Maine Governor Paul LePage is a Chris Christie surrogate and raging racist. Apparently he thought it would be helpful for him to put both of those features on full display at a town hall meeting this week.
“These are guys with the name D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty … these types of guys … they come from Connecticut and New York, they come up here, they sell their heroin, they go back home,” LePage told a large crowd. “Incidentally, half the time they impregnate a young, white girl before they leave, which is a real sad thing because then we have another issue we have to deal with down the road.”
Lance Dutson, a Republican operative who runs the Get Right Maine website, which seeks to restore a more moderate brand of Republicanism in Maine, described the remark in a blog post as “one of the most offensive statements yet from this Governor.”
Chris Christie has made addiction one of the centerpieces of his campaign, so it would be natural that one of his surrogates would address that issue.
The DNC shot back a fiery response. Michael Tyler wrote:
“Paul LePage’s comments are disgusting, racist, and represent the worst form of conservative politics – one that plays to the darkest elements of the Republican Party’s base. By remaining silent, Gov. Christie condones LePage’s racist comments and his worldview. If Chris Christie has a single ounce of integrity, he’ll immediately renounce Gov. LePage’s endorsement. Anything short of a full repudiation of LePage’s endorsement will send a clear message to the American people that Republicans are more interested in emulating Donald Trump than in serving – and respecting – all Americans.”
When confronted on his racism, the Governor's office was ready to deflect.
Peter Steele, the governor’s communication director, said in a written statement Thursday night that LePage’s remarks were not about race, but about the emotional toll drugs have on children.
“The governor is not making comments about race. Race is irrelevant,” Steele said. “What is relevant is the cost to state taxpayers for welfare and the emotional costs for these kids who are born as a result of involvement with drug traffickers. His heart goes out to these kids because he had a difficult childhood, too. We need to stop the drug traffickers from coming into our state.”
Pssssst, Governor LePage. Not all drug traffickers are black or brown dudes. How do you think those little white girls get their smack?
