Rick for YOUR “paranoid ramblings”. You have fired me up even more for the next 2 elections!
Posted by: Dan | March 9, 2010, 10:06 am 10:06 am
ABC = All Barack Campaigners
Posted by: ClarkOHrepub | March 9, 2010, 10:06 am 10:06 am
I have blocked viewing of the All Barack Channel in my household. We will not watch it, for anything, including entertainment, sports, and most especially “news”. So-called “journalism” like this article is the reason. I hope the Obama sycophants at ABC, and, most especially, their sponsors, are reading this. You are nothing more than flacks for the most corrupt, inept Administration in history. Worst President, Ever.
Posted by: MrT | March 9, 2010, 10:09 am 10:09 am
Jeez Rick — Next time, for the sake of plausibility if not pride, allow us at least a modicum of doubt as to which political party is paying you for your product!
Posted by: rgddn | March 9, 2010, 10:10 am 10:10 am
I ended on this article thru Drudgereport; now I see why I don’t read nor watch ABC. I voted for this administration and ashamed to admit it; now i am SO SORRY to a point I am hoping for the bringing back the Bush Admn back! this is a bunch of unprofessional incompetent ruthless condenscending arrogant thugs.
American has been downgraded terribly
Posted by: TnT | March 9, 2010, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Ya know…..the story wouldn’t be there….if there wasn’t something to it. Not in Washington.
We shouldn’t be too quick to gloss over this…..there could be a lot more truth to what Massa is saying, than the Dems want you to believe.
The point being….we have been seeing the kind of dictatorial behavior, and the kind of under-the-table deals, that would make most people in this country shudder…..if they knew the truth…..and perhaps you might be a little less willing to “overlook” Massa’s story……as there could well be more truth there, than in any of Gibb’s “spin”.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | March 9, 2010, 10:13 am 10:13 am
ABC News? Is that not an oxymoron? Orwellian, no? The news agencies responsibility is now to kill the news.
Posted by: gert | March 9, 2010, 10:14 am 10:14 am
This is starting to look like Clinton’s “bimbo eruptions.” When the story first comes out, the Administration attacks the victim and a compliant media help in the whitewash. As a dozen more “No” Democrats come limping out of the shower with broken arms, are we going to call them crazy too and say nothing happened? I still say the Administration should record and publish the transcript of every conversation they have when they’re trying to convince Members to change their vote in favor of the Senate bill. That way, we’ll know how many more Cornhusker Kickbacks and Louisiana Purchases are stuck in there in the dark of night….
Posted by: D. MCArthur | March 9, 2010, 10:15 am 10:15 am
It’s ABC “News”; what do you expect?
Posted by: Jimbo | March 9, 2010, 10:17 am 10:17 am
Now there’s a visual! Rahm Emanuel in the Senate gym showers with no clothes on doing what he does best, intimidating others in the Senate! This will be hard to forget, but not suprising. When you lie with dogs, you get fleas. I don’t mean to insult the dogs!
Posted by: mrbenz7 | March 9, 2010, 10:17 am 10:17 am
This shows just how far ABC will go to cover for the Obama Administration. Can you imagine if the Bush chief of staff yelled at someone in the shower???
Posted by: Chuck | March 9, 2010, 10:17 am 10:17 am
Chicago thuggery, shower room intimadation and corruption from the White House? Who knew? Nancy Pelosi, it’s going down the tubes. Fast…
Posted by: Ricky | March 9, 2010, 10:17 am 10:17 am
Why can’t ABC just tell the truth…Obama is in over his head
Posted by: bob | March 9, 2010, 10:17 am 10:17 am
There is no doubt that ABC is a large part of the Obama Whitehouse. Carrying the torch for those who would ruin the Country.
Posted by: greg miller | March 9, 2010, 10:17 am 10:17 am
Simply don’t trust main stream media
anymore. IMHO. Deamonizing public dissent. Covering for Nafta, GATT.
Naysaying freedom. Coddling illegal
aliens. Promoting marxists. Throwing
elections. Enabling graft, corruption. IMHO. I fired them years ago. WD
Posted by: willy drifix | March 9, 2010, 10:19 am 10:19 am
Joe Klein: How did you research this article?
Q)Did you find out how Rahm knew when Massa would be at the gym?
Q)Did Rahm have an intern spy on Massa for him?
Q)Did Rahm work out?
Q)Did Rahm hide and wait for Massa to enter the shower?
Q)Did Rahm then remove his clothes (w/out working out) and go to the showers to confront him?
Q)Did you interview the intern that Massa was inappropriate with?
HOW DID YOU RESEARCH THIS CRAP ARTICLE. Where is journalism these days. Working on a new book that you want to tell us about? What about early retirement?
Posted by: vic | March 9, 2010, 10:21 am 10:21 am
Come on ABC, could could put a better spin on it for your man Rahm. Come on Klein-your not even trying.
Posted by: stevemb12 | March 9, 2010, 10:23 am 10:23 am
I am so happy to see/read all these posts. Almost every single person posting knows that Klien is pro-Obama and has written a completely biased and factless story, in an attempt to provide cover for the administration.
This article is a shining example of why ABC is dying. I can only hope that Klien reads these posts and gets a wake up call. We, the people, no longer believe this crap, we are awake and watching! ABC is not and never will be again, the news power house it once was. we have too many other sources availble to us to get our news. Sources which are much more truthful and fact based then ABC.
Posted by: Evasive | March 9, 2010, 10:24 am 10:24 am
Rham is like a stinkin’ high school bully in the gym showers, there’s only one way to deal with bullys!!!
Posted by: Brian | March 9, 2010, 10:25 am 10:25 am
i see that right-wingnut interns are in full swing today. ODS continues.
Pace yourselves for a long 7 more years !
Posted by: New Wave | March 9, 2010, 10:27 am 10:27 am
I thought, because Obama said so, that the election was over there would be no more campaigning. What a jerk. And his goons are even worse. God help us!
Posted by: Tom bargeron | March 9, 2010, 10:27 am 10:27 am
We now hear that Sarah Palin got healthcare services from Canada taking advantage of the Canadian Health System.
Thoughts?
Posted by: New Wave | March 9, 2010, 10:28 am 10:28 am
Never would have thought Rahm was a nudist who likes to run around and have meetings in the nude.
will never look at him the smae again or seriously. LOL!!
Posted by: scott jeffries | March 9, 2010, 10:29 am 10:29 am
After witnessing all the behind the door deals, bribes etc, I’d say this situation takes on more than “just a whiff” of believability. I plan to watch Massa on Glen Beck this evening to get a better handle.
Posted by: Kathy | March 9, 2010, 10:31 am 10:31 am
Rahm Emanuel is like a rabid pit bull, that’s why the President wants him around.
Emanuel applies the pressure and Obama can keep his hands clean.
Posted by: hkdakota | March 9, 2010, 10:34 am 10:34 am
THIS IS THE MOST CORRUPT ADMINISTRATION IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
THE LIST IS GETTING LONGER. DEMOCRATS ARE JUMPING SHIP, OR MADE TO WALK THE PLANK.
EVAN BAYH LEFT BECAUSE HE DIDN’T WANT TO SERVE WITH THE CRUD IN WASHINGTON.
DAVID PATTERSON SUDDENLY DECIDES NOT TO RUN,AFTER HE HAD PREVIOUSLY SAID HE WOULD RUN COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.
MASSA MAY (OR MAY NOT) BE A PERVERT, BUT HE IS CERTAINLY TICKED OFF ABOUT SOMETHING.
ROD BLAGOAVICH, SAYS HE WAS FRAMED,AND THEY WON’T ALLOW ALL THE TAPES TO BE HEARD.ETC.ETC.ETC.
THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING STINKY GOING ON IN WASHINGTON!
Posted by: Proud American | March 9, 2010, 10:34 am 10:34 am
To the best of my knowledge the meeting on health last week did not include one MD, RN,DDS, Pharmacist , Vet or chirapractor and I am supposed to believe these clowns? GW
Posted by: Dr Glen Whitten | March 9, 2010, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Obama’s cheerleaders to the rescue! ABC, a network of Progresssssive silly gooses.
Your credibility is shot – hang it up!
Posted by: Stacie | March 9, 2010, 10:35 am 10:35 am
I can’t imagine a “SO CALLED” credible news agency not dotting the I’s and crossing the t’s before making a statment about this controversy. It shows how far the “PROPOGANDA MINISTRY” and their CZARS have gotten in America. When Americans take back their country, the media fools must be held accountable for their mis-judgements of the American intellegence and charactor.
Posted by: Lone Eagle | March 9, 2010, 10:35 am 10:35 am
“”"”"”Pace yourselves for a long 7 more years !”"”"”
Posted by: New Wave
Yeah right. News flash, Obama overstated his savings estimate by over $800 billion in 10 years. But, this article is about Rahm and his antics.
Posted by: lfrichar | March 9, 2010, 10:37 am 10:37 am
When the mainstream media can’t hide a story, they attack the messenger. Any reputable news agency would be looking into charges that the President’s chief of staff is using creepy thug tactics to intimidate members of Congress.
Posted by: felixw | March 9, 2010, 10:39 am 10:39 am
This ‘reporter’ does not have an advanced degree in clinical psychology, yet labels a Congressman a borderline paranoid. Wishful thinking at best and at worst, apologetics. Klein and ABC ‘News’ continue to downplay any news item contrary to their liberal agenda, and up-play anything supportive of it. You won’t get news here, just biased opinion. No wonder they tank in the ratings. America’s fourth estate is in foreclosure.
mark woodworth
Posted by: Mark | March 9, 2010, 10:40 am 10:40 am
Hey, Rick – nice dark gray suit; blue power tie; nice ‘do from the salon, (can’t see but I’m sure probably a nice manicure), nice story – first out of the box to get the Dem damage control started – all this should work to your advantage when the WH goes looking for Gibbs’ replacement. Way to go!
Posted by: Tom | March 9, 2010, 10:40 am 10:40 am
State-run media personalities lining-up to do the Administrations bidding- get Massa. Massa probably has some truth to his allegations- all D’crats denying it with all their heart. This group of Democrats are incapable of telling the truth.
Posted by: Jpatt | March 9, 2010, 10:40 am 10:40 am
Why don’t you *investigate* the claims? Never mind, we already know why.
