LEWISTON — Gov. Paul LePage is upping the stakes in an ongoing dispute within the Maine Republican Party over who should attend the party’s national convention in Tampa, Fla., later this month.
LePage on Friday told a Portland radio show host that if Maine’s delegates to the Republican National Convention are not allowed to take their seats and participate, then LePage would boycott the convention.
“I spoke with him on the phone at 9:13 a.m. and he told me if Maine’s delegates were not going to be seated, then he would not be going,” said Ray Richardson, a conservative talk show host with the Portland-based WLOB radio.
“I said, ‘Are you sure about this?’ and he said, ‘Absolutely,” Richardson said Friday afternoon.
At stake is whether 23 delegates from Maine, all supporters of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, should be allowed to take their seats. The Paul supporters staged somewhat of a coup during the Maine GOP Convention in May. They managed to take over the convention and elect a slate of delegates supportive of Paul.
Earlier this month, two prominent Maine Republicans, including a national party committeewoman and the chairman of Mitt Romney’s campaign in Maine, filed a complaint with the national party headquarters, saying the state party convention was not conducted properly. They claimed also that the Paul delegates were elected illegally and should not be allowed to participate in Tampa.
Both LePage and Maine GOP Party Chairman Charlie Webster have previously said the state’s convention was valid and while they do not support Paul, the state’s delegates should be allowed to be seated at the national convention.
Richardson, like LePage, supports Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination, but Richardson believes the governor is right on this issue.
“This is a man who stands by principle and this is a principle he is unwilling to give in on,” Richardson said.
He said LePage gave him permission to share his position and Richardson did so early Friday by posting a statement on his Facebook page.
Seating the Paul delegates from Maine in Tampa could decide whether the Texas congressman is given a chance to address the convention formally for 15 minutes. National Republican Party rules require a candidate to receive the support of at least five states for that to happen.
As it stands, Paul has the support of the majority of delegates from Maine, Minnesota, Nevada and Utah. His campaign also is challenging the results of state conventions in Massachusetts, Louisiana and Oregon in hopes of seating delegates from those states at the national convention.
Earlier this week, Webster said he was attempting to broker a compromise, but Richardson said Friday that compromise involved the Paul delegates agreeing that they would be seated only if they voted for Romney at the national convention. The delegates were also asked to allow only Webster or LePage to speak for the Maine GOP in Florida.
Richardson said that compromise was unacceptable to most Republicans, including those who don’t support Paul.
“Listen,” he said. “This is America and you can’t gag people like that, especially when you believe they were fairly elected to their spots in the first place.”
Attempts to confirm with LePage or his office that he was threatening to boycott the national convention were not immediately successful, but a consultant who works with LePage on political issues reiterated a press release issued on LePage’s behalf earlier this month.
“His position was clear,” Brent Littfield, a GOP consultant based in Washington, D.C., wrote in an email. “The governor’s position is that he supports Gov. Romney and that he feels all delegates from Maine should be seated.”
Stavros Mendros, a former Republican lawmaker from Lewiston and one of the Ron Paul delegates, said Friday he was pleased to see LePage upping the ante on the dispute, which is expected to be decided by the Republican National Committee later this month.
Mendros said he learned of Richarson’s post early Friday and was heartened by it.
Mendros was elected vice chairman of the Maine GOP delegation to Tampa during the state convention in May and was elected chairman of the delegation’s credentialing committee. He said the Maine delegation had no intention of disrupting the national convention.
“There’s rumors that we are going to go there and say bad things about Romney,” Mendros said. “Our guys like Paul. I’ve said all along I like Romney — I have no issues with him — he’s not my first choice, but I can live with him.”
More important to the party was that is should stand up for a fair process, Mendros said.
“I just hope the party that I believe in, the Republican Party, is going to do the right thing and is not going to suppress votes,” Mendros said.
What? Our governor using threats to intimidate others? lol. Say it ain’t so, Joe.
Who cares? I bet the RNC doesn’t….
This may very well be the only time I will be noted as posting a supportive Comment when it comes to Paul LePage but it is because of my unwavering committment to the demands that our representatives Do the Right Thing. If they are going to represent me, then expect to hear from me when I feel that isn’t happening. To that end, I commend LePage for supporting other members of his party who do not feel they are being represented openly and fairly.
Years ago, that would be considered “compromising”. Nowadays, that is considered “demonizing”. To my pleasure is witnessing one bully telling another bully where to get off.
