THOMASTON, Maine — State Rep. Chuck Kruger said he is sincerely sorry about a poor attempt at humor last year but that the reaction has gone too far, including death threats against him.
Kruger, a Thomaston Democrat, said he was in a Twitter conversation last August concerning a person who said her brother had died after coming back from the Iraq war and not being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder.
After extensive debate he said he made a poor attempt at humor by saying that former Vice President Dick Cheney should meet the same fate as former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Last week, an online publication, The Maine Wire, ran an article which included what it said was the tweet from Kruger concerning Cheney. The headline, from the news service started by the conservative Maine Heritage Policy Center, said, “‘Moderate Caucus’ Chair Urges Cheney’s Execution.”
Kruger said Thursday he does not recall the exact Twitter message but denied he ever called for the execution of the vice president, even in jest.
“I do know that Twitter is not private and that it was a mistake. I am sincerely sorry for making the comment,” Kruger said.
After The Maine Wire wrote its article, it was picked up by nationally recognized websites such as Drudge Report, according to The Maine Wire in a follow-up article.
The Maine Republican Party stepped in and on April 13 issued a news release from Chairman Charlie Webster calling for the Kruger’s resignation.
On Thursday, Maine Republican Party Executive Director Michael Quatrano said the call for Kruger’s resignation remains.
“Imagine if a Republican legislator had made such a comment about the vice president or President Obama. The Democrats would be seeking blood,” Quatrano said.
The Republican Party news release indicated that Kruger stated on his Twitter account that “Cheney deserves same final end he gave Saddam. Hope there are cell cams.”
Webster stated in the news release: “Never in decades in Maine politics have I heard an elected official make such irresponsible, disgusting statements. I don’t care what your policy differences are, wishing someone to be executed, and then wanting to watch it happen, is an appalling thing to say about anyone.”
In an email sent by the Republican Party to its members on April 12, Kruger’s cellphone number was listed and members were urged to call him and demand his resignation.
Since The Maine Wire article was posted, Kruger said he has received 350 to 400 critical emails and voice mails. He said a few of the calls were of a threatening nature.
“A couple people from out-of-state left phone messages saying they were going to come up and execute me,” Kruger said.
Kruger said he was working at the State House on April 13 when he received a phone call from a man in Texas who said he wanted to come up to Maine and execute Kruger. Another state representative heard the call and contacted the Bureau of Capitol Police.
Kruger said some officers talked to him and took recordings of the threatening voice mails and made copies of the critical emails.
Capitol Police Chief Russell Gauvin said Thursday that some people from Maine who made veiled threats were contacted to determine whether they presented a threat. When asked about the out-of-state threats, Gauvin said the investigation continues.
Kruger said he believes that listing his telephone number and the call for his resignation over an 8-month-old tweet were wrong.
“I do not wish ill or death on anyone. It was a mistake,” Kruger said.
Maybe they were just joking.
I do find one thing curious. The original story, talk of the wanted death of a Vice President, garnered National,even World wide attention, but not a peep out of the BDN. Now with threats on a state Rep. , and now we have a story.
I asked a few times what it would take to get the BDN to mention the original story, I guess now I know.
Im sure this guys “comments” didnt kick start a Secret Service Investigation.
Nor have these “threats” kick started a Secret Service Investigation. In fact, I think you will find that local authorities are loosing little sleep over these.
What I meant was that this lawmakers comments are deemed acceptable while Nugents are not based upon who is the focus of the comments. I dont think the guy should be getting threats but he certainly should not be making them either.
The richest part of this hilarious article is this: on the very day last week when the story broke and the BDN DIDN’T cover it, their own editorial was about the crucial need for “moderateness” and “civility” in our politics.
You know: like an elected official saying you want a leading member of the opposing party to be publicly executed.
LOL
Yes, it is laughable. This “reporter” was brought in when his other paper folded(pun intended) and his first article is so full of distortions , omissions and mischaracterizations that it can not truly be called news. Stephen Betts is as far left as you might ever find in “journalism”.. His foray from editorial pieces into news should be fun to watch, tough I would say this first attempt was a solid fail.
Same for the PPH and the other MTM publications. Not one word until Kruger starts complaining about the consequences of his own actions. If he had an “R” after his name, the story would have been front-page as soon as the Wire released the information.
Very unbecoming of any one in public office to make such statements even in jest.
