FARMINGTON – Gov. Paul LePage issued an apology Wednesday afternoon to the University of Maine at Farmington’s current president, Kathryn Foster and former UMF president Theodora Kalikow for abruptly stopping his speech after two protestors held up signs.
On Tuesday afternoon during a dedication ceremony naming the Education Center after Kalikow, a longtime president at UMF, LePage began his congratulatory speech as the first featured guest but abruptly ended it looking over at two UMF students standing in the crowd and silently holding up protest signs.
“I can’t do this,” LePage said as he left the lectern in a ceremony held outdoors and he added, “Thank you, idiots.”
The protestors were UMF students Allison Hammond and Nickolas Bray and the signs they held up said, “LePage: Maine’s Shame” and the other “On Environmental Issues, Theodora Kalikow, A, Paul LePage, F.”
Hammond said they hadn’t expected LePage to walk off in response to their signs. “I was very surprised to be called ‘idiot’ by Gov. Paul LePage,” Hammond remarked at the time. “I will never forget that for the rest of my life,” she added.
The program continued with University of Maine System Chancellor James Page, who was expected to speak after the governor, quickly going to the lectern and starting his speech.
In the governor’s apology issued on Wednesday afternoon, it began by saying the governor had been “heckled by two students.” He then apologized to Foster and Kalikow “for the sequence of events on Tuesday. I was humbled to be invited to speak at a ceremony to honor Theodora Kalikow and recognize the great legacy she has left the University of Maine at Farmington, as well as its faculty, staff and students.”
LePage then went on to say he’s used to “daily attacks and ridicule from protestors, but most people are not. Neither Theo, nor the people who were gathered to honor her, deserved for this heartfelt occasion to be disrespected by smug and self-serving protestors.”
He said it was fine if people want to hold protests about him, “we all have the right to express our freedom of speech. But this event was not about me. I was sickened by the lack of respect displayed by two protestors holding up demeaning signs—including one with Theo’s name on it—during an event that was supposed to celebrate and honor a remarkable woman who has contributed so many years to improving education in Maine.”
He then blamed the media for not covering the positive news at events he’s been asked to speak at and said he will curtail some of his public speaking events. He finished his statement with this:
“For more than five years, the media has flocked to events where I have been asked to speak, not to cover any good news about the events, but to disparage me over issues totally unrelated to the events. Since I am such a distraction to the media, I will no longer attend some of these public events. I sincerely hope the media will continue to attend these events and report on the good people of Maine and the many positive things they are doing for our state.”
I think the UMF should hold the students after class to explain courtesy and respect to our GOvernor and the honoree, if they are old enough to vote and are MAine residents. They will teach our youth?
From what I read in the story that was no apology for his actions. He was just trying to justify why he walked out.
I agree with Governor Lepage. This was not the time nor place for a protest.
Yet another self-serving non-apology from, not surprisingly, a politician.
I think an apology should be offered when the person making it admits/accepts/agrees that he or she has done something wrong/unkind/inappropriate; and feels badly about it.
I don’t get the impression that this applies to our governor – in this situation, or maybe ever.
His concern for Ms Kalikow is particularly hollow – What was more disruptive to the event – two college students quietly holding up signs, or the governor storming out?
He said the event was not, or should not have been about him, Does he not know it wouldn’t have been, except for his tantrum.
Finally, he fell back on his trademark whine – it was the fault of the media. No reporter deserves credit or blame for his arrogance or bad temper.
where is the apology sounds like to me he is pushing the blame for his actions on the media and everyone else. LePage is a disgrace to the state of maine
The students did nothing wrong. I wish people would stop blaming the students. There were two students with signs. They did not disrupt the ceremony. Our governor needs to set a good example and not let petty things like this bother him so much.
More of the same. The governor once again shows his contempt of Maine and its people. Let’s all be sure to elect him to the Senate and give him a bigger stage to exhibit his immaturity on.
The sad excuse of an apology released by LePage’s office is just another of the many clean-ups after the Governor makes his messes.
