Rep. Massa: I will vote against the interests of my district

[Hazcat]

interests of my district

By Kerry Picket on Aug. 16, 2009 into Water Cooler

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Representative Eric Massa (D- NY) addressed an intimate group of Netroots activists during their annual Netroots Nation gathering in Pittsburgh this weekend. Mr. Massa reiterated his support for a single payer health care bill. He discussed the risks he takes for wanting to support such a measure in his "right wing Republican district."

According to Swing State Project, Mr. Massa won his 2008 race by two percentage points. The district's voting pattern index (PVI) is a Republican +5 seat.   The National Republican Congressional Committee has the upstate New York congressman in their sights for 2010 along with 69 other House Democrats as reported by Politico.   The transcript is below, and check out the corresponding video above.

    MASSA: I’m not going to vote for 3200 as it’s currently written.  Step one, I will vote for a single payer option or a bill that does have a medicare coupled public option, which we don’t have right now.  If my town hall meetings turn into the same media frenzies and ridiculousness, because every time that happens we lose. We lose another three million people in America.  They see that happening and negate us.

    PARTICIPANT: It changes America.

    MASSA: Every time that occurs.  So what happens in my town hall meetings frankly is important, because I am in one of the most right wing Republican districts in the country, and I’m not asking you guys to go back to wherever and send people to me.  This is a generic statement of what can I do?  Well that’s one thing we can do.

    PARTICIPANT: So if we got your meetings to sixty forty, you’d vote…and there was single payer in a bill you would vote for it?

    MASSA:  Oh absolutely I would vote for single payer.

    PARTICIPANT: If there was sixty forty sentiment in the room?

    MASSA: Listen, I tell every audience I’m in favor of single payer.

    PARTICIPANT: If there was eighty twenty in the room?

    MASSA: If there was a single payer bill?

    PARTICIPANT: And there was a single payer….

    MASSA:  I will vote for the single payer bill.

    PARTICIPANT: Even if it meant you were being voted out of office?

    MASSA: I will vote adamantly against the interests of my district if I actually think what I am doing is going to be helpful.

    (inaudible participants' comments regarding the "interests" of the district statement from Mr. Massa)

    Massa: I will vote against their opinion if I actually believe it will help them.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/watercooler/2009/aug/16/video-rep-massa-i-will-vote-against-interests-my-d/


VIDEO and comments at link

[DonWorsham]

It happens everyday. Each politician represents his constituents based on his personal beliefs. You can only hope they vote your way most often.

If you don't like how they vote, vote them out of office (if you can).

[WatchManUSA]

"Netroots Nation amplifies progressive voices by providing an online and in-person campus for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective in using technology to influence the public debate. Through our annual convention and a series of regional salons held throughout the year, we strengthen our community, inspire action and serve as an incubator for ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately affect change in the public sphere."

So Rep. Massa goes to the Netroots Nation convention and promises this left-wing progressive group that he will support their goals over the people he supposedly represents.

So much for the influence of special interests!

[tombogan03884]

 I've made my opinion of these treasonous bastards clear, they need to be killed, along with their staffers, their college indoctrinators, their supporters, and the media that drools on their crotch.

[tt11758]

I've made my opinion of these treasonous bastards clear, they need to be killed, along with their staffers, their college indoctrinators, their supporters, and the media that drools on their crotch.

What exactly do you mean, Tom?   

[Sponsor]

[PegLeg45]

I've made my opinion of these treasonous bastards clear, they need to be killed, along with their staffers, their college indoctrinators, their supporters, and the media that drools on their crotch.

What exactly do you mean, Tom?   

+1

That'll be quite enough of the 'sugar coating' business, TB...........from now on, say what you mean.        

[tombogan03884]

+1

That'll be quite enough of the 'sugar coating' business, TB...........from now on, say what you mean.        

Lets see if this is blunt enough, Take the entire administration,Congress men, Senators, appointees, staffers, Buroeucratic paper shufflers, 1/2 the Supreme Court, and 90% of the media. Tie their hands and feet and lay them side by side in Pennsylvania Avenue.
Then parade an Armored Division over them.
Got the idea from the Croatians, they were just as set on ethnic cleansing as the Serbs were but could not spare the ammo to shoot their prisoners.
Kind of messy but it would drive the point home to those not squashed that  Cuba is very nice this time of year.

[twyacht]

Dems will fall on the sword by Nov. 2010, even if voted out.... Remember Tom Daschle? He was voted out and originally tapped for the HHS Sec. job by BHO,...

If they can lick the boots of the Dems that are re-elected by the sheeple, even if they lose, they will do so...

I defer to tombogans previous posts,....

[Kid Shelleen]

Rep. Eric Massa is an arrogant, elitist, Richard cranium.

MASSA: I will vote adamantly against the interests of my district if I actually think what I am doing is going to be helpful.

So this a$$hole will do whatever he wants because he so much smarter than his constituents.

[fightingquaker13]

Two points:
1, Massa at least was honest. This is what I will do, this is why, like it or vote me out. Like his view or hate it, you can't say he lied.
2, Its an old debate. Is a Rep an instructed delegate or a trustee? Do they pledge to do what the majority of their district wants, like a lawyer for his client? Or do they say here are my beliefs and why you should trust my judgement? This goes all the way back to the Federalist papers.
FQ13