More Questions than Answers

by Keith Cooper

From Broader View Weekly, March 18, 2010

When the story of former Congressman Eric Massa’s political demise began to evolve I was gripped by dismay. I also felt a great deal of confusion, which I assumed would fade as I had an opportunity to read more than just an article’s headline. It took over 24 hours for my schedule to allow me to look into the matter, and by that time I was finding more questions than answers. On Friday, March 5, when Massa’s announcement changed from “I will not run” to “I hereby resign”, my confusion had grown to a troubling level.

Many readers will know I have been supportive of the former congressman. I interviewed him on the day he headed to Washington for swearing in. I attended fundraisers and two of the Town Meetings he held in the district last summer. I had shaken his hand and had casual conversations at public events. I participated in several of his press conference calls during his short time of service. Perhaps this accessibility – something I have never enjoyed with any other public official – had colored my opinion of Massa, but there was something more that won him my vote and caused me to endorse him to friends and relatives, if not always to Broader View readers.

In conversation and oration, Massa spoke candidly about the political climate in Washington. I believed he saw the all-too-powerful influence corporate lobbies exerted. I believed he understood the obstacles the current campaign financing system presented and how it produced politicians beholden to special interests, regardless of their stated commitments. I believed that he understood the dangers of party politics and how it interferes with meaningful legislation.

So I was saddened to hear that someone determined to address those issues was giving up his fight to make a difference. I was also puzzled that a cancer scare and an ethics investigation would trump Massa’s obligation to serve his constituency.

As I was preparing to write this week’s column I tried to resist the easy assumptions that make great sound bite fodder. It is easy to glom on to allegations (and Massa’s own admissions) of physical contact, and make commentary on his “randy” inappropriate behavior. It is easy to point to this latest ethics investigation as an example of the corruption within one party or compare it to similar infractions within another. It is easy to describe the impact of the resignation on the political football game and the current battle over healthcare reform.

It is harder, but more meaningful to focus on the real questions Massa’s situation brings to the table.

My brother Gordon alluded to one question with his commentary about the former congressman’s potential “bisexuality”. Massa was asked at least twice in recent interviews if he was gay. His refusal to answer in one case was more troubling than his better answer that he wasn’t but it wouldn’t matter if he was. Only Massa knows the true answer to the question, but if it’s a “yes” it points to a social environment that breeds certain forms of misconduct. The military’s don’t ask/don’t tell policies and social pressures that force homosexual men and women into heterosexual unions based on lies, does not excuse the manipulation of power for sexual gratification. However, examples of abuse in political and religious realms do betray a climate of corruption possibly resulting from unrealistic social strictures and accepted norms.

I cannot definitively answer the question of whether Massa was pressured by the White House to resign. Similar claims by New York Governor David Paterson of his own experiences, and a recorded conversation between Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and then-candidate Massa, lead me to believe that a conversation similar to the alleged shower scene probably took place.

The problem of the perpetual election and hardball party politics is very disturbing to me. The exercise of our democracy is continually thwarted by a power struggle that is not only counterproductive but is damaging to the operation of our government. The current two-party system is driven by a need to maintain or win dominance in the political arena that outweighs the real issues with which most Americans are concerned. This atmosphere creates intimidators like Emanuel and entangles party leaders like Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a snare of hypocrisy.

I agree with Gordon that the fate of the 29th District’s representation remains a question. The vacant seat requires a special election and the quest for someone to fill that seat requires a thorough vetting process. However, Gordon’s assertion that the election take place without delay implies that the position should be simply awarded to GOP candidate and former Corning Mayor Tom Reed. Reed is the only formally announced candidate and the only one that has a moderate level of familiarity among voters (not to mention a cache of funds), since he has already been campaigning for months. Democrats need to work quickly to present a viable nominee, but given the current congressional hornet’s nest one shouldn’t put expectations so high on one person.

The amount of media coverage afforded to Massa and the amount spent on the recent special election in Massachusetts begs other questions: Do we focus too closely in our system of democracy on one person’s impact? Did the country expect too much from the promise of change and President Obama’s audacity of hope? Did the Tea Party movement hang too many ambitions on the neck of Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown? Do we put too much faith in the campaign slogans and banners waved in every individual local and national election? Do we fail to see that our job as citizens of the U.S. is not over once we have cast our vote?

We should honestly ask ourselves these and other questions. But we should also strive to send a message to our elected officials that the current political system is broken. Our executive and legislative branches are no longer effectively serving the American citizenry. Unless we institute real reform in the political process it won’t matter who we elect to represent the 29th District of New York.