TVSpy
Eric Massa, the former Congressman who recently resigned amid allegations of harassing a male aid, did a media blitz on Tuesday that left FNC’s Glenn Beck apologizing to viewers and Arianna Huffington sympathizing with Beck while appearing on CNN.
Since Massa, a freshman Democratic representative from upstate New York, abruptly resigned last Wednesday, journalists have tried to uncover details about what led to Massa’s stepping down. Even in the face of rumors that he groped male staffers, Massa insisted that his resignation was mostly policy-driven. In an effort to set the record straight, Massa appeared for a full-hour interview with Beck on Fox News as well as a lengthy interview with Larry King on CNN.
Washington Post media columnist Howard Kurtz described Massa’s appearance on “Glenn Beck” as “the most bizarre hour of television in a long time.” Beck may have even shared some of Kurtz’s bewilderment as he concluded the interview by apologizing to his viewers. “I think I’ve wasted your time,” Beck said looking into the camera lens. “I think this is the first time I have wasted an hour of your time. I apologize for that.” (Video here).
On CNN’s “Larry King Live,” the host asked Massa point-blank, “Are you gay?” Massa refused to answer the question, explaining, “In year 2010, why don’t you ask my wife? Ask my friends. Ask the 10,000 sailors that I served with in the navy.” (Video here).
Finally, liberal columnist and Huffington Post founder, Arianna Huffington discussed Massa’s TV appearances on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360.” “I never thought anything would make me feel sympathetic towards Glenn Beck,” Huffington told Cooper, “but having to interview Eric Massa for an entire hour made me really feel for him.” (Video here).