Maine's New Governor, Paul LePage, Tells NAACP to 'Kiss My B

Maine's New Governor, Paul LePage, Tells NAACP to 'Kiss My Butt'
27 minutes ago


Maine's new governor has been in office for less than two weeks, but he's already created a stir after telling the NAACP to "kiss my butt."
Paul LePage, the state's first Republican governor in 16 years, made the remark last week after drawing criticism from the civil rights organization for saying he would not attend events commemorating Martin Luther King Day.
"They are a special interest," he told the Portland's WCSH-TV. "End of story. And I'm not going to be held hostage by special interests. And if they want, they can look at my family picture. My son happens to be black, so they can do whatever they'd like about it."
He added, "Tell [the NAACP] to kiss my butt. If they want to play the race card, come to dinner and my son will talk to them."
LePage has a Jamaican son named Devon Raymond, who attended the new governor's swearing in along with LePage's four other children, the Portland Press Herald reported.
In a statement, NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous said, "Gov. LePage's decision to inflame racial tension on the eve of the King holiday denigrates his office. His words are . . . out of touch with our nation's deep yearning for increased civility and racial healing."
Rachel Talbot Ross, the state director of the NAACP, also weighed in: "I don't care who he's got in his family," the Waterville (Maine) Morning Sentinel reported her saying. "And he's saying we're playing the race card? The makeup of his family isn't the issue and it never was the issue. For him to say we're playing the race card shows a real lack of awareness of the very important issues we're working to address. Our kids deserve better. Maine deserves better. His son deserves better."
According to LePage's spokesman, Dan Demeritt, the governor could not attend King events because he had previous personal commitments on Sunday and is attending the funeral of a retired state trooper on Monday, the Morning Sentinel said.
LePage, a businessman who served as mayor of Waterville before running for governor, won a close race over independent Eliot Cutler and Democrat Libby Mitchell in November.

In the wake of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) and 19 others nine days ago in Tucson, there have been widespread calls for greater civility in the nation's political discourse. LePage, however, appears not to have gotten the memo.

"I'm sure the governor wishes he'd used different words, but he's a blunt, outspoken person, and that's one thing people like about him," Charles Webster, chairman of Maine's Republican Party, told USA Today.

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2011/01/17 ... s-my-butt/

The NAACP or any other lobbying organization needs to understand that Governors represent all the people, have all types of commitments, and these days have much to do to deal with and solve the problems of government. If a Governor or any other elected official declines attending a special events ceremony, no one should take it personally or make a big deal out of it.

For example, Barack Obama didn't attend the Memorial Day Service at Arlington National Cemetery because he was on vacation in Chicago.

Telling the NAACP to "kiss my butt" who is criticizing the Governor because he can't attend their ceremony, is okay with me. We're not hearing the comments or criticism they made of him to the press which precipitated his comment but I imagine it was race-baiting.

No one supports civil rights and equal rights more than I do, but when the government wanted to make a national holiday for Martin Luther King, I opposed it because we already had so many holidays and King wasn't a President. I realize we have Columbus Day, and he wasn't a President either, but when it was made a holiday people thought he discovered America and determined that worthy of such a holiday for our nation. I'm not sure that's still the case, but we'll save that one for another day.

Not to forget that Obama also did not bother to go to Florida after the oil rig explosion and instead went on vacation. Later on he did go but of course that was AFTER he received a lot of flack for not having gone.

LePage said "They are a special interest," he told the Portland's WCSH-TV. "End of story. And I'm not going to be held hostage by special interests. "

I agree with his position. IF an elected official were to actually attend every function promoted by the numerous special interest groups that would be called "pandering" and they would have no time to focus on the job they are there to do.

geez. obama's been taking alot of vacations.

Quote:

---

Maine's new governor has been in office for less than two weeks, but he's already created a stir after telling the NAACP to "kiss my butt."
Paul LePage, the state's first Republican governor in 16 years, made the remark last week after drawing criticism from the civil rights organization for saying he would not attend events commemorating Martin Luther King Day.
"They are a special interest," he told the Portland's WCSH-TV. "End of story. And I'm not going to be held hostage by special interests.

---

Good for Paul Lepage, stand up to these racist special interest groups and maybe they will go away.

More people in positions of leadership need to do the same!

"...For example, Barack Obama didn't attend the Memorial Day Service at Arlington National Cemetery because he was on vacation in Chicago..."