When he stood to speak, he opened with a poor attempt at humor by saying “the only thing I remember about the process of college is spring break.” Witnessing this meltdown of his, I’m certain that “joke” is closer to reality than one might think. After his spring break comment, he only managed to mutter a few incoherent words before puckering up his face. I seriously wondered if the poor fellow was about to be sick. Then he stepped away from the podium and stormed off shouting an obscenity at the students with the signs.
Something is seriously wrong with Paul LePage. Really, seriously wrong.
I’m not sure where he gets off saying he was “heckled by two students.” Literally, there must have been voices in his head and/or his spokesperson who helped write the “apology” needs to read the definition of “heckle.” Those two students stood there quiet as a mouse — before, during, and after if you don’t count the reporter(s) asking them questions. (I know that as I was standing a few feet away from them whole time)
To those who say it was not the time nor place for the students to voice their opinion, I say that’s absolute nonsense! Something as fundamental as freedom of speech in the middle of a street at a publicly funded campus during a public ceremony while a public servant is speaking is irrefutable in a democracy. That they simply held their signs quietly seemed to me to be quite respectful of the circumstances.
The saving grace of all of this was the fact that the crowd, the sign-bearing students, and the other speakers just shrugged off LePage’s tirade and moved on with a very nice dedication ceremony for a worthy recipient. Sad, but I guess we are all simply used to this type of behavior from LePage, and it seems that nothing our foul-mouthed Governor says or does surprises us anymore. Even the non-apologies are as predictable as sunrise.
I find it difficult to find holding up a sign without more is the same as a “protest”
“I apologize for my infantile hissy fit which, once again within hours, made Maine a national laughingstock.”
As far as I know, quietly holding up a sign and heckling are two very different things …
Where is the apology from the disrespectful students?
Bruce and Michelle. You got it right. Those protesters are spoiled brats from the gimmie, disrespectful society that we have evolved into.
Does Governor LePage abruptly return home upon seeing heckling bumper stickers on smug, self-serving driver’s cars?
This is an emotionally immature man who behaves like a bully. Gov. LePage can dish out the trash talk with the worst of them. But he can’t even take silent criticism. If LePage had ignored the sign holding students, the press might have given the students one line in the news report. But the governor made it into a headline. Who’s behaving idiotically? Gov. LePage gives idiots a bad name.
Dennis H.
Brilliant!
You described the scene and events clearly. The governor was the destraction, not the silent sign carrying students standing respectfully in the back. I hope the students are commended for for their appropriate use of freedom of speech.
Quite a few people have posted criticism of the UMP students for their display of signs critical of Gov. LePage. They seem to think Freedom of Speech needs to be curtailed to more “appropriate” events. Well, here is what happened at one of Gov. LePage’s town hall meetings as reported today.
“Attendees at town hall event at the Great Salt Bay Community School were prohibited from bringing in signs. Although three people were escorted out of the event, the meeting was otherwise calm with many in attendance appearing to agree with the governor.”
So much for the idea that there is any event at which Gov. LePage is willing to tolerate free speech that he doesn’t like.
He was very clear what his issue was: “the event was “not about me” – he had to try to find a way to put the spotlight on himself and accomplished that.
How can one be: ” heckled by two students.” – when they were just “standing in the crowd and silently holding up protest signs.” The only idiot that day was him, LePage single handedly made the otherwise wonderful celebration all about him. He continues to prove he has no morals, values, ethics or social skills. Actually, he is a pathetic human being.
Hopefully the great people of Maine heard his message loud and clear “I will no longer attend some of these public events.” No he won’t because he won’t be invited to any event where HE and he alone will create drama.
LePage is the master of the non-apology attack apology. Apparently he needed a “safe space” to be protected from signs whose message hurt his feelings. Here I have to side with conservatives who say “safe spaces” should not be part of college campuses (except in extreme cases). Universities are about freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and the students did nothing wrong. Some complain they did not show the Governor respect – but I suspect that’s because they don’t respect him. IF they had disrupted the event, tried to shout Le Page down (things that many protesters these days are doing) then I would say they should have been removed. But holding signs? If the Governor had ignored them, they’d have not even made the news. Now the story is on the national news and it makes the Governor a subject of ridicule. It is a self-inflicted wound, and he’s made students who otherwise would be ignored into people some are considering to be “heroes.”
