Does Paul LePage Really Want to be Governor?
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Didn't think so.
For the record I never said that LePage is a candidate tea party movement couldn't support, I just said he isn't the only candidate for governor they could support due to the candidate's values.
Would a prima donna do this at the premier conservative conference in the land? I rather doubt it.
1. Ignore Dolly. Just a common disruptor.
2. Operation Change the Subject is underway. They have a nothing candidate and are grasping at straws. I'd ignore them.
3. Stick to the core issues that matter to most taxpaying Mainers. Jobs, keeping their homes and being able to have a comfortable retirement.
4. Lesson learned: The media is not the friend of any Republican candidate, ever. They are not to be trusted as far as one could throw one of them. Create your own media.
The fact of the matter is that things are not going to get better in most working households between now and November and people are going to zero in on Libby and the party in power with a vengeance. Apologize for nothing and stay on message. The campaign will come out of this smarter and more streetwise.
The Dems have just shot their wad in the middle of the summer. A classic mistake of their own. 30% of the people are suffering from HUA and will vote for Libby. Butterflies, yum yum trees and rainbows are what Libby is all about and she has nothing else to offer.
Just focus on talking about what you are going to do for the set-upon Maine taxpayer and Paul will continue to connect.
The audio of the candidate's excuse on WVOM...including his jab at reporters...
"He complained that the MPBN reporter did not include his compliments to Mitchell in her coverage. In an MPBN transcript of the follow-up interview provided to the Kennebec Journal, LePage said he did not think age should be a campaign issue. The transcript did not show comments from him praising Mitchell as a candidate."
Bob: It seems to me that it is Paul that allowed the subject to be changed. Why is he even talking about Libby Mitchell, let alone her age? Why bring up the French thing? He needs to stick to his message. It works.
The GOP is the party of personal responsibility. It is not the Democrats or the press that caused this flare-up. I agree -- stay on message. That needs to start with the candidate.
It seems that Paul LePage has not united and galvanized the right-of-center crowd as much as has been claimed.
Huh? Who other than Dolley is not supporting him?
Manning struck his foot in it - when confronted with the complaint that they were attacking LePage's religion by attacking his belief in "creationism" - Manning's spectacularly lame response was that they "only mentioned creationism ONCE."
Oh, and how many times do they need to mention it before it becomes something they take responsibility for?
Manning is trying to pin down LePage on an offhand remark - but then wants a pass on his own stupid and hateful comments.
Typical 'rat slime. Hypocrite. I hope everyone who saw that report now knows what kind of slimly guy he is.
Let me get this straight: if you criticize a candidate for favoring the teaching of creationism in public schools, you are attacking the candidate's religion?
For the most part, a religious person is going to believe God created the universe.
Therefore, attacking someone's "creationsim belief" is a coded way of attacking his religion.
Why do you think the lefties, who generally hate Christian believers, latched so hard and fast onto that?
Charlie Webster was very astute to point that out.
There is a difference between believing God created the universe and saying that should be taught in public schools.
If you believe something is true, why wouldn't you want it mentioned in schools?
Put another way - there are very good arguments that point to flaws in Darwin's theories. So, now does teaching Darwinism in schools violate my right to believe it is a flawed theory?
Deliberately singling out the idea that “there is an intelligent designer involved in creation,” and demanding that it not be discussed in schools is MORE of an affront to free speech, freedom of religion and honest discourse than would be caused by including it.
However, since the governor doesn't even set school curriculum, making it a theological test for governorship is then nothing more than a direct attack on the man's religious beliefs.
“The guy, his name is Arden Manning. [He] is the guy that is spilling this garbage,” LePage said.
“He is saying that because of your French Catholicism you are not fit?” pressed MPBN’s Susan Sharon.
"Yeah,” LePage replied. “He calls me a creationist. I tried it, though. I did try. I went to the river and tried to part it and it didn’t move. I tried to walk across my pool and I sunk,” he said with a laugh.
LePage was exactly right - it was Manning's attack on his "creationist" beleif that was an affront to his Catholism.
No apology from LePage is necessary.
I'll weigh in. First, politically. The comment about the Dems shooting their wad a full three months before the election is spot on. This is what desperation does to a party..........they know they're losing and will likely lose, so they just could not "wait to see the whites of their eyes". Dumb, dumb, dumb. Folks are on summer time right now. This might have done a little damage in October, but not now.