Posted by: Patriot Act | March 9, 2010, 10:41 am 10:41 am
I stopped reading this artilce as soon as I got to “if we are to believe his hardly credible word.”
Thanks for admitting your bias early so I did not have to read anymore of your opinion piece. (I assume you would not call it a news piece.)
Posted by: admit bias early | March 9, 2010, 10:41 am 10:41 am
Massa’s allegations cleary comport with what this administration has already demonstrated it is all about: arrogance. Arrogance toward Republicans, the people and it’s own.
Posted by: Elbert | March 9, 2010, 10:42 am 10:42 am
What exact part of Massa’s statements are paranoid?
Massa, I believe used to be a sailor, and the description of what he said at the wedding reception sounds exactly like what a sailor, would say. Except, I doubt “fracking” was the actually modifier used. Yes, even if he were an officer and a gentleman, he’d probably would still say it.
I am sure most people that have been in the military or Air Force will agree with me. Anyway, just because one is paranoid does not mean someone isn’t’ out to get you.
Posted by: GoNavy | March 9, 2010, 10:44 am 10:44 am
So the people don’t want (at least this version of) health care legislation, they want jobs. Obama wants health care because he thinks it will be his legacy and has now spent over a quarter of his presidency pursuing that instead. Is this government by the people?
Posted by: montucky | March 9, 2010, 10:45 am 10:45 am
Obama has always used the “Big Lie” method of propaganda…tell the Big Lie, it is so rediculous that no one would think a sane person would tell such a lie that it MUST be true. A with complete control of the propaganda ministy (ABC, CBS, etc) the Big Lie is believed.
Posted by: Tess of Uberville | March 9, 2010, 10:46 am 10:46 am
You Kool-Aid buzz is palpable in how you write past the allegations. A perfect example of what’s wrong with American journalism. No wonder newsrooms are being downsized: take out the middleman and connect the DNC’s news feed directly to the front page.
I don’t know if the NY congressman is nuts or not. I do know he hasn’t done anything compared to what a truckload or more have already done.
Lost confidence in the media is second only to lost confidence in our government. We were promised change. Well, here it is: even nastier politics and sock-puppet journalists.
Posted by: charlie | March 9, 2010, 10:46 am 10:46 am
Interesting article conerning Congressman Messa and his troubles, Mr. Klein. But what if he is telling the truth? What does that make you and Mr. Gibbs and Mr. Emanuel, et al look like?
Posted by: James Bailey | March 9, 2010, 10:47 am 10:47 am
you are NOT Paranoid if they really ARE out to get you!
Posted by: Billy | March 9, 2010, 10:49 am 10:49 am
Spin Spin Spin…That’s why nobody buys papers and we don’t believe you anymore…you are so in the tank for your socialist agenda you’ll ignore anything if it doesn’t fit your agenda.
Posted by: Tony Colletti | March 9, 2010, 10:50 am 10:50 am
I’m 89 years old. My grandaughter sat me down and showed me how to familierize myself to the internet. I’m writing this from her small computer.
I asked her to do the same for my friends at our local AARP meeting. Well the presentation drew about 120 folks that acted as if they had been missing out on life and REAL current events. Our local senior citizens center now has 20 computers with lines to get to them. Today I’m taking 20 or so folks to purhcase computers and a select provider. What have we been missing? Don’t know but do know we all have 18 hours a day of free time to catch up.
Wil
Posted by: Wilmet | March 9, 2010, 10:50 am 10:50 am
I too live in Upstate NY and the earlier poster is correct. Massa had alot of town halls and took big time grief but listened and was very upfront on what he supported. As an actual middle class working American I don’t agree with him but I can respect him. If the reported had done any research he would know that Massa actually wanted the public option and an even more Socialistic Health Care Bill. Massa has proven himself to be pretty much a straight shooter although everyone has skeletons in their closets. Now Obama and Emanual also have proven themselves as well, to be boldfaced liars, as witnessed by things like “all negotiations on CSPAN ect…” So unless you want Rahm visiting you next time you’re in the shower you might want think long and hard who you are pulling the lever for in November. And don’t bother to read ABC news for actual facts since it is just the White House’s personal newsletter.
Posted by: joesockit | March 9, 2010, 10:51 am 10:51 am
The chart below where our tax dollars are going – it very clearly shows how much the US Government has to “invest” into a state for every tax dollar they “take” – it is clear it is mostly the RED States – the Conservatives – The Wing Nuts – who take more than their share – why do you take more than you give?
FY 2005 RANKINGS
STATES MOST DEPENDENT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
State Outlay to Tax Ratio Ranking
New Mexico $2.03 1
Mississippi $2.02 2
Alaska $1.84 3
Louisiana $1.78 4
West Virginia $1.76 5
North Dakota $1.68 6
Alabama $1.66 7
South Dakota $1.53 8
Kentucky $1.51 9
Virginia $1.51 10
STATES LEAST DEPENDENT ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
State Outlay to Tax Ratio Ranking
Colorado $0.81 41
New York $0.79 42
California $0.78 43
Delaware $0.77 44
Illinois $0.75 45
Minnesota $0.72 46
New Hampshire $0.71 47
Connecticut $0.69 48
Nevada $0.65 49
New Jersey $0.61 50
Mississippi, as an example, pays $1 in taxes and gets back $2.02 – seems like a good deal for the Republican “keep your hands off” districts and States. The true Welfare queens are the Red States and Republicant’s – it’s is the Liberals who supply the breast to feed the babies in the Red States. So tell me again Wing Nuts, why are you opposed to HCR if you are already living off the public treat?
Posted by: New Wave | March 9, 2010, 10:51 am 10:51 am
poor sods if it doesn’t serve YOUR purpose let’s denounce it as ‘CRAZY PERSON’ – trouble is ABC nobody believes you anymore only your lefty disciples….trouble is brewing and the top is coming off the lid because the dems will not get into controlling power again – not in my lifetime after this destructive fiasco – Rather was right the Kenyan couldn’t sell watermelons.
Posted by: jackspratt1 | March 9, 2010, 10:53 am 10:53 am
Talk about a rambling, incoherrent mess! Could anyone really follow paragraph after paragraph of quotations and summaries?
Yikes!
Posted by: Shaun | March 9, 2010, 10:55 am 10:55 am
Wow! I try to only visit this ABC site once every couple of months or so because of reports like this… Klein is absolutely shameless in his defense of the Obama Administration. Hey Ricky! Do you even take the time to read your own drivel?
Posted by: JackbootedGOPer | March 9, 2010, 10:56 am 10:56 am
What was Rahm doing naked in the “House” gym? Isn’t there a metro station close to the white house?
Posted by: opiniononly | March 9, 2010, 10:56 am 10:56 am
I and tens of millions are out of work and this President is still pushing his health care takeover.
Posted by: JoeHanson | March 9, 2010, 10:57 am 10:57 am
I’m surprised at the comments countering your silly, ridiculous “reporting”.
I figured there would be at least a few ABC news watchers defending Rahm.
But folks are on to you and them, mate.
Perhaps you can go on assignement to report on white militants or something.
That seems to be currently in vogue as you try to vilify conservatives.
We get Rahm’s message. It isn’t muddled. He needs to be stopped.
Posted by: EdgyOldDude | March 9, 2010, 10:58 am 10:58 am
Mr. Klein, The world must seem pretty sweet through your self-imposed blindness. Keep it up and you’ll never have to feel guilty for championing that reprehensible administration in the WH.
Posted by: astralweeks | March 9, 2010, 10:59 am 10:59 am
The mainstream media now has about as much relevence to my life as an episode of The Simpsons. Don’t bother with any fact checking (the writers of The Simpsons don;t, and they’re much more popular than ABC News!). Pathetic. This administration is corrupt to the bone – the main reason Obama needs teleprompters is to keep his lies straight!
Posted by: Lig | March 9, 2010, 10:59 am 10:59 am
Do you think this guy Massa is more or less mentally ill than Barney Frank?
Posted by: Speck Philtor | March 9, 2010, 10:59 am 10:59 am
And they keep scratching they head and wondering why Fox is eating their lunch. Keep carrying water for the DNC Rick and people will keep flocking to the only real news outlet left.
Posted by: Paul in Pittsburgh | March 9, 2010, 10:59 am 10:59 am
He is not Paranoid…Look at what the DEMOCRATIC MACHINE did to Gov of NY Patterson…Obama has asked him “nicely” twice over the last few months NOT TO RUN for Governor again. Patterson stood up to them and low and behold…DIRT appears about him that FORCES him not to RUN!! They are forcing all dissenters out…only hard-core communist need apply or face political suicide
Posted by: Old Dem Tricks. | March 9, 2010, 10:59 am 10:59 am
I find it laughable that you go to such lengths to discredit this individual with your constant references towards his ethics (or lack thereof). Suddenly because he is saying something against his party, what he says has no credibility? Is Rangle still a good Democrat even though he has sold his ethics and can’t figure out the very tax laws he helps write?
I’m a non-affiliated voter, but have had enough of the politics-as-usual from both parties. Neither can claim the ethical high ground. More and more Americans are figuring this out. Many can also see the obvious party bias you have. Your pretense of journalistic objectivity is transparent.
Posted by: Dan Geiger | March 9, 2010, 11:00 am 11:00 am
This is what we get for voting a guy into the presidency with no track record. We didn’t know what we were getting when we voted him in, so shame on us for what we now have. I’ll be honest…I didn’t vote for Obama, but I found myself cautiously optimistic and hopeful that he could bring change for the good, but I lived in Chicago for four years so I should have known better.
Posted by: john | March 9, 2010, 11:01 am 11:01 am
So, instead of actually INVESTIGATING the allegations, ABC “NEWS” decides to just spew White House talking points and biased opinion as fact !!! And those in the main stream media wonder why no one trusts them or listens to them any longer ?!?!?!?! Some REAL journalism every now and then sure would be nice !!!
Posted by: SHEEPDOG | March 9, 2010, 11:05 am 11:05 am
Good responses by just about everybody here. Looks like the vast majority of Americans have figured this out now. I can’t wait for November . . .
Posted by: TexasPatriot | March 9, 2010, 11:06 am 11:06 am
Why is the author in such a hurry to discredit Massa. How about just a tiny bit of interest in the charges to maybe practice a little journalism and discover if they hold any weight. How reporters can be so incurious and keep their jobs is beyond me.
