Massa’s resignation sets up another Obama referendum upstate
Rep. Massa’s exit sets up another big test for Obama.
Though Democrat Eric Massa has formally resigned his hard-fought congressional seat in the 29th District, heads are still spinning.
No one seems to know what to make of all that’s happened since last week when Massa initially announced he wouldn’t seek re-election in November amid charges of sexual harassment. After all, Massa has earned a reputation for fighting when he believes he’s right. He was among a small group of Democrats to vote against the House health care bill.
In stepping down late Monday, Massa said the harassment charges involving a male staffer were being used by House Democratic leaders to get rid of him because of his opposition to the health reform bill.
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.
Meantime, as if New Yorkers need more political drama, attention is turning to Albany where Gov. David Paterson will decide whether to call a special election. He should, of course. Soon. Otherwise, voters in the 29th District would go without representation until next January.
Paterson must resist the temptation to let voters make their choice in November when the Democratic candidate for governor, who is expected to be Andrew Cuomo, will lead the statewide ticket. The good of the people, and not the party, must be paramount.
As for Massa, who insists that the foremost reason he’s stepping aside is his recurring cancer, it’s simply unclear who did what and when. But one thing is certain: Massa’s resignation and his falling out with fellow Democrats can only add to growing public discontent with the party.
The stage has been set for another national referendum on President Obama’s administration and health care reform, again in upstate New York.