I personally would not hold a sign like that, and I do think that at an event like this it isn’t appropriate. BUT I respect those who believe that this is the most effective way to express their disapproval of a public figure. If President Obama came to campus and a couple conservatives held up signs critical of him, I would respect their actions just as strongly. Our politicians, in undertaking their roles, don’t get “safe spaces.”
One more point: in my experience students in this generation are more hard working, diligent, engaged and respectful than in the past (and I’ve been teaching 25 years). The fact they did not try to disrupt the event and only hold signs shows a level of maturity that in the past protesters might not have had. But those who diss the current generation of young people really are off the mark.
His attempt o justify why he walked out was as lame as he was. I am with the students.
“If President Obama came to campus and a couple conservatives held up signs critical of him, I would respect their actions just as strongly. Our politicians, in undertaking their roles, don’t get “safe spaces.”
President Obama came to a joint session of congress and was called a liar by an attending conservative house member and continued his address unflustered
When small children are asked to apologize for there actions, it usually takes awhile to get through the bluster of accusation about what lead to whatever they need to apologize for. That feels like what is happening here. A simple, “I regret how I handled myself at the event.” is an apology. Once said, I would have been open to extenuating circumstances: the signs were inappropriate at this ceremony, the press gets under my skin, I took time out my busy schedule to be here and expected to be respected.
We all have stuff we regret, and one measure of a person is if he can own it and move on. From what I read of the apology, our governor is still at the bluster stage.
It’s very hard to read the defensive remarks in this feed without thinking they are rooted in the parroting practice of talk radio; they resemble the far stretched excuses and opinions used to deflect the truth that an adult who has repeatedly violated all aspects of public mannerisms just had another public breakdown. The very people who preach anti PC (PC= politeness and interest toward all people) demagoguery are now all of a sudden offended? It must be easy living in a bubble. Le page has disrespected the will and vote of the people of Maine in favor of his own opinion since he took office. He has ruined the good name of our state and people. When I mention that I am from Maine he is what people now know of our state. There’s a reason everyone calls his (one of his free housing tax payer entitlements) Mansion “The Blame House”, he says and does silly things then blames everyone he dislikes, very mature. There are more civil processes to voice our complaints but we also have a public right to tell a Governor or president….that they are doing a bad job. I have much more honor and respect for a public presence than online banter and opinion. The fact that it didn’t even phase the ceremony or attendees is proof in the pudding, it didn’t bother the ceremony. It is only here on line that we have a reaction. Should we just accept and expect lepages level of immaturity as a public servant? Should we try to silence the voice of public protest? When is a good time for a protest? Will you go? Is the bd now on his black list of media or just a part of the recent war he declared? Wait, that’s starting to sound like….
Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by grandiosity, excessive need for admiration, and little empathy for others. People with the disorder often come across as arrogant, callous, and envious, tend to be exploitative in their interpersonal relationships, and can be excessively preoccupied with personal adequacy, power, prestige and vanity. As a personality disorder, those with NPD generally have poor insight into their condition and may not acknowledge that their behavior causes problems for others or themselves. = Paul LePage.
So, let me see if I can understand this.
Paul Lepage often makes statements that his detractors find offensive but his supporters find refreshing because they appreciate a leader who speaks his mind, regardless of the situation he is in and regardless of who the event is about..
LePage himself often boasts about how he feels free to speak his mind and not be politically correct.
This has certainly helped him in his elections as well over 45% of the state of Maine voted for him in the last election. Hey, politics is all about getting elected, and the ends always seem to justify the means, regardless of what party the person is in.
LePage supporters always say how much they like his candor.
Now,a couple of students essentially did the same thing as LePage. They spoke their mind, regardless of the event and who it was about and they were not politically correct . After all, it was kind of mean to call one man the “Shame of Maine” and apparently, words can hurt Paul.
