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Maine Gov. Paul LePage's future uncertain after voice mail rant

By Allen Cone
Paul LePage's future as Maine's governor is uncertain after threatening and racially charged remarks to a state legislator last week. Photo by MattGagnon/Wikimedia Commons
Paul LePage's future as Maine's governor is uncertain after threatening and racially charged remarks to a state legislator last week. Photo by MattGagnon/Wikimedia Commons

AUGUSTA, Maine, Aug. 31 (UPI) -- Maine Gov. Paul LePage's threatening remarks to a state legislator spearheaded other lawmakers to question his mental health and call for his resignation.

The governor sent mixed signals Tuesday about his future after he left a vulgar and threatening voice mail to a state legislator who LePage believed had called him a racist. In six hours time, he went from saying "maybe it's time to move on" to "reports of my political demise are greatly exaggerated."

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LePage left the message for Democratic state Rep. Drew Gattine on Thursday after a reporter allegedly told the governor Gattine called LePage a racist. In reaction, LePage left a message for Gattine, asking him to "prove that I'm a racist" and threatened, "I am after you."

That same day, the governor told reporters he wanted to challenge Gattine to a duel and point a gun "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."

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State lawmakers have questioned LePage's mental health after he back pedaled on his suggestion he might resign in the wake of the criticism he faced for the voicemail.

"I think most of Maine has no idea if what he says this morning is going to stick this afternoon," Senate Minority Leader Justin Alfond said to the Portland Press Herald. "I think it illustrates that he is unfit [to govern] and that his judgment and his ability to lead a complex state have been jeopardized. And he really should be doing the soul-searching he talked about this morning and should resign."

But though Republicans generally are concerned about the governor's health, they don't want him to leave prematurely.

"Gov. LePage has acknowledged he is sorry, we have condemned his words for what he said, he needs to continue to work on that, but as House Republicans we are going to go out there and start talking about the issues and start talking to the voters because we believe that's what's important, we are not coming back in for a special session to talk about this," House Minority Leader Ken Fredette said.

Republican state Senator Amy Volk was critical on Facebook of LePage's behavior.

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"What I do not know is whether it is due to substance abuse, mental illness or just ignorance. I certainly hope that his family and small circle of close staff are considering how best to address the issue. Things definitely appear to be out of control. "

But she stopped short of asking him to resign, writing: "Some sort of censure would seem appropriate and I would welcome the ability to go on the record with a vote."

Otherwise, she said the outbursts "are hindering our ability to get things done."

House Democratic leader Jeff McCabe said it's best for the governor to resign.

"I'm not in the medical profession, but it's clear that the governor needs to seek professional help," McCabe said. "He's crossed a line and we are questioning his well-being at this time."

LePage gave conflicting comments about his future Tuesday.

First in a morning interview on Bangor's WVOM, he said he was totally at fault for his threatening voice mail last week.

"I'm looking at all options," the Republican governor said on the station. "I think some things I've been asked to do are beyond my ability. I'm not going to say that I'm not going to finish it. I'm not saying that I am going to finish it."

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Later, he said: "If I've lost my ability to help Maine people, maybe it's time to move on."

But six hours later on his Twitter account, he posted, "The reports of my political demise are greatly exaggerated."

And during a ceremony at Baileyville, in Washington County, he told WCSH-TV in an afternoon interview he was exaggerating about resigning but it was an option. He said he was conferring with his family about his options.

"I only have to be accountable to God and my family," he said, "and that's the most important thing in my life."

On Wednesday morning, LePage said he spoke to Gattine and apologized, and that the legislator never called the governor a racist. LePage instead blamed the reporter for misconstruing Gattine's words.

Still, other critics have said LePage focuses too much on race when addressing drug problems in the state, the Portland (Maine) Press Herald reported.

The controversy began when LePage defended his state's record on drug enforcement. LePage told residents at a town hall meeting he keeps a binder full of photos of all the individuals arrested for drugs in Maine since January and 90 percent of them are black or Hispanic. However, statistics show that the overwhelming majority arrested for dealing all types of drugs in Maine are white.

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On Friday, LePage reiterated his comments and showed reporters the binder.

Maine residents are split on LePage's future.

"I don't feel that he's helping Maine in any way, to be honest,'' said Jamie Ploss, a 37-year-old Bradford resident, who was in downtown Bangor, told the Boston Globe.

Car mechanic Al Scott, 48, said, "Absolutely not!" on whether he should resign.

If LePage quits, Michael D. Thibodeau, the Republican Senate president, would serve as governor until the end of LePage's term in January 2019.

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