LePage is not only heightening tensions between political parties, he has just taken a colossal step toward fracturing his own Republican party.
This is far worse that his previous outbursts, which led to an Oped by Republican legislators censuring him. This time he is creating a rift with Romney on a national scale, threatening the entire GOP with major negative publicity.
Everything about this man is selfish excitement: getting other people upset so he can bask in the spotlight.
I vote republican all the time, I’m a teaparty Democrat.
Why would you vote for a courpt system? Why not stand up for what is right?
I hope LePage goes; he’s a prime example of what the Republican party has turned into. And I hope there is a good journalist around when he and Charlie Webster get into it.
After seeing him perform for almost two years now, would we expect Paul LePage to make any kind of move without first making a “threat?” This is just another prime example of a classic bullying technique that he learned young and which is clearly deeply imbedded in his psyche. Of course in this case, who cares if the big guy doesn’t show up? I’m thinking some conservatives are rejoicing over this possibility as without Paul there will be a whole lot less elbowing going on as they march through the buffet line.
Agreed.
Do not agree. Right is Right! Give em’ Hell Paul!
Give ’em hell?
Just like he is with the Canadians blockading our lobster shipments in Canada?
He’s one hell of a tough guy. You must enjoy it when he gives the sick, the poor, teachers, fire fighters, schoolchildren, and the elderly – hell.
Little tough guy is a bully. His non performance during this Canadian stand-off shows him to be a guy with a tough and rotten tongue and a weak spine.
How can the governor (?) of a state which prides itself on leading -Dirigo – hide somewhere whilst Snowe and Pingree tackle the Canadian government?
Give ’em hell. Sounds like John Wayne dodging the draft with an ingrowing toe nail.
Yes, “Give ’em Hell Paul!”
I didn’t stutter. The man is obviously taking a stand for something he believes in. I strongly doubt you’re a republican to begin with. You have no skin in this game. You just took this grand opportunity to crawl out from under your bridge to complain. Get back under there, Troll!
=====
He also loves to get under the liberal skin. He does it well. LOLS>
Romney’s 15 minutes of fame is over and he is fading away fast
Obama is going to be re elected in a landslide victory
Obama will be voted out. The only thing he has done for America is to divide it and create hate.
People don’t want another George W. Bush.
Romney is another George W. Bush.
We listened to 8 years plus into this presidency, the hate that was cast by the Left. It grew to both sides and that is most unfortunate and a sad statement about America.
So many liberal thinkers believe that Romney has too much money which clearly demonstrates total jealousy. It is acceptable for the left to tolerate the Liberals who are wealthy. It makes no sense to attack Romney for his wealth. We the People, need to learn to respect each other and become a united population. Shame goes to both sides of the political parties. Nay saying breeds hate and accomplishes nothing.
It’s hard to understand your train of thought and you’re not very articulate.
I think you have very low information and below average intelligence.
I’m sure you’re a nice person but you’re out of your league.
What you think about me is none of my concern. I will safely tell you the Rep. Paul Ryan has a long term plan to remake Medicare and cut Trillions in federal spending. This should have already been done in the current administration and anyone with a brain knows that to be true. Ryan is a Master over Obama in the field of economics re: the deficit. This will be seen on voting day, when Obama loses the election.
Got it.
There’s a lot that LePage does that makes me crazy, but this one I can get behind. He supports Romney, but is standing up for the rights of others to “speak” against him. It should be a given that they have that right! So to call what LePage is doing a “threat”, I’d say the Republican national party is the one that made the threat – not to seat the delegates unless they give up their right to free speach! There is really only way to respond to such a threat, and I think LePage did it.
I too respect his stance on this.
I think the GOP will take this as more of a promise than a threat. Given that he tends to create a backlash whenever he opens his mouth, the Republicans can only hope he stays away.
Whatever your feelings about LePage, I have to commend him for having the integrity to protect the rights of the duly elected delegates. The entire caucus was live streamed (while thousands around the country watched), and it was bordering on ridiculous how many times the votes were counted and recounted. Paul supporters won fair and square – it was close, but they won. They should have the right to represent Maine and attend the RNC.
Oh “fractrous” rapture
In a statement I had read, Jan Staples was quoted as saying she is behind the delegates being seated, so I wonder why she signed on to the challenge. Also, it stated that Charlie Webster had not been in touch with Cianchette or Staples before putting out his compromise–obviously not endorsed by many others in the Republican Party–so how could he have made the list he did in that compromise?
