# Larry King asks Massa "Are you gay", Massa (kinda) answers **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 10, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991 "2010-03-10T16:49:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/1 "2010-03-10T16:49:16Z")
[http://www.breitbart.tv/are-you-gay-massa-avoids-answering-kings-question/](http://www.breitbart.tv/are-you-gay-massa-avoids-answering-kings-question/) So, Larry King asked former Rep. Massa if he’s gay — a fair question, IMO, considering there’s questions of his conduct around male staffers and whether it’s inappropriate, yet he’s also married. Now to me, there are basically approx. 2 answers to that question. And neither of them involve “ask the guys I served with in the Navy. Ask my kids.” Was it an appropriate question? Was it an appropriate answer? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/2 "2010-03-10T17:06:30Z")
I thought ‘I’m not going to answer that’ was a fair answer. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/3 "2010-03-10T17:18:56Z")
I can think of at least three legit answers: “yes,” “no,” and “I don’t want to talk about my personal life/none of your business.” His answer is incoherent because he’s trying to say all three of them at the same time. That’s kind of cool because I’ve never seen it before. The ‘ask my family and Navy friends’ implies “no,” the ‘this insults every gay American by classifying people’ implies “yes,” and the ‘I’m not going to answer that’ part means “none of your business.” Two other funny things happen here: he responds to the question “are you gay?” by saying ‘ask the 10,000 people I served with in the Navy.’ Those of us with a decent sense of irony would never say that. And Massa also managed to get zinged by Larry King, and I did not think was possible. Specifically Massa gets offended and says “why would you even ask that?” and King replies, rather sensibly, “Because you said you groped someone. Who is male.” [Mod Hat] I don’t think this is a Great Debates topic, but I’ll leave it here for now. [/Mod Hat] ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/4 "2010-03-10T17:19:14Z")
I just saw this on the news. I’m no body language expert, but he contorted is face in a very weird way that had “yes” written all over it. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/5 "2010-03-10T17:24:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I can think of at least three legit answers: “yes,” “no,” and “I don’t want to talk about my personal life/none of your business.” Or “I’m bi.” ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/6 "2010-03-10T17:24:59Z")
Really, if he says anything other than a firm no, the answer is yes. For that matter, even if he gives a firm no, the answer could still be yes. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/7 "2010-03-10T17:31:48Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > Or “I’m bi.” I was counting that under “no.” But I think Massa answered the question. He just didn’t mean to. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/8 "2010-03-10T17:39:15Z")
I like [this anecdote](http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/massa_remembers_bawdy_navy_days.php) about walking in on his roomate choking the chicken while he was in the Navy.: > [@](#): > > I arrived back early from that and opened the door and – not to put quite a light on it – but the other gentleman was busy remembering his spouse. And I’ll let your imaginations run wild," Massa said. > > “I walked in and instead of embarrassing him I smacked him on the leg and said, ‘you need any help with that, let me know.’ And I went to bed. And he was so hideously embarrassed, he moved out of the state room, because he couldn’t take it. Ladies and gentleman, we had been at sea for four months.” Good thing he decided not to embarrass the guy. In case anybody doesn’t know, offering to help another guy jerk off is gay. Even staying in the same room is gay. The normal straight guy thing to do would be to stammer some kind of apology, slam the door shut and sprint away from the room. He also says he told a male staffer, “I want to frack you.” I’m told that “frack” means fuck in Klingon or something. It sure sounds gay, whatever it means. I’m going to go ahead and guess that he’s gay. Going around offering to give dudes hand jobs and saying you want to fuck them is kind of gay. I don’t think he’s been hypocritical, though, has he? Isn’t he basically pro-gay rights? ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/9 "2010-03-10T18:15:23Z")
Sorry, but I’m still having a hard time getting past the fact that his name is Massa. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/10 "2010-03-10T18:19:56Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Sorry, but I’m still having a hard time getting past the fact that his name is Massa. Me too. Good thing he’s gone away. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/11 "2010-03-10T18:27:05Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Sorry, but I’m still having a hard time getting past the fact that his name is Massa. That would be particularly odd if he were a submissive. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/12 "2010-03-10T18:29:12Z")
Some people still have trouble coming out. If he wasn’t gay, I see no reason why he wouldn’t give a flat-out no. He dances around the question like a true politician. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/13 "2010-03-10T18:32:48Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’m told that “frack” means fuck in Klingon or something. Battlestar Galactica. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/14 "2010-03-10T18:36:59Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Really, if he says anything other than a firm no, the answer is yes. For that matter, even if he gives a firm no, the answer could still be yes. Not necessarily. I was asked that question once, and I was sufficiently irritated by the interrogator and her reasons that I refused to answer anything other than “none of your business.” The interrogator then assumed I was gay, until the other women in our group pointed out what a objectifying, leering pig I was. “Oh, good grief,” Ruby said, “he’s staring at your breasts right now!” ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/15 "2010-03-10T18:44:03Z")
Would Larry King ask someone who groped female staffers if they were straight? He’s interviewed hundred of people has he ever asked anyone if they were straight? The problem is he shouldn’t be groping anyone. Larry King was fair in asking Massa if he was gay but only because people watching have an interest in that answer. That says more about our society then about King or Massa. I’d hope we could get to a point were people cared more about the fact Massa was groping people then the sex or sexuality of anyone involved. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/16 "2010-03-10T18:54:27Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Would Larry King ask someone who groped female staffers if they were straight? He’s interviewed hundred of people has he ever asked anyone if they were straight? I imagine he would if he was interviewing someone who had been publicly identifying as gay. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/17 "2010-03-10T18:54:36Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Me too. Good thing he’s gone away. Shouldn’t that be “gwine away”? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/18 "2010-03-10T18:59:14Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Would Larry King ask someone who groped female staffers if they were straight? If he were interviewing a woman who was married to a man? Yes, he might ask if she were straight. If he were interviewing a straight man who allegedly groped a woman, the question wouldn’t make any sense. > [@](#): > > He’s interviewed hundred of people has he ever asked anyone if they were straight? I suspect he has asked every stupid question you could think of on dozens of occasions. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/19 "2010-03-10T19:00:20Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Sorry, but I’m still having a hard time getting past the fact that his name is Massa. That’s got to be tough for black staffers: “Congressman, you have a meeting at 10:30.” “Please, call me Massa.” . . . . . “Congressman, you have a meeting at 10:30.” ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991/20 "2010-03-10T19:24:22Z")
I think “Ask the guys I served with _[In The Navy](http://www.rotten.com/library/culture/village-people/alex.jpg)_” was a bit of a give-away, actually. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/larry-king-asks-massa-are-you-gay-massa-kinda-answers/531991.md?page=2)