Regardless of all of this, why would a LePage supporter be upset with these students? I would think they would embrace these students for copying the approach of their chosen leader and I would expect the LePage supporters might want to draft these two students into politics as they demonstrated the exact same behavior as their chosen leader.
The students were exercising their constitutional rights to free speech. Maybe I am missing something here but why would the Governor and his supporters be upset with these students, especially since they were doing what the Constitution allows. I guess I must be missing something here as it just does not add up to me. Why would the Governor walk away and why are his supporters criticizing the students who copied the teacher?
If LePage runs for the Senate in 2018 all his opponent will need to do is have two people silently holding up signs at any LePage rally and Paul will walk away from the event I guess. Maybe Paul needs everyone to just be nicer to him and treat him more kindly and with love and sunshine? Maybe Build-a-bear can sell the Paul LePage bear that cries when you call it names.. They can call it the “angry men are sensitive too” awareness bear. and donate a dollar from the sale of every bear to Paul’s therapy that he must need after he was so rudely treated. Once again,as a society we have missed the mark as this is a delicate, fragile man who is a victim of the elitist media so how dare we hold him accountable for his own actions,. It is not his fault and we are all the monsters who scorn him. Shrek for Senate 2018!!!!!!
LePage should have stayed home. Going to UMF is like going into a Hornets nest with all the Liberals.
I’m all for free speech, say whatever the hell you want. There is a time and place for everything. People who don’t believe in the Holocaust don’t run into a memorial dedication and yell it didn’t happen, people wouldn’t run into an NAACP dinner and say slavery wasn’t all bad. Even though the first amendment pretty much says they can. Even if people were brave enough to do it, how long do you think they would be allowed to stay?
This was a non political event, a couple of narrow minded students were being disrespectful to the Governor and to their school. Lepage was there as a favor, not to push a political agenda. The “protesters” were not protesting anything, they were being idiots. So the Governor did the right thing by leaving. The dedication ceremony was not about him. The students made it about him. At least he made time for it, apparently the other two couldn’t be bothered with it.
Our governor is an nut who only wants things his way, like a 2 year old child when they don’t get it his way he throws a hissy fit.
The man does what all our elected so called representatives do, do it their way or not at all.
Couldn’t agree more, Steve. With real leadership comes an awareness that it’s not about “me” but about “we.” Sadly, clowns like LePage and Trump don’t have the maturity and intellect to understand this. They never will, either, very ironically.
Right proud vet about the lack of awareness that it’s not about them.
Would someone please tell the protestor that also..
Not that they would care.
I have a hard time believing that so many of the commenters on this are supporting Lepage. The man has consistently showed that he behaves like a child, nearly once a week he says things that make our state look ridiculous. How can anyone feel that he is capable of running this state, if he can not deal with two signs being held quietly, that are also based in complete truth and fact.
It saddens me that this is the man the represents our state and that he has any supporters at all is just staggering. The damage he has done to our State and its image during his term is just awful. Maine very seldom makes national news, but since he has taken office it has been one farce after another.
If you met him as just another man on the street, he would be dismissed as another ignorant arrogant blowhard that was not worth the time of speaking with.
Kudos to the two protesters for having the courage to hold signs up that force him to come face to face with the results of his actions, something that clearly made him uncomfortable. No one like being called out on their shortcomings, but most of us can face them with a bit more grace than he has ever managed to exhibit.
The First Amendment is in danger if people like LePage continue to be elected. The sad thing is, the people of Maine like this. What would John Hancock and Ben Franklin think?
I support the First Amendment, but being legal and being right are two different things. For instance, the law says pedestrians in a crosswalk have the right of way, but the crosswalk doesn’t create a protective bubble around you that will prevent a car from hitting you when the roads are slippery, the driver is distracted, or the driver accidentally steps on the accelerator instead of the brake. For your own safety you should look both ways before stepping into the street. Thinking and taking appropriate action as the law allows is right, not just doing something because the law says you can.
Perhaps Mr. Knight would be more comfortable in a different state, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, California, or Oregon, for example. Sounds like he would. After all, Maine still has one Republican politician. (RINOs don’t count.)