Posted by: Richard | March 9, 2010, 11:08 am 11:08 am
Massa Drama: Democratic Congressman Muddles Rahm’s Message: Massa may be no saint, but wait! He’s a saint compared to what’s coming with this Marxist(anti-messiah) Revolution in America! Watch! A planned economic crash is coming! It will make 1929 look like small stuff! Glenn Beck seems to get it! Watch him on Fox News Channel at 5:00pm EST!
Posted by: Victor Barney | March 9, 2010, 11:08 am 11:08 am
What a shill. Instead of investigating the matter he just attacks the person. Please, we’re well versed in this sort of Ad Hominem attack and it just doesn’t work anymore. The sheep have awakened, but you apparently slept through the alarm.
Posted by: eleven | March 9, 2010, 11:11 am 11:11 am
All this president can DO is campaign. someone ought to tell him it’s time to DO SOMETHING that needs to be done NOW rather then TALK ABOUT IT (JOBS, JOBS, JOBS), which is all he seems capable of doing now.
Someone also should remind him he works for WE THE PEOPLE at not his radical friends on the far Left, not to mention the labor unions.
Posted by: Joseph | March 9, 2010, 11:14 am 11:14 am
Your editor missed this one.
“Massa, the soon-to-be-former Democratic congressman from upstate New York, gets another spin through the news cycle,….”
Corrected, “Massa, the soon-to-be-former Democratic congressman from upstate New York, gets another cycle through the news spin,….”
Posted by: justmy2cents | March 9, 2010, 11:15 am 11:15 am
Where would the Dems be without the MainStreamMedia whose opinions have been foisted upon me my long years (who would have guessed 100% of MSM journalists vote Liberal Democrat). Thank you Rush, FoxNews and Drudge the principals of Ronaldus Maximus may return in my lifetime, oh baby!
Posted by: Andy | March 9, 2010, 11:15 am 11:15 am
Did Robert Gibbs write this article for you? Pathetic. No attempt to investigate, only a blatant effort to kill the story.
Posted by: JimInNashville | March 9, 2010, 11:16 am 11:16 am
This is what we get for voting a guy into the presidency with no track record. We didn’t know what we were getting when we voted him in, so shame on us for what we now have. I’ll be honest…I didn’t vote for Obama, but I found myself cautiously optimistic and hopeful that he could bring change for the good, but I lived in Chicago for four years so I should have known better.
Posted by: john | March 9, 2010, 11:17 am 11:17 am
Remeber the movie “Gaslight”? Yeah, and that Robert Gibbs is a reliable source on this story. I am really, really tired of being treated like a I am not smart enough to see through this crap. Obama and his gang of thugs are going down and I love to watch. Does that make me bad?
Posted by: pattieb | March 9, 2010, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Does this photo scare anyone else?
Posted by: LongT | March 9, 2010, 11:19 am 11:19 am
Ontario, Canada currently spends about $.50 of every tax dollar on health care. As PJ O’Rourke said; “If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it’s free.”
Posted by: carl | March 9, 2010, 11:19 am 11:19 am
Gone in 2012…..
Posted by: LongT | March 9, 2010, 11:19 am 11:19 am
Dear ABC news and Mr. Klein,
I was moved to comment on this story due to its blantant conviction of Sen. Massa as a liar. And at the same time you are attempting to convience your readers that he is a defector and puppet in some way for the GOP.
You can spew qoutes til Doomsday, but here is what we know.
Rahm has frequently been cited as a foul mouthed, bully who domainates congress and the senate in anyway he knows how. Did he do what Massa claims? More than likely based on his track record.
The current healthcare reform bill is not what EVERYONE wants…period.
Gee Mister if it were so grand everyone would vote for it, hence no problem. I actually read that long winded rhetoric and it is a timebomb of socialism waiting to happen.
Why the stress on pusing this lousy written bill through when the majority of the American people would rather see the focus on our economy and improving it through the development of more domestic jobs.
Here’s a real piece you should write about.
Why aren’t American businesses that export jobs overseas viewed as Benedict Arnold?
We are assisting countries such as India in becoming a world power a dollar at a time. This will be our real undoing.
Mr. Obama is a functional mutation of our present society and if the DNC and his administration don’t do an immediate about face, I believe we will see more action on the part of the American people than just waving teabags and poster board. Our very culture and nation is at stake here.
Do some real reporting and cease and desist on the rumor mongering.
Thank you, you may now resume your usual programming.
Posted by: Dreamtime | March 9, 2010, 11:21 am 11:21 am
You can’t say his statements are self-contradicting without saying why you think so Klein. When you call someone a liar you have to back it up with evidence, otherwise you’re just name-calling. In my experience, people don’t do that unless they have an agenda. What’s yours Klein?
Posted by: MoJeffersonLesMarx | March 9, 2010, 11:22 am 11:22 am
If you leaned more to the left Klein, I’d have to get a 2×4 to prop myself up to keep from falling over. The lap dog media strikes again and this is just another reason that ABC et al are failing in the eyes of the public.
Posted by: 1GregM | March 9, 2010, 11:23 am 11:23 am
A nation can survive its fools and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor, he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their agreements, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague.—Marcus Cicero
Posted by: 1GregM | March 9, 2010, 11:23 am 11:23 am
Talk about rambling… what?
Posted by: t | March 9, 2010, 11:24 am 11:24 am
Talk about delusional ramblings, this blog is on the same level as the unabomber manifesto. If Rick Klein could put his thoughts into 120 words or less, that would be more of a kicker than his examples. It would be best if the ABC News editors gave this blog space to all of those ABC News political interns.
Posted by: Calvin Hobbes | March 9, 2010, 11:24 am 11:24 am
Thanks for reporting the truth Klein and ABC! (sarcasm)
Posted by: Bess Byers | March 9, 2010, 11:26 am 11:26 am
The remedy for this total disaster of an Obamamination is named SARAH HEATH PALIN. She will staighten out these thugs 123! That’s why THEY ARE afraid of her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Sarah2012 | March 9, 2010, 11:27 am 11:27 am
My how the Dems and their propaganda arm, the state run media, squeal when hit by the truth!
Posted by: ricardo maxwell | March 9, 2010, 11:27 am 11:27 am
insert straighten for staighten
Posted by: Sarah2012 | March 9, 2010, 11:28 am 11:28 am
Of course, Rahm is what he is.
And, ditto for Obama. Two Chicago
Politicians. Amazing how Rick Klein’s
article never mentions the outright
lies about Obamacare’s cost savings
the President spoke of yesterday.
Does any intelligent citizen believe
to insure 30Million more people and all the other promises made will “reduce”
costs. Name another social program that
was “saved” this country money.
Medicare is going broke, Social Security
is going broke. And yet we are tortured
by this administration’s consistent
misinformation. Investigate it yyourselves.
Posted by: RonPa | March 9, 2010, 11:28 am 11:28 am
So, let me get this straight… Fellow against ObamaCare resigns apparently given no choice and due to a comment in poor taste, which clearly was not a sexual come on. On the other hand, Rangel, who is pro ObamaCare and also lining his pockets as Chair of the House Ways & Means Committee, who is subject to numerous substantive ethics investigations has only temporarily given up his chairmanship, but remains poised to retake it, and there to vote and persuade others to the affirmative on ObamaCare. Give us a break… Corruption is rampant in our government… VOTE THE BUMS OUT!
Posted by: Nash Cooper | March 9, 2010, 11:29 am 11:29 am
Is there a Democrat out there who said NO?
Posted by: TOM | March 9, 2010, 11:31 am 11:31 am
talk about sheep…..ba ba ba blah blah blah blah
Posted by: LongT | March 9, 2010, 11:31 am 11:31 am
Americans better wake up quick! We have an adminstrtion that wants to pass what they call healthcare but if you bother to read it you quickly see that mostly it has nothing to do with healthcare but all to do with control of every American’s life.Why would they need complete access to all of your bank acounts credit cards etc?If this passes then the dems will have pulled off taking us from a Republic to a dictatorship overnight.Wake up America this is not good for you or your children!
Posted by: cccc | March 9, 2010, 11:33 am 11:33 am
What a joke? The truth is slowing unraveling, and the MSM will go down with this Administration. There will be a changing of the guards at most of the media outlets, because no one believes this garbage anymore. Instead of poking around to find out about Rahm, this moron looks to blast the source. Funny, Massa has nothing to lose, he’s just telling the truth!!
Posted by: MC | March 9, 2010, 11:34 am 11:34 am
Massa said that Rahm approached him naked in the congressional shower and began yelling and pointing at his chest. Why wouldn’t I believe that?
Massa said that Rahm telephoned him and cursed him out for not supporting an Obama bill. Why wouldn’t I believe that?
Massa said that Union officials told him that he would not get their support unless he voted yes on health care reform. Why wouldn’t I believe that?
Is Massa excitable? Of course but the entire country bought the no drama smooth talking Obama and look where we are? Look past the messenger to see the message.
Posted by: Landers | March 9, 2010, 11:34 am 11:34 am
What did he say? Never let a crisis waste….don’t let a crisis go to waste? >>> AND lets not forget Burying A STEAK KNIFE into a table yelling Dead!
These are the Criminals we placed into office. Nothing more than mobsters in nice suits. I cant wait until November so we all can show them how appreciative we are. You want to KNOW OBAMA look at this CHIEF of STAFF a CRUDE, out of control ndividual.
WOW SO PROUD EH America??
Obama Fans you really should all LEAVE THE COUNTRY IN SHAME!!!
Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 9, 2010, 11:34 am 11:34 am
Watch Glenn Beck this afternoon. This should be very nice, indeed!
Posted by: Nevlin | March 9, 2010, 11:34 am 11:34 am
CBS/NBC/ABC and CNN are all TOO afraid Of RAHM to print the truth. They shake in their boots because they are SO INVESTED in the advertising of Obama.. Pathetic.
Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 9, 2010, 11:37 am 11:37 am
Way to go ABC! You are giving a lot of weight to a quote from Dr. Goebles:
“Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play.”
and Obama’s tireless rhetoric plays well with another of Dr. Goebles quote:
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”
Posted by: heyrobert | March 9, 2010, 11:37 am 11:37 am
You’re only a ‘whistleblower’ if you out the GOP, right, Klein? Jeez.
