[Pachyderm Points] Massa: Questionable Associates and Fringe Views

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Peter Halliday

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Jan 31, 2010, 2:29:29 PM1/31/10

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Joe Dunning puts out a column in the Corning Leader newspaper every Sunday that is usually political in nature. The editor has made no bones about the fact that he is a Democrat. However, he certainly has kept an open mind in the past (which this writer hopes that he does in the NY-29 race). This made it quite a surprise as to the seeming anger that was expressed in his Jan. 31st, 2010 column. His response makes me wonder if the Editor is as unbiased as he appears. Why else would Mr. Dunning go ballistic about a press release that clearly wasn't calling Massa a Communist.

The truth is, Congressman Massa's associations and who agrees with him does tell us a lot about what kind of man he is. First, let's take health care. The Congressman has made a big display of parading around the district and in front of the media saying that he won't vote for the health care bill. That's because he's for single payer healthcare (socialized medicine, government run healthcare, medicare for all, etc). This position is even farther to the left than even President Obama wants to go.

Secondly, his position on Afghanistan. The Congressman has called for an immediate withdrawal from Afghanistan. Let's not try to capture Bin Laden. Who cares about the instability of the country or the area? This position also is even more radical than the President believes.

Lastly, his associations in fundraising and in the Congress. He has received help from Charlie Rangel and Barney Frank with fundraising at an event that was billed as a birthday party, with an entry fee much richer than any of our birthday parties. Mr. Rangel and Mr. Frank are two of the most corrupt members of Congress.

So that brings us back to the Communist comment. It's not that Mr. Massa is a Communist. He may hold some socialistic viewpoints, but I don't think that you could call him a Communist nor was that any reasonable reading of the press release. The question really is one of associations. What does it mean when people like Mr. Rangel, Mr. Frank, and the Communist Party endorse you? I can tell you what it CLEARLY doesn't mean. It doesn't mean your views are a part of the mainstream.