The latest news about Maine lakes and ponds.

Governor LePage: “Not Politically Correct”

April 25, 2011 - Augusta - During a 30-minute news conference at the Blaine House last week, Gov. Paul LePage defended his administration, chastised the Legislature and, once again, brought up his relationship with the press.

"Now, I will tell you this -- we've not had a good relationship with the press -- and that's because, very simply, I'm a blunt speaker, I try to speak the truth and what I truly believe," he said. "Am I always right? No. Do I speak out of turn? Yeah. I'm not politically correct. I have not mastered the art of speaking out of both sides of my mouth."

The line drew applause from about 100 state business leaders standing behind him.

"So folks, I would love to have a great relationship with you. The problem is, I'm not going to tell you what you want to hear, I'm going to tell you what you have to hear," LePage, a Republican, said to more cheers.

LePage has repeatedly said that buying a Maine daily newspaper is "like paying someone to lie to you."

He then made a plea for reporters to focus on the facts, not sound bites.

"And the only way it's going to be fixed is if we fix it. I can't fix it alone, my staff can't fix it alone," he said. "We can help change the attitudes and work on that, but we need the Maine people, and the quickest way to get the Maine people is through the press. So you can take the sound bites or you can take the hard facts of what's going on."

LePage acknowledged his knack for saying things that generate headlines.


"I'm good at giving sound bites. You all know that. In fact, in the last 60 days I've sold more papers than you probably have in 10 years. I don't like it, but I will speak my mind," he said. "The fact of the matter is, we need to fix this problem."’

Later, he said he is "extremely confident" that people outside Augusta are receptive to his agenda.

"They may not like the words I'm using, but they are getting it and we're going to get there," he said.

Staff Report, Portland Press Herald, April 2011


Lakes:
Regions:


Print this story

Email this story

return to Lake News