Posted by: Noel | March 9, 2010, 11:39 am 11:39 am
Robert Gibbs is now officially Baghdad Bob.
Posted by: leo_s | March 9, 2010, 11:39 am 11:39 am
["Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings need not necessarily be taken seriously"}
The former Soviet Union dealt with "dissidents" by declaring them crazy and paranoid. They hauled these people off and put them in "mental hospitals", filled them full of drugs until they were really were officially crazy. This journalist and the lock step MSM along with this thug WH is very scary. Too much behavior like that of the former USSR.
It is scary that this so called ABC journalist resorts to a Soviet communist technique.
Hopefully, Massa won't end up in a "psychiatric ward" with a so-called "nervous breakdown". If he does, it will have Rahm & Co.'s fingerprints all over it.
Posted by: littleleers | March 9, 2010, 11:39 am 11:39 am
Just because Massa is rambling and fighting mad, doesn’t mean that he is lying about Emanuel. There is always more than one side to a story. I’m listening to what Massa has to say. I can decide for myself. I don’t believe Massa is all smoke as your article would have some readers believe. Try to keep an open mind when writing articles on breaking news stories.
Posted by: Interesting | March 9, 2010, 11:40 am 11:40 am
ABC: The All Barack Channel with classic spin control…
Posted by: NotSurprised | March 9, 2010, 11:41 am 11:41 am
When is the last time the PRESIDENT has had a legitimate PRESS conference where they could ALL ask REAL questions? NOT scripted? THIS MAN IS AN EMPTY SUIT with INSANE THUGS backing him.
Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 9, 2010, 11:41 am 11:41 am
You are a reporter. Report, Man
The American people are not stupid mindless puppets that will follow your news spin anymore.
Wake up and smell Reality because it bites.
We…ARe…Over…the….Liberal media and your ratings will continue to show it.
Posted by: Lisa | March 9, 2010, 11:41 am 11:41 am
You’re not paranoid if they really are out to get you. =)
Posted by: TweedleDee | March 9, 2010, 11:41 am 11:41 am
If Massa would be a Republican and criticize his leadership, would he be ABC News hero???
Posted by: Demo Craps | March 9, 2010, 11:42 am 11:42 am
ABC CBS NBC CNN none of them have the GUTS to investigate this. THEY ARE Pathetic former news organizations who are more interested in writing articles about killer whales than the CHIEF of STAFF being a THUG! Obama and his party of LIARS, THIEVES and THUGS NEED TO GO. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME OBAMA has HELD and open PRESS conference?? PATHETIC.. YOU SHOULD NEVER COVER an Obama campaign RALLY until he answers THE HARD questions with REAL facts. SO far he GOES OUT AND LIES! ! ! !
Posted by: ChicagoBob | March 9, 2010, 11:46 am 11:46 am
The press always seems to enjoy talking down to people, but now that some explanation would be useful they just slam the guy as paranoid. Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t, but I haven’t heard or read anything that makes the case. How about less time labeling the guy and more time picking apart what he said. Call me a rube, but I don’t see a single reason to doubt his word. Seriously – if I’m wrong point it out. Purdy-please?
Posted by: Pat | March 9, 2010, 11:48 am 11:48 am
Hey, Klein!
Read & weep the basic tenor of the average post here! We’re SICK of this!
Get it?
Posted by: Dr. Gunter Knoc | March 9, 2010, 11:49 am 11:49 am
Mr. Klein, are we to believe this entire bizarre story was simply invented?
Who in their right mind would simply fabricate an off-the-wall story about the President’s Chief of Staff having a naked shouting match with a congressman in the House shower room? And admit that he shouted epithets and obscenities in return?
Notwithstanding clear evidence that Massa is a genuine d-bag, I find his story compelling and believable. The capper? Read Gibbs’ comments: HE DENIES NOTHING.
Mr. Klein, when do you get your position in the Obama administration? You’re already unabashedly running defense for them…
Posted by: Ted | March 9, 2010, 11:52 am 11:52 am
ABC News, et al mainstream media outlets… aren’t they the one’s we entrusted to tell the American People truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth during the presidential campaign? Are they not the same one’s who continued to make alibi’s and excuses for their candidate of choice when it came to Rev Wright, ACORN, SEIU, Van Jones, etc., dismissing any disparaging claims as a R-wing conspiracy? So I ask you America… who do you choose to believe now, over a year later when they try to discredit a Dem who speaks out..? after all, aren’t his votes on Cap-n-Trade and Health Reform a matter of record? Is it possible that in the aftermath of Brown winning in MA and the majority of American’s being against this Health bill that they will “do what it takes” to push this bill thru against the majority’s wishes? Why has Charlie Rangle been given a free pass all these years and allowed to “temporarily” step down? Why all of a sudden is this Admin so quick to remove Massa for verbally calling out an aide when Emanuel routinely crushes ego’s with verbal, vulgar attacks… that even BO comments on his colorful language? I don’t know… you tell me
Posted by: Irish2daBone | March 9, 2010, 11:58 am 11:58 am
Rick is obviously very naive to the dirtiness of politics and rushes right past, what seems like, legitimate accusations made by Massa. I don’t smell a conspiracy theory, I just see a dirty fighter like Rahm Emmanuel taking advantage of a small indiscretion so that he can help Obama get the health reform bill passed. Rahm and Obama will do whatever, I mean WHATEVER, it takes to pass this bill. If this writer doesn’t realize that or even consider questioning it, then he has a lot of maturing to do and should perhaps get some more work under his belt before writing for a national news organization.
Posted by: TS Mom | March 9, 2010, 11:58 am 11:58 am
It clearly states that Rick is a REPORTER. When he writes comments like the following:
“Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings need not necessarily be taken seriously,”
that goes way beyond objective reporting to editorializing. Just give us the facts Rick, let us decide.
Posted by: Gary | March 9, 2010, 11:59 am 11:59 am
Klein – biased much?
How about those Dan Rather watermelon comments?
::::Double Standard:::::::
Posted by: Amy | March 9, 2010, 11:59 am 11:59 am
I have to admit that I am not familiar with Mr. Klein’s body of work, but is the above piece a) political sattire, b) opinion/editorial, or c) a great example of what the AP calls “accountability journalism”?
Posted by: Woolly60 | March 9, 2010, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm
Could you please explain exactly how Massa’s statements are “self-contradictory”? Or do you simply, like all liberals do when confronted with an opposing viewpoint, start hurling insults without bothering to think about what the words you’re using actually mean?
I see no facts presented in this bloggy little piece of tripe to refute Massa’s claims. Just insults, as if that were enough to prove the “journalist”‘s point.
Here are some facts that can be verified: The American people do not want the government in charge of health care. We also did not want them to own the auto and banking industries. We DO want them to quit spending trillions of dollars we don’t have. But the Marxist elite are in control and they have stopped listening to the people they are supposed to REPRESENT.
Your dear leaders have become power-mad tyrants. You, Mr. Klein, are simply another useful idiot.
Posted by: Snowball II | March 9, 2010, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm
Rick, what’s the going rate for a SOUL these days?
Posted by: STEVENC | March 9, 2010, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
Muddles Rahm’s message? It seems like the reporter/ABC are playing “media propagandist” for the administration.
Posted by: Scott Smith | March 9, 2010, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
Just the “Another Barack Channel” (ABC)
covering the Big Guys backside. If you can’t attack them, discredit them tactics. I can’t, never mind, I can believe they the “fifth estate” can fool the average person this way. Oh well.
Posted by: f14fixer101 | March 9, 2010, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
What a biased Liberal hack Mr. Klein is. It is despicable how he piles-on here in an effort to frther marginalize Massa and protect the scummy, sneaky Obama/Dems/ObamaCare.
So muuch for objective reporting. Is he on the administration’s payroll? He should lose his job at ABC for this cheap hackjob.
Posted by: Randal | March 9, 2010, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
“White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, to George Stephanopoulos…” …and
Rick Klein makes three water carriers for DNC talking points via ABC news.
Democrats citing Democrats citing Democrats as “news.” This is why Fox is beating all other news outlets…
Posted by: Jonah Begone | March 9, 2010, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
Isn’t it getting kind of crowded under the bus?
Posted by: Colleen | March 9, 2010, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
Klein, your liberal bias has ruined your reporting ability. You “sir” are a hack.
Posted by: Darrel | March 9, 2010, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
Jobs, and good ones, are #1. It’s simple: Good jobs mean, by definition, health insurance coverage. If we have 1-2% unemployment and most of the jobs we have are “good”, most people are then covered– be definition.
The problem the nation faces is this: healthcare costs money. The gov’t is out of money for it without continuing to go into debt. Other countries can only finance us for so long. Any healthcare solution has to be financed somehow. We are running out of time.
The fix is getting people working in good jobs. This means going back to making things — you know, like we used to — that is because actual things have actual value. Services are fine but these are not good enough. We need to make actual THINGS that people will buy – eg: cars, etc. Look at S. Korea. They are doing much better than other countries because they actual make stuff. They make the stuff we used to make (anyone ever hear of Kia Motors?)
This past quarter saw more record profits for healthcare companies. Yes, they need to be reined in. But the president is not doing that nor will he do that with any legislation he passes at this time. The Senate is bought and paid for (as is the House) by special interests, not just the health insurers but unions, etc.
The only real fix we have is to bring the economy back online. Anything else won’t work.
Posted by: Matt | March 9, 2010, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
Klein’s a tool.
Posted by: Kochise | March 9, 2010, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
ABC News: Competing relentlessly with NBC and MSNBC to be the state run propagana outlet of choice.
I bet they’ll find away to blame Eric Massa’s interview on Bush.
Posted by: James | March 9, 2010, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
What would you do if a naked man accosted you in the shower? The shower scene should have been videoed in 3D…Shown in theaters everywhere…Massa may have been a little hysteric but that does not mean he was wrong or lying about anything…obvious the naked Rahm was a sight to behold, it would make almost any showering man hysterical, or combative…
I would opt for combative myself, but I’m nor Massa so I can’t judge that…
Posted by: duh_swami | March 9, 2010, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
Massa’s right– the question is, why is ABC locking arms with Rahm in trying to smear the man?
