Maine Governor LePage - a Maine citizen apologizes
Dear Americans, as a citizen of Maine, I sincerely apologize for the behavior, out of control comments and wrong minded policy statements given to our state (and the nation) by Maine Governor LePage.
Honestly, I'm sorry for what Governor LePage has said. Please do not hold Maine people accountable for Governor LePage's outrageous statements. We are sorry.
Maine Gov. Paul LePage left profanity-laced voicemail for state lawmaker- there's no excuse for Governor LePage, no adequate apology for the threats he made in this voice mail....but on his behalf, I apologize, because he is obviously incable of doing so.
Honestly, I'm sorry for what Governor LePage has said. Please do not hold Maine people accountable for Governor LePage's outrageous statements. We are sorry.
Governor LePage steps in racist poop again, and again...
Nevertheless, it's impossible for me to excuse Governor Paul LePage for behaving like an imbecile. I am sorry he doesn't realize how horrific he makes Maine people appear to be when I know we are a moderate, thoughtful, caring and intelligent citizenry.
Washington (CNN)-By Tal Kopan
Maine Gov. Paul LePage left an expletive-laced voicemail for a state lawmaker that goaded him to "prove that I'm a racist" after a series of controversial comments once again put the governor in the news.
Unfortunately, Governor LePage left the message for Democratic State Rep. Drew Gattine on Thursday, according to the Portland Press Herald, which also was the first to obtain audio of the voicemail. The uncensored audio message, also shared with CNN, contains several explicit phrases.
The bombastic Republican governor is known for his loose style, which sometimes draws criticism. He is a strong supporter of Donald Trump, and Trump's campaign recently hired his daughter to work on the race in Maine.
Earlier this week, LePage had doubled down on comments he has made in the past about the racial background of drug dealers in his state, saying that "90-plus percent ... are black and Hispanic people."
According to the Press Herald, Gattine was identified by local media as having called LePage racist, though Gattine denies doing so.
"Mr. Gattine, this is Gov. Paul Richard LePage," the audio recording says. "I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you (obscene term). I want to talk to you. I want you to prove that I'm a racist. I've spent my life helping black people and you little (obscene term), socialist (obscene term). You -- I need you to -- just friggin'. I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you. Thank you."
LePage apologized for the voicemail in a statement on Friday, but justified his reaction saying the label of racist is "the absolute worst, most vile thing you can call a person."
"I didn't know Drew Gattine from a hole in the wall until yesterday," LePage said. "It made me enormously angry when a TV reporter asked me for my reaction about Gattine calling me a racist. ... So I called Gattine and used the worst word I could think of. I apologize for that to the people of Maine, but I make no apology for trying to end the drug epidemic that is ravaging our state."
On Thursday, the governor took credit for leaving the voicemail in a later interview at his home with local media, and said he would like to challenge Gattine to a duel.
"When a snot-nosed little guy from Westbrook calls me a racist, now I'd like him to come up here because, tell you right now, I wish it were 1825," LePage said, according to the Press Herald. "And we would have a duel, that's how angry I am, and I would not put my gun in the air, I guarantee you, I would not be (Alexander) Hamilton. I would point it right between his eyes, because he is a snot-nosed little runt and he has not done a damn thing since he's been in this Legislature to help move the state forward."
Friday, LePage walked back that rhetoric, saying he was purely making a historical reference.
"Obviously, it's illegal today; it was simply a metaphor and I meant no physical harm to Gattine," LePage said. (This is an unacceptable response by Maine Governor LePage, he crossed an ethical line, calling for unwarranted violence.)
Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett called LePage's remarks a "threat."
"Gov. LePage's direct threat against Rep. Gattine is both erratic and disturbing, and he is clearly unfit to lead our state," Bartlett said in a statement. "Not only did the governor blatantly say he would take violent action against a sitting lawmaker, he also twice invoked a homophobic slur to drive home his point. Those reckless remarks may incite others to violence. ... Paul LePage is an increasingly menacing figure who does not reflect the values of our state."
Gattine did not respond to a request for comment.
I'm just thinking there might be more going on with Governor LePage, something happening in his mental processes, that prevent him from making informed statements.
Maine Gov. Paul LePage left an expletive-laced voicemail for a state lawmaker that goaded him to "prove that I'm a racist" after a series of controversial comments once again put the governor in the news.
Unfortunately, Governor LePage left the message for Democratic State Rep. Drew Gattine on Thursday, according to the Portland Press Herald, which also was the first to obtain audio of the voicemail. The uncensored audio message, also shared with CNN, contains several explicit phrases.
The bombastic Republican governor is known for his loose style, which sometimes draws criticism. He is a strong supporter of Donald Trump, and Trump's campaign recently hired his daughter to work on the race in Maine.
Earlier this week, LePage had doubled down on comments he has made in the past about the racial background of drug dealers in his state, saying that "90-plus percent ... are black and Hispanic people."
According to the Press Herald, Gattine was identified by local media as having called LePage racist, though Gattine denies doing so.
"Mr. Gattine, this is Gov. Paul Richard LePage," the audio recording says. "I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you (obscene term). I want to talk to you. I want you to prove that I'm a racist. I've spent my life helping black people and you little (obscene term), socialist (obscene term). You -- I need you to -- just friggin'. I want you to record this and make it public because I am after you. Thank you."
LePage apologized for the voicemail in a statement on Friday, but justified his reaction saying the label of racist is "the absolute worst, most vile thing you can call a person."
"I didn't know Drew Gattine from a hole in the wall until yesterday," LePage said. "It made me enormously angry when a TV reporter asked me for my reaction about Gattine calling me a racist. ... So I called Gattine and used the worst word I could think of. I apologize for that to the people of Maine, but I make no apology for trying to end the drug epidemic that is ravaging our state."
On Thursday, the governor took credit for leaving the voicemail in a later interview at his home with local media, and said he would like to challenge Gattine to a duel.
"When a snot-nosed little guy from Westbrook calls me a racist, now I'd like him to come up here because, tell you right now, I wish it were 1825," LePage said, according to the Press Herald. "And we would have a duel, that's how angry I am, and I would not put my gun in the air, I guarantee you, I would not be (Alexander) Hamilton. I would point it right between his eyes, because he is a snot-nosed little runt and he has not done a damn thing since he's been in this Legislature to help move the state forward."
Friday, LePage walked back that rhetoric, saying he was purely making a historical reference.
"Obviously, it's illegal today; it was simply a metaphor and I meant no physical harm to Gattine," LePage said. (This is an unacceptable response by Maine Governor LePage, he crossed an ethical line, calling for unwarranted violence.)
Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Bartlett called LePage's remarks a "threat."
"Gov. LePage's direct threat against Rep. Gattine is both erratic and disturbing, and he is clearly unfit to lead our state," Bartlett said in a statement. "Not only did the governor blatantly say he would take violent action against a sitting lawmaker, he also twice invoked a homophobic slur to drive home his point. Those reckless remarks may incite others to violence. ... Paul LePage is an increasingly menacing figure who does not reflect the values of our state."
Gattine did not respond to a request for comment.
Labels: Representative Drew Gattine, Tal Kopan, Westbrook Maine
posted by Juliana L'Heureux | 5:43 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home