Paul LePage, Maine’s far-right and hot-tempered Governor, had a fiery exchange with a TV reporter yesterday. It came just a couple of days before LePage’s scheduled visit to Vermont, to fundraise for VTGOP gubernatorial candidate Randy Brock.
The reporter, Paul Merrill, asked about LePage calling the IRS “the new Gestapo,” which somehow managed to offend some people. Remember, the Nazi comparison wasn’t an off-the-cuff thing; it was in the official Republican response to President Obama’s weekly radio address. It was written out, vetted, edited, approved, and delivered for a national audience.
Initially, LePage blew right by Merrill and refused to answer any questions. But as LePage was walking away, Merrill hit a sore spot by asking if the Governor would apologize. He stalked back to Merrill and said:
“It was never intended to offend anyone,” LePage said. “And if someone’s offended, then they ought to be goddamn mad at the federal government.”
Yes, more civility from Paul LePage. Not to mention flawless logic: if someone’s offended, don’t be angry at the guy who made the offensive remark. Be angry at the government that “provoked” LePage to such extremes.
VTGOP chair Jack Lindley has called on Democrats to be civil to this man. Problem is, he deserves no civility whatsoever. And once again, Randy Brock deserves to be questioned on his choice of political allies. And the national Republican Party should answer for its choice of spokesperson and for his language.
But I’m not holding my breath.
. . . to speak with his grown-up voice, he’ll find people more inclined to ask him big-boy questions.
Darcy, the Wildflower Inn snafu, LePage as his headliner…any guesses what will be the next big Brock embarrassment?
Be civil? That’s how Chamberlain handled (or was handled by) Hitler in 1938. I would suggest to Mr. Lindley that asking Vermonters to “be civil” to LePage flies in the face of what some of our senior citizens fought for in 1942-45. I mean, a Nazi is a Nazi. Perhaps the ‘good’ Vermont Republicans (and there are many) should step in here and say: “No, this is just too much. Why, it smells of something…oh yeah…the way the Nazis had those little musical concerts for the Jews on line to the gas chambers…that was ‘being civil’–wasn’t it?”
So, an OberFuhrer of the Right (Corporate Reich) is coming to Vermont for…what? To INSPECT us? Is Herr LePage going to tell Herr Lindley and Herr Brock that they are ‘too soft’ on following the ORDERS from Berlin…I mean, Wall Street? Is Herr LePage going to suggest to Herr Brock and Herr Lindley (yes, I think we should all refer to these folks as ‘Herr’ now) that a good way to get votes is to say, somewhat like that Christian church in Alabama just did, that ‘White Vermonters’ are the ‘forgotten’ and ‘abused’ people. That would be a good one, considering Vermont is the WHITEST STATE IN THE UNION, and our White population, buttressed by Gays and Radicals, may have the HIGHEST IQ IN THE NATION.
Well, I guess Herr Lindley and Herr Brock may take the path Hitler took–Victory or Death! Really, the Vermont GOP ought to cancel this shit. Hey Vince Illuzzi and Bill Doyle–are you on board with this? Is LePage going to ask you all to sign Loyalty Oaths to Wall Street? How can a Vermont Libertarian Republican hold his/her head high on LePage’s visit? What? Oh yeah, they’re following ORDERS. Oh, and I love the price-tags on attending this event too. I guess it won’t be Brown Bag, only Brown Shirt. What next, Herr Brock and Herr Lindley? A visit by Herr Limbaugh to speak about how half of Vermont’s women are Gay and the other half are Sluts? And you want us to Be Civil? I suggest ‘PIEING’ Herr Le Page into the Lake. CHAMP loves fresh Nazi.
Be Civil. Be Nice. Between the Peace Yuppies being CIVIL about Obama’s war policies and the Republicans wanting us to kiss the Asshole of the Corporate Reich, I think it’s time for A PolitenessMan lesson on Good Taste. The STEEL HANKIE for LePage, Lindley & Brock. I hope people show up with signs that say: “We are being fuckin’ Civil, assholes! Ain’t you heard of CIVIL Union?”
Christ On A Cross!!!