Posted by: Ted | March 9, 2010, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
The propagandists at abc are at it again. Demonize anyone who is against their favorite Markist Barak Obama. ABC, you aren’t fooling anyone anymore with your baised reporting. PRAVDA, that Commie rag, has got nothing on you! Massa was, no doubt, telling the truth about Rahm in the shower. It was right out of the movie PSCHO only Rahm didn’t have a knife!
The Dems are going to get a well deserved ass-kicking next November like they haven’t seen in 100 years. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…gee that felt so good!
Goodbye you Marxist scumbags…and abc
Posted by: Robert | March 9, 2010, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm
Rahm has proved himself to be a CHICAGO THUG.
Posted by: sunshine484848 | March 9, 2010, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm
I see the embedded ABC News was spoken with and sent out it’s propaganda message from Baghdad Bob Gibbs. Face it America, Rhaum Emmanuel needs to go. America isn’t believing the BS anymore that is coming out of the old media.
Posted by: RobbieK | March 9, 2010, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
hey let’s call ALL democrats with ethics violations and tell these LOSERS to resign. conyers? rangel? waters? call them and tell them to LEAVE!!!
Posted by: tireofobamalies | March 9, 2010, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
This Rick Klein of ABC news has no credibility. Just look at the sloppy writing itself. It takes one paragraph to see he is owned by the left wing extremists. I wouldn’t be surprised his next article would be to tell us all how nice a guy two dictators, Chavez and Stalin are. Probably calls Obama a nice guy too. I don’t bother with ABC news anymore.
Posted by: eric | March 9, 2010, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
Seems the Democrats are posed to eat their own. It’s just a matter of time Emanuel. Keep digging. You are almost there.
Posted by: Ratt | March 9, 2010, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
A naked Rahm Emanuel in the shower carrying on, losing it… sort of reminds me of a men’s retreat I went on when we were doing an anger piece… guys lost it, totally naked, and it was good for them to do it, too.
Laugh though you may, there’s a lot to be said for getting naked and venting. A lot of people of both sexes would be a lot happier if they just took off all their clothes and ran around naked for a minute or so venting about all that was pi$$ing them off.
In fact, I’m about due… stand back…
Posted by: IronJohn | March 9, 2010, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
Can’t ABC even bother to pretend they’re not in the tank for the Obama administration?
Posted by: DSM | March 9, 2010, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
Well, it appears Rick Klein knows a thing or two about rambling on.
Posted by: Malamat | March 9, 2010, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
Only on a station like ABC would they take this perspective on the outrageoues behavior of Rahm.
Your pathetic and your ratings indicate that.
Posted by: Marc M | March 9, 2010, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
THIS MORON is the only one with this take.
No one else on the planet has the least difficulty seeing Emmanuel strutting around naked in the gym, intimidating congressmen. No one. (OK, no one sane.)
Posted by: Greg Buls | March 9, 2010, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
Why don’t you guys in the media understand that the public is very angry about having this forced through the Nuclear option.
WE Do Not Want This BILL!!!
I will be volunteering for the next election to support conservative candidates. I am sick of this.
Posted by: Lenny | March 9, 2010, 12:30 pm 12:30 pm
“President Obama turned up his vintage campaign-style fire Monday to rip Republicans and insurers…Even more 2008 than 2008…”
Call this the audacity of hypocrisy. This is the guy who rebuked John McCain at the Health Care Summit telling him “the campaign is over!” in order to shut him up about health care.
Obama has been doing nothing but campaigning since he took office.
Posted by: jimb. | March 9, 2010, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
Crack reporting ABC…dismissing a member of congress as a crackpot because he’s blowing the whistle on the Chicago-style dirty politics of the current administration. I can only imagine the wall-to-wall coverage given to any Republican who had made a similar charge against Rove. ABC would probably set up another cable channel to cover it 24/7.
Posted by: ABCpuntsagain | March 9, 2010, 12:34 pm 12:34 pm
It never stops the ABC propaganda machine rolls on. Defend the President at all cost. These guy in this White House are all Chicago Gangsters and thugs. And alot of people know it even if ABC covers it up.
Posted by: TERRY | March 9, 2010, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
How I wish we had a dominant media that was willing to report the whole truth, whomever the revelations may damage. Have you people no shame? I know you esteem people on the right as lowbrow and unfit to attend your wine-and-cheese parties. But try — JUST TRY — to keep that snobbish sentiment separate from your reporting. I mean … aren’t you even embarrassed that your whoring for the Dems is so bloody obvious to everyone??
Posted by: SteveJ | March 9, 2010, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
Rick Klein,
Wanna know why the Mainstream Media is losing it’s reputation for being and unbiased source for news?
You!
Posted by: Lori Frank | March 9, 2010, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
And the mainstream controlled media steps in to defend the administration right on cue.
Posted by: Mike | March 9, 2010, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
I do not like the direction that this administration is going. I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I gave them a year. They waisted it.
When November comes around I will be voting against anyone who supports this healthcare bill. I will donate cash and maybe even join a campaign for the first time in my life.
The Liberal Democratic machine has to be stopped. The media (ABC, CBS, MSNBC, NY Times) has done nothing but lie and push this Leftist agenda. I hope you all go out of business.
Posted by: Mr. Caputo from Staten Island | March 9, 2010, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm
Massa Drama: Democratic Congressman Muddles Rahm’s Message: This is only the beginning of the coming terror show. But, look at the bright side; it only lasts 3 1/2 years!
Posted by: Victor Barney | March 9, 2010, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
Klein, where were you when this “self-contradicting, borderline paranoid rambling” idiot was railing on Rush Limbaugh for that phony soldier story that turned out to be a phony soldier?
Posted by: DoubleE | March 9, 2010, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
You might want to take the “ABC NEWS” banner down from the top of the web page. You see, you’re supposed to report the FACTS boy, not interject your (completely speculative at this point) OPINIONS about what is paranoid, conspiratorial, etc. Your “column” stinks of agenda and bias. Can you prove he’s lying or paranoid? If not, zip it.
The state of journalism these days is pathetic. No wonder they rank just above car salesman in perception polls. Have some pride in your professoin and declare yourself an advocate. This stuff doesn’t belong on a “news’ page.
Posted by: Bruno | March 9, 2010, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
National ID card? Guess there would be a large drop in the tax rolls with that one.
Instead of upholding the current laws on immigration, they want to track citizens with microchip ID. Gee, that pretty well proves the motive of this administration.
Obuma has visited muslim countries yet has not bothered with Israel? Wonder why?
Posted by: Jpublic | March 9, 2010, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
One question:
WHY SHOULD WE — OR ANYONE OF ANY PARTY –
TRUST OBAMA, AXELROD, JARRETT, GIBBS, OR PRINCE EMANUEL??
They have collectively made a mockery of the White House!
Posted by: PappyHappy | March 9, 2010, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
WOw… Let’s not address the facts, Mr. Klein! It’s so much easier using the Rahmbo playbook and use ad-hominem attacks against the person who ‘dares’ besmirch the Chicago Mafia now holding the White House Hostage! This article is yet another sad example of why ABC and other network news organizations continue to lose viewers and credibility. When you fail to actually report on a story and instead use your forum as an extension of the White House attack/propaganda machine, most people (outside of the D.C./New York Axis of obliviousness) see right through the accusations to the real bias behind what is purported to be a news story.
Here in ‘flyover country’ as you elitist journalists, bureaucrats and politicians call it, we are neither as stupid nor as gullible as you mistakenly assume. We are outraged at obvious and ham-handed propagandistic attempts such as this to spin real news into yet another fawning/defensive action on behalf of the DNC. Close a few more bureaus and lay off some more journalists… the numbers will keep declining along with your crdibility, so long as pieces such as this one are passed off as ‘journalism.
Posted by: Thaddeus S. Kaczor, Jr. | March 9, 2010, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
I believe Massa , he does doesn’t sound deranged at all , sounds like somebody
who is mad and is telling it as it is , not covering for the foul mouth thugs of the Dumb-o-crat party
Posted by: A teachable moment | March 9, 2010, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
What is amazing is people do not see a pattern. When Clinton was up for impeachment, what did the news media keep pounding at people? Sex, his affair how the first lady thought. Was that the reason for the impeachment? NO, the reason was lying on the stand under oath. Yet if you ask anyone about the impeachment trial all you hear is sex the dress etc.. Does anyone ever think for themselves or is everyone a sheep being led around by the nose and being told what to think by the politicians. Here you talk about 2 guys and what is being missed the HEALTHCARE PROGRAM. Do you think it is possible Congress wants to miss lead you down the PRIM-ROSE path? I do. Look at the file found after a Rep meeting, who actually left it there a Dem to discredit the repub.? Think for yourself, remember BELIEVE NOTHING OF WHAT YOU HEAR AND HALF OF WHAT YOU SEE. The news media and congress seems to be going by the old saying YOU CAN FOOL ALL THE PEOPLE SOME OF THE TIME SOME OF THE PEOPLE SOME OF THE TIME BUT NOT ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME wake up
Posted by: Gandar | March 9, 2010, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
I believe Massa, everything we’ve known about Chicago politics is evident in this hit job on Massa. He didn’t even do any thing except tell a crude joke.
I was in the Navy like Massa and heard the same kind of crude humor. It’s how guys in the Military and also Frat boys on college campuses act. We’re letting effeminate men and male culture hating females set the Political Correctness rules. I only wished he would have fought back and stayed on.
Posted by: ReaganDemocrat | March 9, 2010, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm
If the man had been a conservative, ABC would have believed every word he said and praised him for unmasking the corruption of the Republicans. He is a Democrat who is turning against his own, so it will be assumed there can’t even be a kernal of truth in what he says, though it is very possible Rahm would be this aggresive. It would be normal for anyone who had survived in the jungle that is Chicago politics – almost a requirement.
Posted by: lukuj | March 9, 2010, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm
Gee, Klein, thanks for the “retort” — or should I say, “thanks for more obfuscation and attempts to run interference” — from the clearly propagandist state-run media.
This incestuous relationship between the likes of ABC and the lefty Dems is really disgusting. You in the mainstream media inherited the fourth estate, and shown yourselves as ridiculously unworthy heirs. Beneath contempt.
Get back to us if and when you ever decide to retrieve the last pathetic shreds of your credibility and dignity, the last pathetic shreds which you recklessly shed back in 2009.
Posted by: Popeye | March 9, 2010, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
ob·tuse [uhb-toos, -tyoos] –adjective
1.
not quick or alert in perception, feeling, or intellect; not sensitive or observant; dull.