It is interesting to note that Kruger’s statements were dismissed, but he is being seen as a victim now. Seems that I just read about Ted Nugent’s statements being regarded as Secret Service investigative, so why wasn’t Kruger’s remark?
He’s a democrat.
Well, and the Secret Service doesn’t always publicly state who they are “looking into”. I was actually surprised when they said they would have a talk with the Nuge.
Big difference.Nugent talked at length to a room full of heavily armed murderous rednecks.This guy tweeted once last year,apologized and TMW apparently didn’t have anything else to report.I’ll bet Obama gets an ridiculous amount of death threats every day.
The Secret Service found nothing to be concerned about with Nugent. Move along folks…nothing here to cause getting your underwear in a knot. Maybe the Secret Service thought this might be a good incident to pounce on. It would prove they are still at the ready to serve and protect after receiving such a “black-eye” over their recent Colombian ho-downs.
I’m curious, where is the investigation by the fbi or secret service over kruger’s statement? Seems some of the people who called him are being investigated…double standard?
I had to laugh when I heard Mitt Romney bragging about Ted Nugent’s endorsement on the news. I’m sure he thought it would hurt President Obama’s re-election campaign.
The victimization of America,by America.,The lib’s have been working on this for awhile. Victims ,they will paint themselves as one when ever they feel threatened by truth and it’s circumstances.
And Ted Nugent gets grilled by the Secret Service, but this clown gets nothing but a BDN article.
exactly. this jack wagon is not a victim.
or maybe, the Secret Service doesn’t put out a press release every time they talk to someone.
I’m hoping that Nugent gets more than grilled. I’d like to see him fined and charged with a felony.
Intellectual consistency requires that you’d want Kruger fined and charged as well.
He should be charged. So should Nugent. There is no excuse for any of it. I hated GW Bush. But,none the less he was still my President. If you cant respect the man,you should at least respect the office.
Sorry, that didn’t work out for you.
Won’t happen.I wish it would.It’s about time someone reined in these idiots.
Nugent was cleared by the secret service. I wonder when the BDN report that?
On the twelth of never sometime in the next century.
My god, the BDN didn’t report it? However did you find out?
I reported it in my earlier comment (8:18 am) Here’s my post…again.
************************************************************
The Secret Service found nothing to be concerned about with Nugent. Move along folks…nothing here to cause getting your underwear in a knot. Maybe the Secret Service thought this Nugent incident might be a good thing to pounce on. It would prove they are still at the ready….to serve and protect…..after receiving such a “black-eye” over their recent Colombian ho-downs.
Then the same standard needs to apply to kruger.
What did ted Nugent say that has your panties in such a wad?
I read that he said that he(Nugent) would be either dead or in jail a year from now if the President was reelected. Where is the threat to anyone in this.
Hey Chuck, when you say you wish so and so was dead and could care less to respect human life other than your own, don’t be too surprised when you are treated the same in return….
let me think, what did your parents most likely teach you when you were young?….
oh yes, “treat others as you wish to be treated”…it’s a good lesson Chuck, you should heed its teaching.
Now good day, and quite whining about the harvest you have sown.
First comment: The sentence below is one of the most poorly written sentences I’ve ever read. I don’t understand the last part at all. Did the person die because they weren’t being treated for PTSD? That just doesn’t make sense.
“Kruger, a Thomaston Democrat, said he was in a Twitter conversation last
August concerning a person who said her brother had died after coming
back from the Iraq war and not being treated for post-traumatic stress
disorder.”
Second comment: “‘I do know that Twitter is not private and that it was a mistake. I am sincerely sorry for making the comment,’ Kruger said.”
Okay, so what I’m getting here is that he was sorry that he made this comment in a public forum such as Twitter. If it had been in private, and if there hadn’t been outrage, I doubt he would be sorry for the comment.
As others have stated, there is complete media bias when it comes to these issues. If a Republican makes a statement with even a HINT of rudeness or hatred towards someone else, there is an all out media frenzy. But this gets a BDN article 8 months after it happened.
I read in this article that Kruger not only said he was sorry for making the comment, he also denied ever making the comment, “Kruger said Thursday he does not recall the exact Twitter message but denied he ever called for the execution of the vice president, even in jest.”
Democrats do not remember these things, unless convenient for them.
While I agree that it was a stupid thing for him to say, and very unprofessional, I find it interesting that a Tweet from a year ago is just being brought up by a conservative group.