Also politically: I thought there was no way we could win this little skirmish, that is, right up UNTIL I saw the Manning interview on WCSH tonight. All was going swimmingly for the leftists at WCSH and the Democrats, right up until Manning gave his infamous "I only attacked him for being a creationist ONE time" response. You could literally see the tables turning right in front of your eyes. And bingo..........we shot the gap and scored a point.
Now, religion: I am a Christian, and for many years that included Catholic. I believe in creationism. I also believe in evolution. I believe that both theories have it half right (typical humans!). As C.S. Lewis said, the problem is that we don't even know what questions we should be asking. We are but humans. But that's okay. Let me cut to the point: I know what the leftist political attacks on LePage for being a "creationist" are all about. Unless you're a die-hard secular humanist who wants all things religous (and probably even just spiritual) washed from our society, they're really driving at US too. I get it. I'm not dumb. Paul's not clever with words. He's certainly no theologian. He may even believe more strongly and traditionally in creationism than I do. So he's a sitting duck on this one. That is, UNLESS folks like me "get it" and say, "whoa whoa whoa whoa! Why are you treating him like he has two heads, when his answer would have been the only answer 100 years ago, and would have been an accepted answer just a couple generations ago? I think you are trying to cast aspersions on him in a sneaky way, without having the guts to say exactly what you mean". They attacked with the whole "creationist" thing, which is fine. It's their right. I simply say attack back, 100 times as hard.
(The French thing ties into this too.............."race" isn't the right word, granted. But Francos are a breed apart. At least, that's the way Maine treated them for most of its history... Maybe you have to be one to understand what that means, not sure.)
Excellent analysis, Jim, I think you're right on the mark.
I predict the the 'rats might have overreached with their many demands for various apologies, and this is going to backfire on them.
You're overestimating the 'cans.
When I get right down to it....I don't care at all about whether LePage believes in creationism or not .Or for that matter whether both are taught in schools. It's not critical in light of the other problems we face here in Maine . Any comments about his Franco heritage carries zero weight with me it's an absolute non -starter
What I care about is a candidate that wants to rebuild Maine through lowering taxes, reducing government,and creating opportunities for people of all walks of life. I believe LePage is the right one.
If he makes some gaff or misspeaks , so what? It doesn't negate that by supporting LePage we can move this state in the right direction There's an old Okinawan saying "Even monkeys fall out of trees". </stron
I certainly know that the last 30 years of the current mind set have not accomplished that. And for those of that ilk to throw out this red herring is typical tactics for the left.
Anyone who believes that the current regime is on the right track either has a secure government job , is independently wealthy or has lost touch with reality. For most of us working folks the future is downright frioghtening.
As regulars know I am a strong Lepage supporter and believe he will be our next governor. IMHO, I do believe however Mayor Paul Lepage needs to learn some lessons from all this and not make future claims without proof. He also needs to be careful with jokes. Sad but true reality.
What the democrats don't realize is that this kind of he said, they said politics will be perceived by some as whining politics and they will become more attracted to an independent. Moody, Scot and Cutler have to be loving this,
No matter what the democrats come up with on Lepage it will not help Libby. She will be seen as more of the same and essentially a 3rd term for Baldacci. Unless she can convince enough people that is a good thing she is sunk.
www.bangordailynews.com
LePage remarks spark dissent
7/27/10 08:32 pm Updated: 7/27/10 11:02 pm
By Kevin Miller BDN Staff
AUGUSTA, Maine — ...Manning has repeatedly verbally attacked LePage’s policy stances....
...Democrats have...made creationism a talking point and are expected to continue...
[I]n a July 6 e-mail...seeking campaign contributions, Manning refers to LePage as “woefully out of touch with mainstream voters” and as “an unabashed agent of the Christian Right.”
“He calls the Christian theory of creationism a fact and says it is ‘a learning tool for our kids,’” Manning wrote.
http://www.bangordailynews.com/story/Statewide/LePage-remarks-spark-diss...
Some breathtakingly twisted logic on display here. Pointing out a candidate's belief in X (creationism) actually IS an attack on his ethnic background (French) and religion (catholicism)? Amazing. Sounds like the kind of logic Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton are only too happy to employ.
At Tom C's suggestion, I've scoured Libby Mitchell's wacky ravings and nowhere did I find her accusing her opponent of making ethnic or religious slurs against her.
The chain of logic that LePage is using to make his accusation is specious, at best, and the strategy of trying to use this specious logic against his opponent's party is a poor choice.
Dan Billings, perhaps LePage still enjoys a strong following here, but the discord evident in this thread indicates a less than rock solid campaign, which is what is going to be needed to sway independent and conservative democrat votes.
Mayor LePage said French Catholic not French AND Catholic. The media should make a correction.
That's a pretty thin hair to split. How does that change the advisability of his comment?
Peter, I'm shocked--shocked! that they would have gotten it wrong. Average Joe: are you telling us you think that saying "French and Catholic" and saying "French Catholic" is nearly identical phraseology? Wow. I can explain further if you like, but is that really necessary?
As to the doomsayers ("I guess this shows the Republicans aren't behind LePage and he won't win")............I guess we'll just see about that.
Matt, come on! Creationism is a core religious belief. Whether you like it or not....so it's Sharpton-esque to tie the two together? I think not. That's ridiculous and a pretty wild-eyed accusation in and of itself.
Jim Cyr, when it comes to philosophical debates concerning the number of angels that can dance on the head of a pin, such distinctions are indeed very real. But please answer my question: "How does that change the advisability of his comment?"
AJ
I have heard the term Franch Catholic before. I have also heard the term Roman Catholic. I don't know the distinction. Listen to Mayor LePages quote in the WCSH video- it's clear the Mayor was talking about his faith being under attack.
The media needs to clarify what the Mayor really said.
But there is no doubt that Manning is attacking the Mayor's Catholic faith.
But there is no doubt that Manning is attacking the Mayor's Catholic faith.
Absolutely.
And a review of Al Diamon's most recent column will provide a starting point for plenty of wackadoodle Libbyisms.
Sorry, that's a stretch. "Attacking his faith"? I really don't think so. And I guess if you want to ignore the word "French," that's certainly up to you. But that is what he said. And that's his problem.
I don't think Dems have changed the subject at all with respect to their campaign against LePage. The problem of making reckless statements was previously identified, repeatedly, by Dan Billings (and many others) during the primary (see Billings' prior AMG quotes below). Dan is looking a bit prophetic in that regard and it is LePage who is providing the material. For a major party candidate to declare an intent to only communicate with the media in writing is lame and unworkable. Further, if he lacks the skill to manage Maine media, a shallow pool in terms of both resources and journalistic ability, that is a problem.
"LePage (lots for the Dems to work with there)." 5/24/10 [in reference to candidate Dems want to run against in Nov.]
"He has said many things and taken many positions that could be used against him in the general election." 5/24/10
"very poor judgment by someone who wants to be Governor. LePage is not ready for prime time." 6/7/10 [in reference to infamous LePage voicemail message]
"he won't make it to July, once the Dems start dissecting all the crazy stuff he said during the debates." 6/7/10
Look, if you want to just say "he says crazy things! He says crazy things! We told you so"..........okay.
It's better to fight the propaganda, and counterattack. For Francos in Maine, their identity is inextricably tied in with their Catholic faith. It is more than a cultural phenomenon, and it is more than a religious phenomenom. Many Francos in Maine are very devout, and are conservative. So the Dems are accomplishing a two-fer without even realizing it (probably): attacking Maine's largest ethnic group AND attacking the state's biggest religious denomination. (Manning: "LePage is part of the Religious Right".)
There is a difference between Manning attacking the candidate's faith…and saying he is "unfit to be governor because he is French Catholic"…
But thats not even the real issue now…cuz the candidate has managed to pour kerosene on what started out to be his bbq…
The issue now…in some circles anyway…is that the GOP candidate is unable to stand up and say what he claims to believe…
"'He calls me a creationist. I tried it, though. I did try. I went to the river and tried to part it and it didn’t move. I tried to walk across my pool and I sunk,' he said with a laugh."
Couple that with the "working document" statements…about not just the bible…but about the constitution…which he apparently believes in enuff to ship out of his pocket at every event…and which he has decided people copy him when they do it…and what do ya have?
You have a guy who changes his mind…on what should be the foundation of his beliefs…every time the heat gets turned up…What's he going to do about budget cuts when people get upset...
Is there such thing as a spine transplant…?
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robert,
if candidate lepage continues his verbal stumbling at his current rate -- best of luck in november. rather than rant and froth at posters concerned by mr. lepage's stumbling, write to the lepage campaign and insist they nip in the bud this inexcusable performing. there is much more at stake here now than the egos of mr. lepage and his supporters.