As posted elsewhere, pardon my ignorance but is LePage a delegate, non-voting or not?
In reply to your question, there is too much ignorance in the anti Maine Gov. comments in the BDN. Gov. LePage has more intelligence than many commentators here. Time to get off the Hate Wagon.
He has Iowa’s support as well.
I don’t think that anyone in Tampa will care if LePage attends the convention or not. It might be better if he stays home..at least he can’t embarrass himself (or the State of Maine) that way !
Wonder if he received a “Thank You” from the GOP chair?
We too, should tell Adrienne how happy we Mainers are that he has “threatened” not to attend. Her load will be lightened, too.
Having wrapped up the delegate count earlier on, Romney will be christened by the faithful no matter what the Paulistas say. He’s already taking his victory lap with new found libertarian-lite buddy VP hopeful Paul (yes, another Paul) Ryan at his side. Ryan, who gave his acceptance speech this AM says and believes pretty much what Rep. Paul would say were he the nominee – on economics issues, anyway. LePage is taking no risky chances here. When he tries for a second coronation, he’ll expect no less than unquestioned support from those folks. What would Cianchette and the rest of ’em do if the Maine Paulistas get to play with the insiders? Sit this one out? Doubtful. Granted, the chaos-ridden voting at the Maine Republican Mud Ball Finals might have been less than party-legal, but if they cheated, they cheated fair and square in the fine old American political tradition.
Nobody (except a tea party type) would care if he doesn’t attend, what a ridiculous story. All that he would do is make himself and the State look like buffoons.
OMG the entire political process in the US is going to collapse! Someone please talk some sense to our supreme leader.
Does the Guv. really think that anyone at the Republican National Committee could give
a rats a__ if he goes or not? What a bloated sense of self importance. Go to Jamacia for the week and stay off the national press radar. That’s the best thing he can do for Maine.
It’d be too bad if LePage doesn’t go. I was looking forward to a pie-eating contest between him and Christie.
epicness, denied.
btw lmao at all of this article. what a joke.
That could be a good thing for the taxpayers of the state.It will be one less vacation he takes this year and we have to pay for and to go along with others nobody will care if he and his entourge show up or not .
Sounds like Lepage is standing up to establishment bullies who don’t like the fact tht they lost fair and square.
“Raises stakes”, heh. As though anyone else within the Republican national machine even cares whether the unpopularly elected governor or the renegade delegates from one of the Union’s least important states show up for the We Love Mittens pageant.
In this case, however rare, Gov LePage is totally right. The RNC are the ‘bad guys’ in this scenario. They shouldn’t be allowed to pretend that Romney has 100% approval. Some of the candidates are Ron Paul’s and they should be seated. Just because it doesn’t jive with the ‘party line’ doesn’t mean they get to ignore those candidates. As much as I despise Gov. LePage, I’m beginning to come to the realization that right, wrong or indifferent.. he believes in what he says… which is far more than you can say about Mitt Romney. Thumbs up to the Governor for doing the right thing even though it’s not popular with his party.
Has this clown governor checked the radar screen lately. He’s out their with santa and the 9-reindeer.
Any respectable attendee at the Republican National Convention either does not know this embarrassment from Maine exists or so choose not to admit they know of his existence.
Our Governor Paul LePage is standing up for what is right and the truth.
You are wrong to think this is OK not to seat the Ron Paul Delegates.
I won’t vote for Obama yet if this happens where they are not seated at the RNC I’m writing in Ron Paul.
It is not OK to Steal Votes. If I was employed by a cheat and thief I would resign. This is why this country is going to hell in a handbasket, people except cheats as long as it benifits them.
Thanks Paul for standing up for whats right
obama is going to be re-elected …. it is not even going to be a close race
I’m wondering who lost his leash on this one… got to love his “threats”… seems he can’t do anything in his office without threatening to do something he’s “legally” not allowed to do… glad to see our tax dollars are paying for some stupid lawsuits over money that was already granted to communities in the state.. yet lepage and his cronies put a “stop payment” on something they have no say in…..
LePage has my complete respect. There are leaders and there are politicians. LePage is showing the ethics of a real leader. Doing the right thing is not always the popular thing to do.
Maybe if we had more real leaders instead of politicians we wouldn’t be in such a big mess.
He does know there’s free booze, right?
The gop probably is hoping he won’t show.
Oh, I forgot to add that he would be like having a drunk uncle at your wedding.
Big deal —Boycott it!
No one will even notice!