Massa vs. White House

(Voiceover) In full campaign mode, the President is aiming his closing argument squarely at fellow Democrats.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA (UNITED STATES)
They’ve argued, now is not the time for reform. It’s gonna hurt your poll numbers. How is it gonna affect Democrats in November? Don’t do it now. My question to them is, when’s the right time? If not now, when? If not us, who?
JONATHAN KARL (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) One vote the President won’t get, Congressman Eric Massa. The New York Democrat announced his resignation last week amidst allegations he sexually harassed two males aides.
REPRESENTATIVE ERIC MASSA (DEMOCRAT
Do I use salty language? Yep. And I’ve tried to do better.
JONATHAN KARL (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) But now, Massa is changing his story, saying on his radio show that he has been hounded out by Democratic leaders because he was going to vote against the President’s health care bill.
REPRESENTATIVE ERIC MASSA (DEMOCRAT
I was set up for this from the very, very beginning. If you think that somehow they didn’t come after me to get rid of me because my vote is the deciding vote in the health care bill, then, ladies and gentlemen, you live today in a world that is so innocent as to not understand what’s going on in Washington, DC.
JONATHAN KARL (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) On Friday, Massa had taken full responsibility for his actions. Not now.
REPRESENTATIVE ERIC MASSA (DEMOCRAT
I guarantee you, there’s not a single member of the Democratic freshman class who is gonna vote against this health care bill now that they got me.
JONATHAN KARL (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) Perhaps the most bizarre twist? He described an alleged encounter with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel in the House gym locker room last year.
REPRESENTATIVE ERIC MASSA (DEMOCRAT
And I’m sitting there showering, naked as a jaybird and here comes Rahm Emanuel, not even with a towel wrapped around his tush, poking his finger in my chest, yelling at me because I wasn’t gonna vote for the President’s budget. Do you know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man? It’s ridiculous.

Read more: (Jonathan Karl, “Congressman vs. White House,” ABC News, 03/09/10)