Judy, I would take exception to this one. Memorial Day is a BIG deal for Americans. I am disgusted with our so called president for his disdain of our military and it's heritage. Memorial Day is not ethnic nor is it a special interest. It is to honor all of our fallen soldiers. To go on vacation instead of attending is beyond the pale IMO.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TexasBorn

"...For example, Barack Obama didn't attend the Memorial Day Service at Arlington National Cemetery because he was on vacation in Chicago..."

Judy, I would take exception to this one. Memorial Day is a BIG deal for Americans. I am disgusted with our so called president for his disdain of our military and it's heritage. Memorial Day is not ethnic nor is it a special interest. It is to honor all of our fallen soldiers. To go on vacation instead of attending is beyond the pale IMO.

---

I agree, but we didn't hear any criticism about it from the NAACP did we?

:wink:

QUOTE........In a statement, NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous said, "Gov. LePage's decision to inflame racial tension on the eve of the King holiday denigrates his office. His words are . . . out of touch with our nation's deep yearning for increased civility and racial healing."

See the race card?




QUOTE.......Rachel Talbot Ross, the state director of the NAACP, also weighed in: "I don't care who he's got in his family," the Waterville (Maine) Morning Sentinel reported her saying. "And he's saying we're playing the race card? The makeup of his family isn't the issue and it never was the issue. For him to say we're playing the race card shows a real lack of awareness of the very important issues we're working to address. Our kids deserve better. Maine deserves better. His son deserves better."

What race card? NAACP is not on the same page with each other? MORONS

So much for sticking to your principles....

Maine gov. who blasted critics changes MLK plans
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110117/...maine_gov_king

What a bozo! What makes the NAACP appreciate his attendance after what he'd said? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that his abrupt about face has zero to do with sincerity. Idiots.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by elpasoborn

What a bozo! What makes the NAACP appreciate his attendance after what he'd said? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that his abrupt about face has zero to do with sincerity. Idiots.

---

Would it be shameless to call him a POSER? NOT

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NoBueno

So much for sticking to your principles....

Maine gov. who blasted critics changes MLK plans
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110117/...maine_gov_king

---

Here's the article:

Maine gov. who blasted critics changes MLK plans

By GLENN ADAMS, Associated Press Glenn Adams, Associated Press – Mon Jan 17, 12:21 pm ET

WATERVILLE, Maine – Gov. Paul LePage changed his Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend plans and showed up at a breakfast honoring the slain civil rights leader Monday, days after he said critics of his decision to skip other events could "kiss my butt." He even joined some of the participants in an African dance.

The Republican governor's appearance was organized in the days after he made the remark Friday, responding to a reporter's question about criticism he had received over his decision not to attend the state NAACP's annual King Day celebrations. He said at the time that he didn't attend events for special interests, and his spokesman cited scheduling conflicts.

"Tell them to kiss my butt," LePage said.

The comment drew harsh criticism from state and national leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Maine NAACP Director Rachel Talbot Ross said her organization is no special interest, and the group's national president and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous said LePage's comments "inflame racial tension."

While Monday's appearance was hastily added to his schedule, LePage had previously attended several Martin Luther King breakfasts in Waterville while serving as mayor before he was elected governor, a spokesman said. Monday's event was sponsored by the local Rotary club and a senior citizens' group.

LePage, who was elected in November with tea party support, didn't speak publicly at Monday's breakfast, but he chatted with some of the roughly 150 participants, most of whom were white. In an interview, he declined to discuss his earlier comments, but acknowledged that the holiday "represents an awful lot, particularly to black America. I mean, Martin Luther King was a peaceful activist and unfortunately he gave his life for it."

In a statement issued later by his office, he said, "Dr. King is someone who spent and ultimately gave his life making sure that people got a fair shake regardless of race. We have come far through the years, but the journey continues to make Dr. King's dreams a reality. I urge all Mainers to work as one for a better life for all."

Rep. Effie McClain, pastor of the Oakland-Sidney United Methodist Church, said before her keynote speech that it was time to move beyond LePage's earlier remarks.

"I think that often times we say things that just come out wrong and if we had all the money in the world we couldn't take it back," said McClain, who is black. "Don't beat the man continually for something that's been said."

Others attending Monday's event weren't so forgiving.

LePage's attendance was "a political act that has nothing to do with his convictions," said Julie de Sherbinin, a language professor at Colby College in Waterville. De Sherbinin, who is white, is involved in a campus organization that promotes improved race relations.

LePage stayed for the entire 90-minute event, including an African drum act by a Colby ensemble. The smiling governor clapped his hands and briefly joined others who danced to the pounding rhythm.