You should find it more curious that “the Media” did not report on it , or that after this tweet received World Wide attention the BDN and most other Lib rags ignored it all together. Not investigating and or breaking the story, getting the scoop as it were, might give you some wiggle room while ignoring a story that you know of. But refusing to run a story due solely to political ideology of the Editorial staff /Management and that of the person who is the focus of the “story”.
The Press has been afforded some special,powerful protections,specifically denoted in our Constitution.You would think that they would make at least an attempt at impartiality,integrity and balance in their reporting,but those pretenses have been abandoned.
It seems to me that the real story,once again, is not the story in the paper, but the “Paper” itself and the story not in it.
Not funny. Not PC.
The Maine Wire is not a “news” service. The writers are not journalists. It’s a blog. No balance. No objectivity. No fairness. They’re looking for more witch hunts. After all, election season is ramping up. Why trained, educated journalists would include these hacks in their profession is beyond me. This tweet was last August. It was wrong. But it’s not “news” when it’s reported eight months later.
It’s is news, if it wasn’t reported at the time.
I didn’t read anything about it then, but obviously I could have missed it.
Would you say that the recent LA Times article about the military posing w/ the Afghan corpses not being news since it happened in 2010?
So, you get to decide on credentials now? Nice, I have some questions. First , when you speak of “No balance. No objectivity. No fairness” were you talking about The Maine Wire or the BDN? Secondly, credentials, who decides what is acceptable or sufficient , is there some special club where those in membership hold to power to decide who is worthy to
disseminate News and information?Because I want to talk to these folks. Lastly ,8 months. Is it your contention that the longer one can bury or hide something the less chance it can be called News? Bury it long enough , and your all set? So if it wasnt News after 8 months, was it News when this story was picked up and it gained world wide attention? The Fact that an event in Maine involving an elected official talked about all over the globe in itself makes it News, no?Ok, I almost forgot one. It seems with a moniker like “ForMoreInfo “you might fancy your self a “News Man” of sorts, so I have a question. When was the point that the principles of — truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability abandoned by folks who claim to be Journalists? How overt can one be in their one-sided coverage and politically biased and still be considered a journalists?
You are correct Rep Kruger. It was a very poor attempt at humor. I’m sure these perceived threats you are getting are just lame jokes. I mean, joking about killing a politician, that just ain’t funny.
So Kruger thinks he should be excused for running his mouth those who return the favor are “going too far.” Not only is he a hypocrite but he couldn’t bust a grape in a fruit fight (which isn’t hard to discern from his photo). Typical case of an alligator mouth and a hummingbird behind.
No, I am pretty sure he thinks he should be executed for all his war crimes. Which, incidentally is why the list of countries that both Bush II and Cheney can go to is ever shrinking.
That said, I think Kruger should step down. Comments he made are not fitting a person in an elected office.
REPRESENTATIVE Kruger should resign. Anyone who has been elected by the people to represent them should remember that they have been asked to be the spokesman for the people. Is this what you believe the people of your district want? I personally want someone who has moved beyond Junior High mentality representing me. And “joking” about someone meeting their end is not even accepted in middle school.
I don’t like this kind of thing from either party, or
anyone, for that matter. You must not remember all the Bush haters on the left.
A number of times “he” was hung in effigy . That was free speech. Or how
about then Sen Obama saying…”“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,” 06/08
IIRC.
It’s all wrong and I will condemn both
side on stuff like this.
Just another “Botched Joke” ;~)
“‘Moderate Caucus’ Chair Urges Cheney’s Execution.” Consider the source: Maine Heritage Policy Center? Who cares what they think?
No civilized Mainer does.
Is the story true? aparently. If it is true should we care where it comes from?
Would the statement be acceptable if it was discovered by MSN, or some “liberal ” “news outlet”?
Anyone can be made to look like whatever any reporter wants them to look like by taking a comment or two out of context and posting them. The Maine Heritage Policy Center did just that by cherry picking an obscure comment by an obscure legislator. I could cherry pick your posts and, lifting a quote or two of your comments out of context, make you look like whatever I wanted to.
I don’t think that I have made posts that I can not defend. The comment being discussed here is indefensable, whoever made it.
Just as important I am not an elected official.
John Edwards said the same thing about the National Enquirer and look what happened to him.
”
Kruger said Thursday he does not recall the exact Twitter message but denied he ever called for the execution of the vice president, even in jest.”
