Maine Gov. Paul LePage Would Like to Duel a Political Rival
"America's craziest governor" really loses it this time in the form of expletive-filled voicemail.
Maine's Republican Governor Paul LePage — once described by Politico as "America's Craziest Governor" — added to his impressive repertoire of saying vulgar and bigoted things in a completely unhinged manner when he left a voicemail for Maine State Rep. Drew Gattine (D) yesterday.
LePage — who earlier this year created a stir when he lamented that he believed heroin dealers with names like "D-Money, Smoothie, Shift" were coming to his state from "Connecticut and New York" and "half the time they impregnate a young, white girl before they leave" — objected to a reporter's insinuation that Gattine had called him a racist. But, according to the Portland Press Herald, the reporter did not say explicitly that Gattine had called LePage a racist. That didn't stop LePage from leaving in a huff, telling reporters "you make me so sick."
Shortly thereafter, LePage left a 34-second message on Gattine's voicemail, which can be heard in its entirety on the Portland Press Herald's site:
Mr. Gattine, this is Governor Paul Richard LePage. I would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you c**ksucker. 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 son-of-a-bitch, socialist c**ksucker. 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 reportedly later told reporters about the message and that he hoped Gattine made it public. The Press Herald then filed a Freedom of Access Act request for the audio, which Gattine turned over later that night (if only all public information access requests to the government were fulfilled with such expedience!).
The governor also told reporters, "I wish it were 1825" because he and Gattine "would have a duel, that's how angry I am." LePage added, "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."
In addition to his race-baiting drug hysteria from earlier this year, LePage has publicly advocated for public executions by guillotine of drug traffickers and quarantining healthy nurses who have returned from performing vital charity medical work in Ebola-stricken parts of Africa.
LePage also joked about "blowing up" the Press Herald's building while playing with a fighter jet simulator, and shortly after taking office in 2011 told the NAACP "to kiss my butt" when the organization made an issue of him skipping Martin Luther King Day events around the state. LePage noted that he has a black adopted son, and defended his decision by saying the NAACP is a "special interest" and "I'm not going to be held hostage by special interests."
