The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

If You Haven’t Been Groped by Eric Massa Yet, Please Raise Your Hand

Posted on | March 10, 2010 | 16 Comments

OK, let’s do a count . . . uh, so far, looks like I’m the only one:

[I]n conversations yesterday and today with some of Massa’s Navy shipmates, it became clear that the behavior toward his subordinates that got Massa into trouble in Congress is part of pattern that dates to his time in the Navy.
According to Peter Clarke, a Navy shipmate, Massa was notorious for making unwanted advances toward subordinates. He tells the story of his friend Stuart Borsch, with whom Massa shared a hotel room while on leave during the first Gulf War. “Stuart’s at the edge of the bed,” Clarke says Borsch told him at the time, “and [Massa] starts massaging him. Massa said, ‘You’ll have to get one of my special massages.’ He called them ‘Massa Massages.’” Ron Moss, a Navy shipmate and Borsch’s roommate, confirmed that Borsch told him this story at the time.
Borsch, now a history professor at Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, didn’t addresss that specific incident, but did confirm to me in an email that he was groped by Massa: “In 1990, aboard the U.S.S. Jouett, I was awakened when a senior officer, Lt. Commander Massa, seemed to be groping me. (I was a lieutenant at the time.) I believe he may have been drinking. I shouted at him and he left. I mentioned the incident to several other officers. I did not officially report it.”
Clarke says that Massa’s roommate, Tom Maxfield, was also assaulted. “Tom lived on upper bunk,” Clarke say. “When you’re on ship, you’re almost exhausted 24-7. So a lot of times you sleep with your uniform on. Tom and Massa shared a stateroom together. Massa climbed up on the top of his bunk, which is hard to do–you never crawl up on somebody else’s bunk. He wakes up to Massa undoing his pants trying to snorkel him.”

(Via Memeorandum.) That’s a euphemism — “snorkel” — I hadn’t heard before, but I’ll be sure to keep it handy henceforth: “President Obama got another snorkel from David Brooks today . . .”

Don’t ask, don’t tell. IYKWIMAITYD.

UPDATE: Allahpundit:

 To no one’s surprise, because of Massa’s resignation, the less-than-worthless House ethics committee has ended its investigation into his alleged misconduct.

Nancy Pelosi’s Three-Ring Circus continues.

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Category: Congress, Democrats, Gays, Scandal, Sex

Comments

  • http://www.twitter.com/lyndseyfifield Lyndsey

    “‘You’ll have to get one of my special massages.’ He called them ‘Massa Massages.’”

    You should really put a disclaimer on your posts. I just threw up in my mouth.

  • http://www.twitter.com/lyndseyfifield Lyndsey

    “‘You’ll have to get one of my special massages.’ He called them ‘Massa Massages.’”

    You should really put a disclaimer on your posts. I just threw up in my mouth.

  • http://www.andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com Andrew Sullivan

    Is there a problem with any of this? Men alone at sea, in cramped quarters, around each other, smelling each others, and who hasn’t drempt of Richard Gere in Navy whites marching in and sweeping one off their feet. Hormones will not be denied.

    At least not my hormones! Damn, I am getting excited just thinking about it.

  • http://www.andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com Andrew Sullivan

    Is there a problem with any of this? Men alone at sea, in cramped quarters, around each other, smelling each others, and who hasn’t drempt of Richard Gere in Navy whites marching in and sweeping one off their feet. Hormones will not be denied.

    At least not my hormones! Damn, I am getting excited just thinking about it.

  • http://www.politicalbyline.com Patrick

    that SO wrong.

  • http://www.politicalbyline.com Patrick

    that SO wrong.

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  • http://keaneobservation.blogspot.com/ Largebill

    After 25 years in the Navy, let me start by saying I’m damn glad I wasn’t stationed with that reprobate. I have to wonder about the integrity of those who knew of his actions and took no action. Taking a stand isn’t easy. So what. If you’re a leader you take a stand anyways and take the heat (if any) that comes your way.

  • http://keaneobservation.blogspot.com/ Largebill

    After 25 years in the Navy, let me start by saying I’m damn glad I wasn’t stationed with that reprobate. I have to wonder about the integrity of those who knew of his actions and took no action. Taking a stand isn’t easy. So what. If you’re a leader you take a stand anyways and take the heat (if any) that comes your way.

  • kansas

    But I thought they want gays to actively serve in the military. Massa was just ahead of his time.

  • kansas

    But I thought they want gays to actively serve in the military. Massa was just ahead of his time.

  • Rich Fader

    I’m happy to say that I’ve never even met the man, much less suffered his attentions.

  • Rich Fader

    I’m happy to say that I’ve never even met the man, much less suffered his attentions.

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