So yesterday, Governor Paul LePage (R. ME) decided to channel failed Presidential candidate Mitt Romney (R. MA):
http://thinkprogress.org/...
Governor Paul LePage (R) told a conservative women’s group that nearly half of Mainers don’t work.
In a meeting last week in Falmouth, Maine, the controversial Republican governor bemoaned how “About 47 percent of able-bodied people in the state of Maine don’t work. About 47 percent. It’s really bad.” Watch it:
- Think Progress, 10/22/13
The Maine labor department has disproves LePage's comments, pointing out that 65% of able-bodied Mainers are looking for work while the remaining 35% is composed largely of retirees, homemakers, students, and the disabled. Well LePage's opponent, Congressman Mike Michaud (D. ME), had this to say in response to LePage's ridiculous claim:
http://bangordailynews.com/...
LePage’s 2014 gubernatorial opponents — Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud and independent businessman Eliot Cutler — quickly blasted the governor in an attempt to create a campaign issue by accusing him of spreading misinformation.
Wrote Michaud: “Those aren’t the Maine workers I know. I worked for 29 years at Great Northern Paper Co. and I know that Maine workers are some of the hardest working in the world. They take pride in their work and they deserve a governor who will take pride in them. It’s time we have a governor who will lift Maine up and be a champion of this state, not put it down with misinformation and attacks.” - Bangor Daily News, 10/22/13
Well said. LePage knows he's a one termer so he's trying to take credit for other people's work:
http://bangordailynews.com/...
Gov. Paul LePage traveled to Washington County on Thursday to make a macho show of defiance of the federal government and take credit for a change for which he deserves little.
LePage’s problem? There was no federal edict left to defy by the time he arrived at the public boat launch at Cobscook Bay State Park, and the matter he was taking credit for settling was one he could have solved — but didn’t — with a few phone calls and collaboration rather than a made-for-TV standoff.
What Maine residents witnessed was a LePage more concerned about political showmanship — especially when he can lambaste Democratic President Barack Obama and U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, his Democratic opponent in next year’s gubernatorial race — than solving problems in a productive fashion.
It all happened after employees of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service barred access to the Cobscook Bay State Park boat launch, a ramp used regularly by a few dozen fishermen. - Bangor Daily News, 10/22/13
By the way, the Bangor Daily News had an excellent piece on Michaud and why he would make a great governor:
http://bangordailynews.com/...
Mike has the right kind of experience. Maine is not electing a CEO in 2014, it’s electing a governor — and the difference between the two is vital for voters to understand over the next year. No business in the world has a CEO and a co-equal board of directors consisting of 186 people. But, that is exactly how Maine government works, and the last three years have been an object lesson in just how important that dynamic is to the ability of the government to address serious problems.
Today, no one is better positioned to work well with the Legislature than Mike Michaud. He has an unmatched record of success in the give-and-take of policy negotiations. Just to name a few: he brought Democrats and Republicans together to unanimously pass Maine’s first law to lower prescription drug costs; he successfully reformed Maine’s forestry practices; and just this year, he passed 34 bills out of the Veterans Affairs Committee at a time Congress is paralyzed on many other issues.
These are accomplishments born of specific skills developed through Mike’s experience in elective office. At a time when passing legislation is so challenging, nothing is more important than putting a person in the Blaine House who can jump right into that environment and succeed. That’s Mike Michaud.
Mike listens. Maine needs a course correction in how it’s trying to achieve progress. That new direction will need broad input and broad support to succeed. That kind of support is only possible when good ideas are combined with good listening. Maine people need to be heard and deserve to know they have a voice in Augusta. Real leadership isn’t about imposing new policy on Maine. It’s about working to address the problems we face, together.
Mike Michaud is the best listener in Maine. I can tell you as someone who hears from a lot of Maine people about their political experiences, the stories are legion of Mike Michaud’s ability to empathize and connect with average people. He has been criss-crossing the state for years, meeting with people from all walks of life. No one better understands what Maine families, Maine businesses and Maine workers are going through right now. That makes him best able to craft an agenda to meet all of their needs.
Mike has Maine values. Of course, it’s not nearly enough to elect a governor who listens and has the know-how to act. The governor also has to believe in the right things for moving Maine forward. The governor has to have values that reflect Maine people. - Bangor Daily News, 10/22/13
If you would like to donate or get involved with Michaud's campaign, you can do so here:
http://www.michaud2014.com/