2.
not sharp, acute, or pointed; blunt in form.
3. American News Media: newspapers, drudgereport, ABC, Fox, CBS, CNN, CNBC news.
The news media desperate attempts to save itself completely ignore the fact that the reason we don’t tune into their programs and papers is because it’s NOT NEWS anymore. They vend gossip and opinions masked as intellect and absent of supporting facts.
Rick Klein is not a journalist, this is not a statement of facts presented scientifically, for readers to form their own opinions with. This is garbage, worthless political fanaticism. Everyone involved in the publication of this article should be fired and expelled from the world of journalism.
There are places for this sort of mindless babble: The National Inquirer, Star, People Magazine, Sun, in fact, super market check out lanes are littered with them. I’d suggest you put your talent where it belongs.
Posted by: Kratos | March 9, 2010, 1:05 pm 1:05 pm
welcome to Chicago styly politics
Posted by: mitch | March 9, 2010, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm
I’m sure if this was against the Bush administration this imbecilic reporter would be writing “See, See – Republicans, BAADDD, Democrats, GOOOOD” – Klein, unlike the Obama administration – you’re pretty transparent!
Posted by: MEVet | March 9, 2010, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
I agree with Tom… how about addressing the issues of the case, rather than just dismiss them. Typical liberal media… if it hurts their social goals, dismiss it (ie. the hundreds of thousands of people who went to the Tea Party in washington last year). However, if it is your pet cause, amplify (ant-war party, which garnered much less). But ya see, us common folk just don’t know what’s good fer us?! A sleeping giant, I tell ya!
Posted by: JohnV | March 9, 2010, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
Hard to investigate when it puts your own ilk in a bad light?
Posted by: Bob Forsberg | March 9, 2010, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
Some people are starting to really think. The press only sells their opinions. How many news casts or papers have you read that only state facts. THE RELIABLE SOURCE, if you checked, is the reporter. Per the news media that is all you have to do to be covered by the 1st amend. If the SUPREME COURT, OH THAT IS A POLITICAL APPOINTMENT, actually knew what our forefathers had in mind when they wrote the CONSTITUTION, they would have been born then not know. If the records were actually researched from back then, personal letters, meeting notes etc, you would see a very different idea of what our FOREFATHERS ACTUALLY THOUGHT AND INTENDED.
Posted by: Gandar | March 9, 2010, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
“borderline paranoid ramblings”? Whoa, Rich, getting a little carried away with the rhetoric there. Why not wait to see how this whole thing shakes out before you dismiss him as mentally ill? Remember, it’s not paranoid if it’s true.
Posted by: John | March 9, 2010, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
Emanuel is KNOWN to be a scumbag in Washington circles and has been since he was a Congressman. He has a HISTORY of being a heavy-handed, crass jerk, even to OTHER DEMOCRATS! Massa definitely should go, but only a FOOL would trust Rahm and the Obama administration…………
Posted by: Todd | March 9, 2010, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
This is too funny! Considering all the bribes and lies that this administration spouts on a daily basis to get this steaming pile of crap passed, Massa gets the benefit of the doubt. Come on, this is a CHICAGO bred administration! You know, that corrupt city in Illinois? I don’t know if you have heard of it.
All the evidence against the Dems at this point makes NOT believing Massa a conspiracy theory. Only in the All Barack Channel do you witness this spin on the truth.
Posted by: Eugene | March 9, 2010, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
I can’t wait for All BS Channel to file a chapter 11.
It should be soon by the looks of their “news”.
Posted by: FREE | March 9, 2010, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
I am as shocked to find naked thugs pushing this administration’s policy as I am to find nakedly partisan “journalists” pushing this administration’s policies. The useful idiots in the Soviet media also used to provide cover for state institutionalizing of dissidents by reporting their “self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings…” I’m sure your handlers are impressed, Mr. Klein.
Posted by: Gary M | March 9, 2010, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
I am confused. You call this news reporting? Is that was this is? This article might has well have been written by Rahm Emanuel himself. It’s an opinion piece, which is fine, but it should be labeled as such.
Posted by: robert beacon | March 9, 2010, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
And they wonder why the ratings just keep dropping for ABC.
At least Rick knows who has money and who doesn’t. Good luck in your new job with the Democrats, Rick.
Posted by: Steve | March 9, 2010, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
The whole thing appears to be what the NEWS MEDIA is saying. Has anyone heard of a MYTH? It is something grew out of a possible actual happening. (not the def. but reality) Now take that and if you have ever been at the scene of an incident and saw it, then you saw and read the NEWS MEDIA’S version, in most cases HOW CLOSE WERE THEY TO THE TRUTH. I have had first hand knowledge of a few incidents that the only truth to the coverage is AN INCIDENT HAPPENED. Now take that along with the FACT the federal government controls what the media says. This comes from HAVE YOU EVER READ/HEARD AN ARTICLE IN THE NEWS MEDIA THAT WAS NOT GOOD FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND YOU NEVER HEAR IT AGAIN. One case back in the 70′s an article came out of Montana about SS checks having printed on them DO NOT CASH WITHOUT THE PROPER TATTOO. The government said it was a miss print and it was never heard about again. Strange, where would something like that even come from. The government does the printing and controls the computers that run to the press. Does that tell you what the government has planned for you. This is just one incident, if the NEWS MEDIA was not controlled by Congress and their lacky why did they not dig into the matter. I would think if Congress was planning on national tattooing of everyone, which in my opinion that line of print would mean, the GREAT NEWS MEDIA would dig deeper to find the truth. OH, I forgot, the news media does not dig deeper into anything unless they are told to by the government.
Now you are looking at today’s media. Does anything seem similar?
Posted by: Gandar | March 9, 2010, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
I agree with Ken – ABC is aboding this story and has its nose so far up this administrations butt that if ABC doesn’t watch out they might break off their nose. How can you not listen to what Massa said. Were you there when this was going on ABC? Were any of the other news/media outlets there when all this was going on. Are you so stupid to believe that back room deals and threats of facing consequences aren’t going on over this Obamacare. Please stupid people, wake up…
Posted by: FRANCIS | March 9, 2010, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm
ABC, owned by the White House, has ZERO cred.
Posted by: WilliamPenn | March 9, 2010, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
Charles Rangel has a whole laundry list of ethics problems already pending before the Ethics (laugh, laugh) Committee and Nancy the Pelosi didn’t do anything to him. Now, with just a hint of a possible scandal, Massa is out.
Rangel was a vote for the freedom-hating health care bill, while Massa was a vote against.
Do the math.
Posted by: Roxanna | March 9, 2010, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
Mr Klien, while suggesting Massa ia a liar, forgets to mention the President DID LIE yesterday trying to claim his disastrous health care bill would trim the deficit by one trillion dollars the first ten years. an out and out lie!!
Posted by: anitlaen2 | March 9, 2010, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Eugene first you have to ask the question “WHAT DOES ECONOMICS HAVE TO DO WITH GOVERNMENT?” They may talk economics but they twist they words to do just the opposite. Healthcare for everyone could work, not the way they want it. If they set up a program the proper way it would work. If it were set up though Congress would not have control of the moneys, private insurance would have competition and Congress could not raise taxes for SS and Medicare because they would be self sustaining. Now that would be against Congress beliefs. If you can’t raise taxes you can’t give yourself and your cronies more money. As Congress would say THAT IS UN-AMERICAN YOU CAN REDUCE THE BUDGET AND MAYBE TAXES, ITS ANTI-AMERICAN
Posted by: Gandar | March 9, 2010, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
Trying a little too hard there, Eric, opening with “don’t take him seriously”. Why do you pretend to write what’s coming over in a fax from Rahm? It’s all rather…transparent.
Posted by: Patrick Dollard | March 9, 2010, 1:47 pm 1:47 pm
FIRE THIS PIECE OF TRASH!! ANYONE WHO COULD WRITE BS LIKE THIS DOES NOT DESERVE TO REPORT TO THE PUBLIC!!
Posted by: bduke | March 9, 2010, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
More motivation to pass Health Insurance Reform.
Limbaugh – “I’ll just tell you this, if this passes and it’s five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented — I am leaving the country. I’ll go to Costa Rica. ”
So we get 2 for 1. We pass HCR and get rid of Drugster Limbaugh.
Oh and BTW.. Costa Rica has Government-run Health Care.
Posted by: New Wave | March 9, 2010, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
Old time media sources have another chance to show us who they are protecting (us or the White House). They got their clocks cleaned ignoring the Edwards case so we had to turn to the National Enquirer for honest news reporting.
Now we have smoke surrounding Massa’s story. Will they check into it or simply try to discredit him in the hopes it goes away. Well here is a secret to FOX’s success – they will have someone talking to him for an hour today. Like a real news organization should – no pre-concieved ideas of whether it is true or not, just some tough questions (Larry King need not apply), and we the people will judge.
Let’s see who else talks to him and see what questions they ask.
Posted by: Steve | March 9, 2010, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
This is biased crap. ABC sucks at real journalism
Posted by: Jim Jones | March 9, 2010, 1:53 pm 1:53 pm
One thing we must remember they all have highly paid PR people whose only job is to spin every/any thing that does not make them look good. These people also do damage control, THE PUBLIC IS NOT BUYING THE HEALTHCARE PROGRAM START UP SOMETHING THAT WILL TAKE THEIR ATTENTION AWAY FROM HEALTHCARE SO CONGRESS CAN PUSH IT THROUGH AND THEN BLAME EACH OTHER AS THEY PARTY TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY PULLED THE WOOL OVER THE EYES OF THE AMERICAN TAX PAYER AGAIN.
Posted by: Gandar | March 9, 2010, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
JOURNALISM has not been around for some time. The truth is not used any more. They only print/say what they think or are told to think about any subject. If you hear objective or investigative journalism it is a fairy tale.
Posted by: Gandar | March 9, 2010, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Whoa, I don’t know ABC, this isn’t looking good for your unbiased journalism! The natives are not buying this rhetoric much anymore. When was it that you started to notice that Obama governs as if everyday were the campaign? Fired up, ready to go? Cheeses! Seriously, would anyone want this guy as their mayor?
Hey Klein, don’t quit your day job and it may be smart to keep those appearances and contacts on-going over at Fox! I hear the NY Times is hiring, oh wait!
Remember, this is the digital age, you can’t fool some of the people some of the time anymore, 1862 was a long time ago!
Posted by: MarineOne | March 9, 2010, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
Hahaha, nice to see ABC smear the guy for not towing the party line.
Wrong thinking cannot be tolerated, right ABC?
Posted by: Da veT | March 9, 2010, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
George — PULEEZE — it’s time to retire. You’re credibility is S H O T!!
Posted by: GSJ | March 9, 2010, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
What I am finding rather interesting about the reaction to Massa’s character is this totally becomes the MAIN RING of the circus … as if because he is not St. Massa (and actually I don’t live in up state NY – don’t know the man, likely never to meet him – so I really don’t care) anything else he says is to be dismissed – wouldn’t that be to then also ignore all the instances of strong arm tactics, threats (veiled or otherwise), back room deals, bribes, and windfalls that come the way of obedient supporters of a particular agenda?? Shouldn’t THIS be the focus??? If we readily and out of hand dismiss what he is saying, then using this same standard of judgement, I would think that we’d find it necessary to totally dismiss any and all testimony and information supplied by mob informants and turncoats on syndicate and gangland/mob activities.
Posted by: Dale Caruso | March 9, 2010, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
Hmm, just another example of our supposedly ind3ependent media carrying the water of the politicos. Instead of actually doing some investigation to find answers our intrepid Mr. Klein chooses to make unfounded allegations and ask more questions than he answers.
This is not journalism, it is propaganda.
Posted by: Hawthorne | March 9, 2010, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
Is this article an attempt at journalism? Since when does a reporter
make the value judgement that a person is hardly credible unless of course they have a horse in the race. It’s a good thing that ABC is closing their foreign bureaus maybe they should consider getting out of the news business entirely.
Posted by: Bill from PA | March 9, 2010, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
Massa opposed his own party on “cap and trade” as well as this “healthcare legislation”. So what’s President Obama to do? Well… let your guard dog (Rahm Emmanuel) loose and tell him to sig him to see if he can force the man to change his mind.
What I find interesting is that no matter how much back room negotiating, threats, arm twisting, and bribes have been offered to Representatives in Obama’s own party they still are reluctant to vote for this pork filled bill.
Posted by: Wes | March 9, 2010, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
Can’t wait to see Massa on Beck!….something tells me that some real shockers are going to come out of it.
personally, I feel that this guy is kind of fishy, but when he skips blasting the GOP in favor of blasting his own party – well….that kind of speaks for itself.
Posted by: Libsmasher | March 9, 2010, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
My home schooled grandaughter can do better fact checking than this.
Posted by: carol in Alabama | March 9, 2010, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
Is this suppose to pass as journalism? The fact that Klein works for ABC answers that question–NO! This article is so obviously intended to change the focus of the story and shield Obama and the WH that it is insulting. I for one tend to believe that there is truth in the story Massa tells given Emmanuel’s well known history.
Posted by: Katerina | March 9, 2010, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
Does anyone trust Robert Gibbs? All he does is put a spin on things.
Am I the only to notice that President Obama hasn’t had a true open press conference in several months? One where the press is free to ask any questions and he’s obliged to answer them?
Oh where oh where is that transparency we were promised?
Posted by: Wes | March 9, 2010, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
Good boy Rick. You have done a good job of protecting the party line. Ridicule anyone who objects.
Posted by: Kerry | March 9, 2010, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
Hey, ABC – do you notice that about 75% of all the comments on your own message boards are mocking your news coverage? What will it take for you to finally learn that it’s not 1987 anymore and we have lots of news resources now that give us a full and accurate picture of what’s going on & you can’t shape the news like you did for ages…?
Posted by: Jack | March 9, 2010, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
What ABC to actually investigate somoeone at Obama’s adminstration?? Right! ABC is in the tank for this communist. You want true real news you have to go to FOX for it!
Posted by: Morris Berry | March 9, 2010, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
I believed Obama when he said that the healthcare debate would take place in the light of day and include Republicans and not include funding for abortions. I also believed Obama when he said that he that he would not tax the middle class; that he would keep unemployment below 8%; that he would close Gitmo and pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan within 12 months. I believed Charlei Rangel when he said that he knew nothink and it was all his aids fault. I believed Tim Geithner when he said he forgot to pay his taxes. I believed Barney Frank when he said he knew nothink about his boyfriend running a brothel out of his house. I believed Nancy Pelosi when she said she would run the most ethical congress in history.
So why would I NOT then believe Rahm Emanuel, who is such an honest, virtuous and stand up kinda guy??
Posted by: JacqueBauer | March 9, 2010, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
How do we know his comments are spurious? This admin’s idea of the truth is merely to ridicule any accusation that embarasses it.
Posted by: jerry silver | March 9, 2010, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm
If this had been a republican chief of staff going after a congressman because of his opposition to a Bush bill, how do you think ABC and the MSM would have covered that one.
The double standard and hypocrisy are staggering.
Posted by: Red Zone | March 9, 2010, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
I agree with Massa, not Klein.
Posted by: Ward C | March 9, 2010, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm
Judging by the reader comments it is so awesome to know that common sense is still alive in America! This article is pure rubbish. What ever happened to journalistic integrity? Rick Klein is so clearly biased it is pathetic! I agree with the comments stating that instead of talking past the allegations, and defending the admin (which an “impartial” party should not partake in!), how about following up on them and digging a little! American corporate owned media has gotten LAZY. Dear ABC,
Can’t understand why Fox News and alternative media is killing you in the ratings and ad revenue? Just look within!
Posted by: Sean | March 9, 2010, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
its fun to watch the dims cannibalize themselves.,and the mainstream droons try to rationalize it, the good thing about it,,all the rats are in day lite, so the american ppl can see who they are and vote them gone. thank you mr president,,really its the only thing he has accomplished so far.
Posted by: wilmac | March 9, 2010, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
Maybe Massa should have used a better choice of words than to say “It’s hard to argue with a naked man” while talking about seeing his Congressional colleagues nake in the gym showers. The man is under suspicion for sexual harassment of a male staff, after all.
presidentsuit.com
Posted by: President Suit | March 9, 2010, 2:50 pm 2:50 pm
This entire article seems to miss the entire point: Obama and the Dems are in trouble because the U.S. populace does NOT WANT their hard-left agenda (including this so-called ‘health care’ deal), and have been screaming so for months and months and MONTHS on end, now, with virtually NO acknowledgment whatsoever — other than scorn and condescention toward them. THAT is why Obama is in deep trouble, and his stinky party, along with him. We did NOT want all of this, when we voted for Obama in ’08. And for ABC news to come out calling Massa basically deranged (with no counter-proof, whatsoever) simply because they side with Obama, is blatant bias — even more naked than Rahm supposedly was, in that congressional shower room. And until it is acknowledged that Barack Hussein Obama is NAKEDLY flying in the face of the people on virtually every single issue (and militantly keeping it up), he will NEVER politically recover — not even by trying to recapture that ’2008′ approach, which he can never really do.
Posted by: R-E-A-L-I-T-Y | March 9, 2010, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
Massa is doing what most people do in his position — crying “victim.” The fact is, though, that nobody is forcing him out. The Dems are lousy at twisting arms, making threats, or seeking retribution. He resigned at once, the moment the story went public. However, if you want to hear all about another conspiracy to take over the country and ram things down our throats, Glenn Beck is definitely the place to go. I hope Beck doesn’t break down and weep as Massa’s pitiful tale unfolds.
Posted by: Robert Maxwell | March 9, 2010, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
Why is Rick so eager to deny Massa’s credibility (oh, I forgot, he IS a tool of All Barack News!!) Frankly, the mental image of Massa and Rahm, both butt naked in the Congressional showers, with Rahm jabbing his finger (index or “bird”?) into Massa’s soapy chest, is a rather haunting one that I’d kinda like to get outta my head sometime soon. Being a nasty old woman (almost, but not, QUITE Pelosi’s age) I find myself speculating on the relative likeliness of Rahm’s turgidity or flaccidity during that one precious moment. Neither is a pretty picture.
Posted by: AliceLouise1 | March 9, 2010, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
Article should be titled “Eyes Half-Closed”
Posted by: Testy | March 9, 2010, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
ABC has lost its credibility! I didn’t bother to read the story to know that they are trying to spin whatever happened.
Posted by: disgusted citizen | March 9, 2010, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
Robert Maxwell, your argument would make more sense if it wasn’t for the fact that Rangel (yes vote) did worse and is barely being investigated. Don’t you find it kind of odd that Massa (no vote) is being jumped on by the Dems? I wouldn’t be surprised if his family was threatened. I really wouldn’t at this point.
Posted by: Eugene Shults | March 9, 2010, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
Massa’s candor in the recordings really comes through. It was / is compelling audio that rings true and fits nicely with what we know about the methods used by the “facilitators” of this Administration.
I wish all congressmen spoke so clearly… the phony, focused-group sound bytes droned by our representatives is half of their credibility problem. (Granted, the other half is policy!)
Posted by: YouDude60 | March 9, 2010, 3:17 pm 3:17 pm
Tonight around 10 million Americans will get to hear his story. Glen says the subject will be corruption in D.C I don’t think an hour will be enough time to even dent this subject.
Posted by: Tom Franklin | March 9, 2010, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
Nice Lefty spin you put on this article!! Good thing you work for ABC and that network HAS ZERO CREDIBILITY!!
Keep drinking the kool-aid.. let me know how that works out for you. I’m not sorry I have a brain and dont want to be reliant on the government.
coward-piven, do you even know what that is? Why don’t you pretend to be a journalist and report on the coward-piven strategy…. honestly… why not?
Posted by: mike | March 9, 2010, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm
The author kind of missed the entire point. Massa is a far left democrat who voted against the health care bill first time around because it didn’t have a public option in it! He’s not a republican, but will certainly be replaced by one…
Posted by: Jay Hale | March 9, 2010, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
If this had been the Bush years ABC would be on this like a “Dog on Hamburger” but because Robert Gibbs interviewed with “George” this is all
ridiculed as nothing. Hey Gibbs! What are you and the other “BUMS” going to do when your all kicked out. The American Public is so sick of all this
trash you feed us, and I mean trash! You guys need to go back to the gutters of Chicago.You guys should run Obamas campaign Ads daily to give yourselves a reality check on how far off base you are. Your words are not worth the dirt you stand on.
