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

The Washington Times ^ | August 17, 2009 | Kerry Picket

[Abakumov]

[Video transcript]

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.

[bustinchops]

Mass’a attitude is a perfect snapshot of the arrogance of the elite ruling political class.

[screaming eagle2]

Spoken like a true ex-representative

[libertarian27]

New slogan for his website:

“Thanks for voting for me so I can do the things I want to do without listening to you”

[A.A. Cunningham]

massa

[C210N]

This guy has courage! He’s the only one being honest and saying he won’t represent his constituents... all the other ‘rats say they are representing their districts that are generally ‘NO’ on Health Care[less] Reform, while voting ‘YES’ for it.

[NotSoModerate]

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)

hmmmm....

[RandallFlagg]

Start a recall on this schmuck NOW! Notify him that he’s TOAST.

Gotta do better than that. Go after everything that he's touched as well. All who have ever supported him.

[theDentist]

I wonder if he’ll walk to his local office some day to discover a large load of fertilizer in front of the door?

[dools007]

It is an established principle that elected officials have a responsibility to do what they think is ethically and morally right—and what is right for America. For the most part that has coincided with constituents desires.

If the people in this man’s district overwhelmingly felt that gays and lesbians should not only be ostracized but also be removed from society, do you think he should vote for that?

If the people overwhelmingly in this man’s district wanted to return to enslaving people, do you think he should vote for that?

If the people overwhelmingly in this man’s district wanted all women to wear burkas, do you think he should vote for that?

If this man is willing to fall on his sword to push universal government health insurance then so be it. Personally, I think he’s counting on—when push comes to shove—the voters reelecting him rather than voting for a non-demrat candidate.

[exit82]

Your examples are hyperbole, and don;t even fit your criteroa of being ethically and morally right.

Does the government have an unconstitutional right to determine YOUR level of medical care and your ACCESS to medical resources?

That’s the question. It is neither moral nor ethical for the government to do either.

So for Mr. Massa to say he is voting against his constitutents in this matter is both immoral and unethical.

[Red in Blue PA]

So much for the quaint notion of representation.

Wake me up when the revolution begins.

[Red in Blue PA]

Where did you get all of your examples? Redherring.com?

[F. dAnconia]

Actually, I don't see anything wrong with his statement per se. Please let me explain before flaming me.

We live in a Republic, not a democracy. We elect representatives to go and make decisions for us. It is not the job of a representative to change his/her vote by which ever way the political winds blow. They should of course listen to their constituents concerns, but ultimately the decision lies with the representative (not a poll).

The problem here lies with the people who voted for this guy. Voters have the responsibility to vote for people of a certain philosophy and whom they trust to make said decisions. This is very different from the way we elect people these days. Too often we score candidates issue by issue instead of looking at their motives, philosophy and trustworthiness. Just my 2-cents.

[IMissPresidentReagan]

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

That's a strange way of wording it. If it's against "the interests" of his district, it seems counter intuitive that it would be helpful. I would have thought he would have said he would vote against the desires of his district, or wishes of his district, opinion of his district...the word interests, at least to me, connotates the "well being", not so much the political opinion.

[FreeReign]

This guy has courage! He’s the only one being honest and saying he won’t represent his constituents... all the other ‘rats say they are representing their districts that are generally ‘NO’ on Health Care[less] Reform, while voting ‘YES’ for it

Courage?

He said it behind the backs of his constituents to a small group of leftwing Netroots Nation nuts.

[R0CK3T]

Just another Statist doing what the Power Hungary Arrogant Tyrants do.

How’s this any different than when Hillary got caught on tape proclaiming that “we know how to spend your money better than you do”? The idea being that its their obligation to confiscate your wealth so it can be “spent” effectively.

A Liberal has contempt for we the people, because they believe ...actually they are CERTAIN that you little people are incapable of making anything of your own without the heavy hand of the GOVERNMENT there to “allow” your survival.

It comes from this mindset that on our own we are nothing, and we can and only will succeed when when “THEY” (the great power for fairness and good) from the Statists raise their all powerful hand on our small behalf.

This is WHY they MUST have the ALL Powerful hand of the Statist, so they can “use it” on behalf of we the small, incompetent, incapable people...or else total catastrophe absolutely will befall us all..

Oh and by the way to give the Statists their power, of course it has to cost we the people our FREEDOM.

So this is why he and all Liberal Usurpers of American Freedom think it is completely obvious that they MUST vote outside of the wishes of his district.

[FreeReign]

It is an established principle that elected officials have a responsibility to do what they think is ethically and morally right—and what is right for America. For the most part that has coincided with constituents desires...If the people overwhelmingly in this man’s district wanted to return to enslaving people, do you think he should vote for that?

Your post is ironic.

Single payer, forced public health care IS unethical and enslavement.

[LS]

Yep. Don’t be fooled by talk that they are taking out the public option, either. BUT . . . clearly the “mo” is on our side because they are at the stage of trying to change the bill in the House and Senate to make it appear like “reform.” We need to keep at it, because I think we are close to killing this thing.

[sarasota]

He looks the part of Chicago style politician/thug.

[C210N]

Yes, Courage. For a ‘rat, means telling voters he represents the statists, and not constituents. A ‘rat thru and thru.