Really???? Then tell me sir, just what “end” that Saddam met did you want VP Cheney to meet?? Once again, hateful comments by the left are okay–nothing to see here folks.
Representative Kruger should resign now. The political arena is no place for a man who makes comments in a public forum such as he did about the former Vice-President of the United States. Posters on here wring their hands and bemoan comments that LePage has made–but when this far worse public comment is made known, they are strangely silent.
He should not resign, I doubt that he has the intregrity anyway, he should be impeached.
that’s irrelevant. you stated that nugent should be fined and face a serious felony…which you would agree shouldn’t be dependent upon celebrity status or political viewpoints.
if you believe all men to be equal before the law then both men deserve the same punishment regardless of their status or viewpoint.
however, if we really want to consider who should be held to a higher standard…i think an elected official should face more scrutiny than a minor celebrity. no one takes nugent seriously, but kruger is a voting member of a governing body.
Good coverage, BDN. Good coverage.
lol
While they name a warship after LBJ?
Which reminds me of an old Carnac the Magnificent joke:
A: Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson
Q: Name two presidents and a floor wax.
best comment on here yet…
Wasn’t Hussein tried and convicted of (essentially) crimes against humanity? Yes, he was then executed–a fitting punishment for a terrorist.
Cheney certainly did his share of crimes against humanity. I see nothing wrong with calling for him to have a day in court…
Read the article again, day in court is not what was suggested.
And Obama kept right on with the policies that the evil Cheney helped create so he belongs in the dock too. Would you agree?
Agreed.
Really? Saddam Hussein unleashed chemical weapons on his own people. And you want to equate VP Cheney’s actions to that? Crimes against humanity? What crimes would that be?
Look at the civilian death toll In Iraq. Bush gave him an ultimatum to had over the weapons or else. Hw did not have them. We supported Samdam while he was doing crimes against humanity . Study a bit of history. Sadam was a bad apple no doubt about it. My point is the people of Iraq are not better of now at least so many would not have been killed if we left him in power and woman would have more rights In Iraq.
Laughed so hard I nearly puked up the dog.
The S.S. will be in touch.
As will Oshama’s crew.
Typical….another liberal, who makes a hateful death statement and then completely tries to put a different spin on it when he is called out on the statement he made………..typical, typical, typical………..pathetic.
Yeah, except for the unfortunate fact that saying something offensive and then saying you were joking when the heat comes, is not strictly a Democrat thing. But hey, why let facts get in the way of your keen observation.
Your post is basically doing the exact same thing you say that you despise.
If he is “sincerely sorry”‘, he should resign (with sincerity).
Kruger should stick to the entertainment field. He’s not very good at it, but it beats showing his ignorance as a politician.
Thanks for the info.The usual R “do as I say,not as I do.”
lol, and apparently discus/BDN can’t handle the truth…
Nugent admitted to draft dodging….all one has to do is google it.
edited to also add his interview from 1998 with VH1 where he admitted to multiple affairs with under age girls….
http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/romney-supporter-nugent-admitted-multiple-a
Maine Heritage Policy Center, Webster, and Quatrano, are all clueless Tea Party hacks who are so far in right field they are not even in the game.
Rep. Kruger has done more for this State in the last month, than the above mental midgets have done in the last 10 years!
Death threats, call for resignation! Time to put on your “Big Boy” pants isn’t it? These are the same folks that support that draft dodger -Ted Nugent, not saying much about his threats eh?
So very freaking tolerant of you.
Death threats from elected officials should be cause for impeachment.
No one has every accused me of being tolerant. I am not a D or an R either!
Can you list his accomplishments in the last month?
Democrats; the party of compassion, understanding , tolerance and inclusion. Unless you disagree with them that is.
Republicans; the party of compassion, understanding , tolerance and inclusion. Unless you disagree with them that is.
Kruger’s comment was not even close to being funny. Why is it considered humor so long as the person they’re wishing death upon is a conservative? I find nothing humorous about his comment, whether it be geared toward a liberal or a conservative….very poor taste. So it’s okay for him to make death threats but he can’t take the heat when the tables are turned? Oh, wait, maybe they were just being humorous.
It seems like it is allowable to use very foul language against conservatives, especially conservative women, if it is said by “comedians”.
‘Comedians’ like Rush? You mean like that?
I was more thinking of John Stewart, the term that he used has only meaning that I know of
Did you know that the word that Rush Limbaugh used has six synonyms and only one of them is “unchaste woman”? I looked the word up in my Roget’s.