Fired Up…. Ready to GO? as your President would say sorta speak….
Posted by: JM | March 9, 2010, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
“Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings need not necessarily be taken seriously… if we are to believe his hardly credible word.” are you talking about Former Rep Massa or Messiah Obama.
I’ve been observing politics for the forty years and I’ve never seen the Dems boot one of their own over an unproven rumor.
Posted by: BMorgan53 | March 9, 2010, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Why won’t anyone but Fox question (to answer) the specific allegations, one by one, made by Massa? Isn’t this the gist of this news, if there is any at all? (pushing or bullying out a congressman because you don’t like his vote is illegal, un-american and just wrong…duh.)
ABC news here seems like high school journalism. No wonder they’re going under.
Posted by: Japes McFarland | March 9, 2010, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Who is this @ Klein to say if Massa is or is not “credible”? He showed his leanings by using the adjective “hardly”. In the words of Bugs Bunny, “What a moroon”.
Posted by: Businessgrad | March 9, 2010, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
Wow, the depths ABC will sink to in order to salve this debacle are HILARIOUS. The people know the truth and all you do by attempting to subvert that truth is turn yourself into a fossil. Goodnight ABC.
Posted by: CharlesCO | March 9, 2010, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
Who cares about healthcare?
It’s about jobs!!!
Posted by: Alfred E. Neuman | March 9, 2010, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
MY, my, my… How quickly the dems turn on one of their own when he does not walk in lock step behind the chosen one. They even have the national media on board denouncing this guy. Has the democratic party gone in to meltdown???
Posted by: Kenneth Blizzard | March 9, 2010, 4:12 pm 4:12 pm
Wow, what a great “State Controlled” article here! Way to go ABC, pathetic spin as usual…
Posted by: Brian K | March 9, 2010, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
Ram it down our throats in March and we’ll stick it up your A$$ in November !!
Posted by: Bill | March 9, 2010, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Since when is it “JOURNALISTIC PRACTICE” to describe a senators statements as, “Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings” which according to you “need not necessarily be taken seriously”?
Is this the crap they taught you in J=school? This constitutes “journalism” in your eyes? You sir, SUCK.Liberals SUCK. Obama SUCKS. Socialism SUCKS. Progressivism SUCKS and I hope you all get what you deserve one day.
Posted by: Vinny the Shark | March 9, 2010, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm
I wrote a response saying that I was going to watch Massa on Beck this eve. and can’t find it,hmmm, so I’ll try again.
Posted by: Kathy | March 9, 2010, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
It’s a good thing Rick Klein is a “reporter” working for LAMEBC. He can’t think his way out of a freakin’ paper bag. He couldn’t hold a real job if he tried. What a total hack, does George S, or maybe even Obama himself spoon feed him his columns every day?? Maybe a little true “reporting” is in order with the Massa story?? Naw, that might acutally crucify the annointed One. What a JOKE the media has become. Rick, dude, you are a waste of space. Quit sucking up good air.
Posted by: RushboRox | March 9, 2010, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm
Rahm comes poking his finger at me in the shower, I send his skinny ass flying along the soap scum.
Posted by: Semper Fi | March 9, 2010, 4:36 pm 4:36 pm
This type of nut hugging by klien and others in the MSM is why the traitors in D.C. have been operating with impunity….you might as well shut down this “news” organization now…its worthless.
Posted by: les | March 9, 2010, 4:43 pm 4:43 pm
Rick, quit wasting your time with this blog. You obviously have nothing important to say.
Posted by: Robert | March 9, 2010, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
Is this the same ABC network that deliberatly fabricated the video used to prove Toyota was building cars with speed control problems? Does ABC carry water for the Obama administration or the Automakers unions? Let me correct myself they are one and the same!
Thank God we place no longer trust the establishment media.They have traded Their credibility for political access. Disgusting.
Posted by: R Honsinger | March 9, 2010, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
He forgot to list “Gavelgate” and the buyout of Unions so their gold plated insurance plans would be left un-taxed.
Posted by: bvp | March 9, 2010, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
Hey Klein,
Support the little guy against this vicious out of control administration. Imagine if Karl Rove had been accused of thumping a guy in the chest while standing nude in the gym! ABC would have done an entire primetime news special on it complete with re-enactments!
Posted by: FixItIn2012 | March 9, 2010, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
Very good message….. I don’t think a word of it was changed from the DNC’s media handouts. Not bad for a cut/paste job where no digging for the facts was involved.
That being said – I assume you now see why MSNBC, ABC and CBS are all in the toilet bowl when it comes to ratings. We want the facts – not your personal biases when being touted as “fact.”
Edward R. Murrow is spinning in his grave…. but I guess that’s before your time – when news was based on fact.
Posted by: Fred P. | March 9, 2010, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
We are close to giving up our freedom what’s scary is not the Chicago mob that’s moved into DC, it’s the idiots who voted for them and want the government to take care of them. Fall of the Roman empire, only we didn’t last as long.
Posted by: Duke Mayhem | March 9, 2010, 5:53 pm 5:53 pm
Hey ABC Management, are you READING these posts? You have a MAJOR credibility problem! Wow. Is anyone awake over there?
Posted by: FixItIn2012 | March 9, 2010, 6:07 pm 6:07 pm
The author is obviously willingly pulling the wool over his eyes. Or possibly job hunting.
Posted by: Mark | March 9, 2010, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
ABC News is spinning for administration without even trying to look into facts. Klein is on payroll with WH.
Posted by: Allen | March 9, 2010, 6:30 pm 6:30 pm
Spend some ink on Holder NOT prosecuting Black Panthers (ON Video) with billy clubs at a VOTING Booth!!
Posted by: JP | March 9, 2010, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
ABC has always followed the administration line, rethug or demorat – they know who they need to kiss #### in order to get access
Posted by: nygrump | March 9, 2010, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
“Do you know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man?” — Former Rep. Eric Massa, on a confrontation he said he had with Rahm Emanuel, making good on his pledge to not go quietly.
“So, Rahm, do you like movies about gladiators?”
Posted by: Dilligaf | March 9, 2010, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
Sure this guy is a looser. He is a looser tattling on other loosers of which there are many in this lame administration. Don’t blame him, blame those that voted for him. He seems to be typical of the new class of Dem congresspeople from the class of 08.
Posted by: Ca Sami | March 9, 2010, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
Massa’s story about Rahm Emanual confronting him in the Congressional showers and threatening him to support Obamacare
is believable, given the kind of slimy after-hours back room
shenanigans that the Democrats have been known for these past few months. The White House is trying to run rough shod over
the Constitution, our system of government, and ultimately the American public…in an effort to push their radical agenda
at a time when we can least afford it. Rahm should be glad
it wasn’t me he was pointing his finger at in the shower…I
would have broke it for him. We need more reps in Congress
to stand up to this Chicago thug mentality that’s coming from the Oval Office, because it’s threatening our very way of life. It’s time to derail the Obama crazy train before he
sends us all over the edge of a cliff.
Posted by: stvinw | March 9, 2010, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
Interesting that when Republicans came out with allegations making Bush look bad, they were instantly paraded around the press. Should we call them the “liberal” press, since Massa is only popular among the “conservative media”?
Again, funny how allegations against the Obama administration are only popular among the so-called “Conservatives”, but we are to believe that it’s only Republicans bad-mouthing their own that’s legitmate to the self-proclaimed “un-baised press”
Posted by: Truther | March 9, 2010, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm
HE SAID
“Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings need not necessarily be taken seriously, even when uttered by someone who, until now, held a seat in Congress — or who was part of Rahm Emanuel’s crop of “Fightin’ Dems” back in 2006″
THOSE ADJECTIVES DESCRIBE ALL DEMOCRATS FROM THE TAX CHEATS TO THE UNDERAGE LITTLE BOY CALL BOY RINGS IN FRANK’S BASEMENT OR HIS BOYFRIEND AT FANNIE WITH A BLANK TAXPAYER CHECK TO WILLIAM JEFFERSON’S FREEZER CASH TO DODD AND DORGIN AND COUNTRYWIDE TO PELOSI’S SPECIAL LAWS FOR HER HUSBAND AND ILLEGALS AND THEN LAWS FOR EVERYONE ELSE. THE REPUBLICANS TOOK OUT THEIR TRASH 3 YEARS AGO, IT’S YOUR TURN LEFTWINGERS. WE ARE GOING TO REMOVE ALL DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND ONE-THIRD OF THE SENATE………..THE REST WILL NEED TO RESIGN………..
Posted by: CATHERINE | March 9, 2010, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm
Rick, The difference between you and the Obama Administration is NOTHING. YOU are why the major networks are loosing their appeal. You are a fool and have nothing of value to offer.
Posted by: Tom Malone | March 9, 2010, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm
Paranoid?
Unless its true.
I know for certain that I would not want to be in the same room with Rahm Emanuel. Or he would not want to be in the same room with me.
I would also respectfully suggest to him that he NEVER put his finger in my chest………. and given his history, I would have to think it very likely that at least that incident happened.
Posted by: tkd | March 9, 2010, 11:01 pm 11:01 pm
So much for unbiased journalism.
Do you guys even read anyone’s posts? I am a somewhat conservative-Democrat, myself, and I will even admit that this is far from real journalism. Good luck with the ratings, apparently the people you are catering to aren’t watching.
Posted by: KSoldier | March 9, 2010, 11:42 pm 11:42 pm
With the Obama administration stooping to brow-beat, bribe, threaten, and blackmail for Obama’s People’s Department of Nationalistic Health Care, can we brush off what Massa has to say. Only dogfood eating fools would ignore what this betrayed leftist has to say.
Posted by: picomanning | March 10, 2010, 1:33 am 1:33 am
When I first read the headline I thought this maybe an article on Diane Sawyer.
Posted by: Pedro | March 10, 2010, 2:47 am 2:47 am
“Self-contradicting, borderline paranoid ramblings need not necessarily be taken seriously, even when uttered by someone who, until now, held a seat in Congress”
Whoops for a second there I thought you were talking about Al Gore.
Posted by: robert g | March 10, 2010, 6:05 am 6:05 am
on a scale of 1 to Obama, how epic is ABC’s fail?
Posted by: jomondo44 | March 10, 2010, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm