WASHINGTON–Well, this won’t help put all this chatter about White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel to rest–a story about Emanuel, naked, razzing a lawmaker in the House gym for not backing President Obama’s budget. That’s from departing Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) who is not resigning from his House seat quietly. He is trying to tackle Emanuel on his way out the door. <\/p>\n
Massa, from upstate New York, is quitting Congress, he said at first because of cancer. Then news came out he may be facing ethics charges about making inappropriate remarks to a male staffer. Then, in radio show, he said House leaders forced him out because of his lack of support for health care. <\/p>\n
Emanuel is a former Chicago congressman, and all former House members retain rights to use the House gym. Emanuel is a regular for early morning work-outs. <\/p>\n
“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,” Massa said. “Do you know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man? … It’s ridiculous.” <\/p>\n He added, “By the way, what the heck is he doing in the congressional gym? He goes there to intimidate members of Congress.”<\/em><\/p>\n