(Thumbnail image: CBS/New York Daily News)

Making his rounds in major media outlets former Democratic Rep. Eric Massa of New York claims he resigned because fellow Democrats in Congress "pushed him out". But critics say Massa is just making excuses to divert attention from his alleged ethics violations.

"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 going to vote for the president's budget. Do you know how awkward it is to have a political argument with a naked man?" 

But on ABC's The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck says Massa's statements while harsh, bring to light the possibility of intimidation tactics being used by the Obama administration.

"As awkward as it is, don't you think, maybe if true, it's slightly indicative of 'bully nation' here? ... I think what he's saying, we don't know if this is true, but is this, stuff like this happening on a lesser level? Is there a bullying to get this bill passed?"

Conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck have all agreed with Massa's allegations the White House has resorted to bullying to get bills passed. But MSNBC's Chuck Todd focuses on Massa's vote against the health care reform bill, saying conservatives were too quick to label him a hero.

"This whole Massa thing has one bizarre twist after another. ... Oh, by the way, his vote against health care was because it was not expansive enough. Because it did not include a public option. He was with Dennis Kucinich in opposing it. So, it's easy for some to glom onto him who are just looking for ways to beat up on the president, but his credibility has clearly taken a hit when you look at the timeline of his allegations."

CNN's Roland Martin agrees. He says the former congressman's words cannot be believed because his resignation suggests he's got something to hide.   

"If I was accused of making a comment or doing something and I know I didn't do it - I'm not going to quit my job. First it was, 'I'm retiring because of cancer.' Then it was an ethics investigation, then it was a comment. Okay, why don't you stick with one story as to why you're quitting. Now all of a sudden 'you're pushing me out'? No. This is a nice genius move. 'Get the attention off me, put it on someone else.' And these idiots who hate the president are falling for it."

But on HLN Washington Post reporter Chris Cillizza says the controversy behind Massa has nothing to do with health care.

"This is about a congressman who has essentially acknowledged he acted inappropriately to staff and resigned as a result of it. To me, the health care debate is entirely separate from that. This is someone who's using something in the news to try and drive people to distraction but that's not what this is about."

Writer: Victoria Uwumarogie