Dear Editor:

The LePage comments in Bridgeton are his most appalling evidence of seemingly inherent bigotry to date. Worse is that he is our chief executive, spokesman, and the official face of our state. His comments have cast this state in virtually every major national newspaper, TV and cable news network as well as global media such as the BBC, as an apparent bastion of 1950s Jim Crow attitudes.

It is furthered by comments from people like State Rep. L. Lockman who posted on the "As Maine Goes" message board, "The Gov's remarks about drug dealers will play well in the real Maine, while simultaneously making progressive & RINO heads explode. It's a beautiful thing." 

Supporters and some others may say that LePage is a blunt speaker who does not follow PC dictums. Anti-PC is not code for acceptance of crude, bigoted, fact less, and intolerant public behavior.  Freedom of speech is not just a right, it has responsibilities and consequences. This man's conduct has risen to the level that the state citizenry must decide whether or not to accept it. As Edmund Burke stated, "There is, however, a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue."  J. S. Mill added, "Bad men need nothing more to compass (achieve) their ends than that good men should look on and do nothing."  

Our state legislature must deal with this conduct. At a minimum, I support censure and frankly support impeachment. I am a political independent and a citizen of the state that gave the country M. C. Smith, E. Muskie, G. Mitchell, O. Snowe and others who rightly built the reputation of this state as one seeking unity and the freedom to achieve based on individual abilities and opposed to stereotyping, bigotry, intolerance and disrespect. 

I strongly demand that Rep. Hawke and Sen. Johnson — our voices in Augusta — step up and deal affirmatively with this situation. It is no longer appropriate to tolerate a person who hides behind a tough childhood and uses ignorance and intolerance to divide our state, while using his "bully pulpit" to disgrace our reputation.

Mike Loewe

Boothbay