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Gov. LePage abruptly ends speech, exits after two protestors hold up signs

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Two UMF students hold up protest signs as Gov. Paul LePage begins his speech at the building dedication ceremony on Tuesday.with the newly named Theodora J. Kalikow Education Center serving as a backdrop. A somewhat rare snowfall occurred during the course of the day but by 4 p.m when the dedication got started, the sun made an appearance.
Two UMF students, Allison Hammond and Nickolas Bray, at right, hold up protest signs as Gov. Paul LePage begins his speech on Tuesday. LePage was to speak at the building dedication for the Theodora J. Kalikow Education Center, but abruptly left.

FARMINGTON – As the building dedication ceremony for the Theodora Kalikow Education Center on the University of Maine at Farmington campus got started Tuesday with a speech by Gov. Paul LePage, he abruptly ended it, threw his arms up and said looking over at two UMF students holding up signs, “I can’t do this.” As he left he said, “Thank you, idiots.”

One of the signs held up read, “LePage: Maine’s Shame” and the other “On Environmental Issues, Theodora Kalikow, A, Paul LePage, F.”

UMF students Allison Hammond and Nickolas Bray, who had been holding up the signs said as the governor was leaving they hadn’t expected him to walk off in response to their signs.

“I’m was very surprised to be called ‘idiot’ by Gov. Paul LePage,” Hammond said. “I will never forget that for the rest of my life.”

On LePage’s exit, University of Maine System Chancellor James Page, who was expected to speak after the governor, quickly went to the lectern and began his speech.

The story on the dedication ceremony can be found here.

Gov. Paul LePage stops his speech during a building dedication on Tuesday and leaves the lectern as UMF's president Kathryn Foster, at left, and
Gov. Paul LePage stops his speech during a building dedication on Tuesday and leaves the lectern as UMF’s president Kathryn Foster, at left, and former UMF president, Theodora Kalikow , at right, look on.
Two UMF students hold up protest signs as Gov. Paul LePage begin his speech at a building dedication on Tuesday.
Two UMF students, Allison Hammond and Nickolas Bray, hold up protest signs as Gov. Paul LePage begins his speech on Tuesday.
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79 Comments

  1. geez, folks……read the article. the sign poster is from AUBURN, which last look, was still in Maine. LePage chose to be where he is, and now talks of going to Washington. if you want to be a highly visible pubic official, all that fame comes with a little responsibility and accountability. And respect is earned — not given. Rude Paul is way beyond being given any benefit of the doubt. He has been 6 years into putting Maine in the national news for all of the wrong reasons.

  2. Protesters are right gave and the governor is wrong. Thin skinned and foul mouthed man. They were peaceful.

  3. If Gov. Lepage was not expected, why was his name on the flyer that was handed out to guests? I believe in freedom of speech but this was the wrong place to protest. What gets me is how these “silent protesters” high fived each other when the Gov. stormed off. That showed a lot of class. They were real proud of themselves. As for the Gov., yes he could have had a thicker skin.

  4. Another idea:
    I think the governor didn’t have a speech prepared, got up there at the podium, drew a blank (AKA, senior moment) realized he had no clue what to say, saw the signs and used them as way out.
    He’s been in politics for quite a while now, he’s seen his share of protest signs. To get that rattled over a couple of relatively innocuous signs speaks to something else being the problem. He has also blown off another speaking engagement. I think he might have a struggle to finish out his term as governor, let alone be elected to a six year term in the US senate.

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