Yes, he meant all five synonyms and not “unchaste woman”. I’ve a feeling you have a taste for cool aid.
So, a democrat rep. makes an obscure death threat, and really not much of an investigation going on against him…like obtaining his original tweet for instance. I do not condone anyone who called him and threatened him, but I do find it ironic that those threats are being investigated. So, how come no investigation into the reps. comments/tweet? Verbalizing a death threat is an illegal act. The rep admits he knows twitter is open to the public. So, it is ok for the rep to make a death threat but it’s not ok for any of the people who did threaten the rep to do so? Nice to see we are that much closer to a socialist state. This rep must be removed from office. He obviously does not represent the good people of Maine who elected him. There is no sane basis on which he can be defended in his actions. His apology means very little, he chose to run for office knowing full well that he will be held to a high standard. Expecting our elected reps to not publicly display or transmit a death threat is not a high standard…it is simply basic common sense. People like this elected to office…and we are wondering why we are in the state we are in. geesh.
High standards? for politicians? Is this another dumb joke?
Don’t worry, he’s a democrat and they can say any ignorant thing they want and not be questioned about it!
Maine Heritage Spin Center at work for ya. Kruger expressed the sentiment that those with political power who advocate for war (aka chickenhawks) should experience the same things as those who must fight that war: our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins, etc., proudly serving in our military forces. The way Kruger said it wasn’t too smart, but you don’t need to read malicious intent into his statement made commiserating with someone who lost a relative.
Did the conservative haters email Ted Nugent over the remarks he made at the NRA convention?
Nope
Hypocrites?
yessah
I approve of Nugents remarks.
Calling Secret Service.
We have a live one.
yessah
The Obowwow SS already exonerated Nugent.
Very mature.
Shucks. The hypocrite wishes death on someone and is appalled when somebody wishes the same on him.
Stupid comment by this rep, especially against someone who isn’t the same person anymore. Cheney had a recent change of heart, after all.
You’re right there is no reason to have to read malicious intent into Kruger’s statement, it is obviously malicious and criminal.
The news comes because this guy is a SuperDemocrat, so we should feel sorry for him. The guy is a typical jerk who has taken party affiliation to a new height. We can’t be in the gop or dem anymore, the parties expect us to be rabid.
Kiss my butt versus He should be executed. I know that the kiss my butt comment got people a lot of BDN posters in an uproar. The funny thing is I dont see any of those posters here damning the horrible disrespectful comments this Maine Public Official made. I guess this guys comments dont reflect badly on Maine in their opinions. I guess its allright to diss someone as long as they arent your candidate or someone from your party.
Hi. Nice to meet you.
For the third time, I think Mr. Kruger should step down.
Don’t say “any.” I did and will continue to do so. I think Kruger should step down.
Any normal person should know better, but as a legislator, he should be ashamed for making such comments. That being said, death threats against him do need to be investigated.
What a disgrace! Why isn’t the Democratic leadership also calling for
Kruger’s resignation? What a poor example of a ME State Rep and a
complete embarrassment to his constituents. The Democrats should be hiding their heads in shame over this vitriolic behavior.
If i post a tweet or on Facebook and threaten the President or vice president I’m quite sure the men in Black would be knocking on my door and i would go bye-bye.
Big deal. He is a liberal democrat. Nothing will happen to him. Now if he was a republican he would have been punished severely by the liberal press. We all know they can get away with it and some cant. American voters realy elect mor_ ns into office and stick their collective head in the sand when one of them shows his or her real colors. What is it about about politics that makes voters so dumb?
Dick Cheney should be prosecuted for the war crimes including torture that he, Bush, and others commited while in office. They should also be prosecuted for the outright lies they told to get us involved in a bogus war in Iran that caused the murder of 100’s of thousands of innocent civilians in Iran and Afganistan and continues to add to our deficit. He and Bushie boy should also be investigated for their part in causing the mortgage crisis which we’re still having to deal with. That’s their legacy.
On another note I find it very amusing that Charlie critisize anybody for making stupid irresponsible statements.
Any public figure who comments on twitter or Facebook is nuts. Period.
The BDN strikes again. I made a coment that was not rude or insulting to anyone and it was removed. But I still believe the the liberal press stands up for these DEMS remarks and lets them getaway with it. A double standard exists. But we vote for these idiots and ignore their supporters who prolong the stupidity.