Post by Logan on Mar 10, 2016 22:09:17 GMT -6
BATH — Gov. Paul LePage sparred with several hecklers while attempting to outline and defend his policy agenda during an occasionally contentious forum at Morse High School on Thursday.
The governor’s town hall was part of a statewide policy tour that has frequently doubled as LePage’s campaign for a more agreeable Legislature. The events have been held in towns both sympathetic and hostile to a governor whose polarizing politics and combative style have drawn comparisons to Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
LePage recently endorsed Trump and last week introduced the Republican front-runner before a rally held in Portland. The governor defended the endorsement Thursday after an audience member challenged his assertion that elected officials can’t “govern from the extremes.”
“Then how can you support Donald?” a young man shouted.
LePage repeated his previous explanation that Trump’s business acumen would help him turn around the country. He also said the candidate was the only Republican who can defeat Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, who LePage described as “a woman who has one foot in jail,” drawing boos from some of the crowd. The governor’s town halls have transformed from controlled forums with pre-screened questions to events at which opponents increasingly make their presence known. In some instances, audience members have verbally challenged the governor. There were several disruptions Thursday, including one in which a man pretended to be a supporter and asked LePage if he would give the man permission shoot drug dealers. The man’s remarks were a reference to LePage’s comments in January that concealed handgun carriers should “load up and get rid of the drug dealers. Because, folks, they’re killing our kids.”
Read more: www.pressherald.com/2016/03/10/lepage-spars-with-hecklers-at-bath-town-hall-forum/
The governor’s town hall was part of a statewide policy tour that has frequently doubled as LePage’s campaign for a more agreeable Legislature. The events have been held in towns both sympathetic and hostile to a governor whose polarizing politics and combative style have drawn comparisons to Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
LePage recently endorsed Trump and last week introduced the Republican front-runner before a rally held in Portland. The governor defended the endorsement Thursday after an audience member challenged his assertion that elected officials can’t “govern from the extremes.”
“Then how can you support Donald?” a young man shouted.
LePage repeated his previous explanation that Trump’s business acumen would help him turn around the country. He also said the candidate was the only Republican who can defeat Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, who LePage described as “a woman who has one foot in jail,” drawing boos from some of the crowd. The governor’s town halls have transformed from controlled forums with pre-screened questions to events at which opponents increasingly make their presence known. In some instances, audience members have verbally challenged the governor. There were several disruptions Thursday, including one in which a man pretended to be a supporter and asked LePage if he would give the man permission shoot drug dealers. The man’s remarks were a reference to LePage’s comments in January that concealed handgun carriers should “load up and get rid of the drug dealers. Because, folks, they’re killing our kids.”
Read more: www.pressherald.com/2016/03/10/lepage-spars-with-hecklers-at-bath-town-hall-forum/