If conservatives fear that Donald Trump is an enfant terrible, then they haven’t been
paying attention to their sprawling, engaged coalition of Republican governors
for very long.
I’m not talking about Dem-lite Charlie Baker (who has done
some good, but really needs to go, now that he has signed off on allowing men
into women’s bathrooms), and I am not talking about Governor-to-be Phil Scott
of Vermont.
There’s already a true red conservative in blue New England
who gets headlines (sometimes) for the wrong reasons, but deserves credit for substantial
reforms on tax cuts, improvement of the state business climate, expansion of
Second Amendment rights, and heightened state security.
I am talking about Maine Governor Paul Richard Le Page.
I love this guy. He campaigned on a message of ending
bureaucratic entanglements, bringing back jobs, and telling President Obama to
“Go to hell!” Once
elected, he told off the NAACP when they shamed him for not attending one of
their events: “Tell ‘em to kiss my butt!”
LePage won his first term on a slim, five-way plurality. The
second time around, he gathered more support. I have been a fan of his since
the day he announced his bid for Governor. When I wrote a review on the
governor last year (Maine’s
Paul LePage: Conservative Kicking Butt), his one-liners alone merited his
election. Fellow conservatives in California admitted to ne that they had never
heard of him. Yes, this praise is strange coming from a conservative in a cozy,
crime-free section of Los Angeles California, but Governor LePage’s commands a
bravery—and bravado—which should be celebrated on a national scale.
Even though he has never worked with an entirely Republican
legislation in the blue state of Maine, LePage has signed off on tax cuts,
welfare reform, and shall-issue for concealed-carry weapons permits.
Then I read the latest headlines that Governor LePage was
stepping down.
What?!
Evidently, LePage made it into the news (again) for
conspicuous reasons.
He
left an obscene voicemail for state assemblyman Drew Gattine (D-Westbrook):
“Mr. Gattine, this is
Gov. Paul Richard LePage,” a recording of the governor’s phone message says. “I
would like to talk to you about your comments about my being a racist, you
(expletive). 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
(expletive). You … I need you to, just friggin. I want you to record this and
make it public because I am after you. Thank you.”
Of course, the governor let off more steam, admitting the he
wished he could challenge Gattine to a duel and shoot him “right between the
eyes.”
First of all, a little context.
The lawmaker allegedly asserted that the governor was a
racist because of his welfare reform policies.
LePage adopted a black kid. Racist? Really?!
What does welfare reform have to do with racism? That’s a
racist assertion, connecting welfare use (and abuse) with certain people.
Gattine has since disputed the claim that he called LePage a
racist.
Second of all … LePage’s tirade was offensive.
To his credit, LePage has pushed the limits of political
incorrectness, especially on race.
This is a discussion executives need to tackle, especially
in New England, where drug dealing has eroded a once vibrant region of the
country. Lest we forget, the retiring Governor Peter Shumlin of Vermont spent
the greater part of his State of the State speech discussing the heroin
epidemic devastating his own state.
Who is doing most of the dealing? If the criminal element is
mostly black or Hispanic, then every state government should investigate the
underlying reasons. Is it just race, or are class and cultural elements
involved—as is often the case?
Most people are not aware of the New England opioid
epidemic, which is ravaging Maine, too. Despite some insensitive remarks about
the ethnic background of these evil drug pushers, LePage rightly challenged the
press for not exposing this deep problem.
No matter how justified his anger, LePage should not have
left that abusive message.
The governor lost his temper, and his statements were
patently unacceptable.
But public pressure has mounted for the governor’s
resignation.
A recent Townhall.com article suggested
he might do just that:
“I’m looking at all
options. 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.”
“If I’ve lost my
ability to help Maine people, maybe it’s time to move on.”
My response: He has not lost his ability to serve the Maine
community.
Look over his Twitter feed.
Jobs are growing in the Pine Tree State. Check this index for
proof.
Maine has languished in economic stagnation for years, until
recently.
Maine has long been
one of the freest states in the country personally and one of the least free
economically—the opposite of Alabama. Since 2009, however, the state has
gradually improved on economic freedom.
LePage was elected in 2010. Correlation perhaps?
The governor has been an asset, not a liability for Maine
and for the country.
His bold stance on issues, coupled with his rags-to-riches
upbringing, command respect and should inspire emulation.
Within minutes of hearing of a possible resignation, I
contacted the Maine Republican Party and told them to stand by their man.
An hour later, LePage informed
the public that he’s staying.
Good for him!
LePage needs to watch his mouth. So does the Republican
Presidential nominee. Trump delivers careful policy speeches. His polling rises.
LePage can follow the same path to future victories.
Republican governors who fight for their constituents need
to know that all of us have their backs and will support their efforts. So, I
say to Governor Paul LePage, if he has any aggressive detractors who want him
gone, he should respond:
