Governor Leaves Lawmaker 'Bizarre,' Vulgar Voicemail

The governor of Maine left what TPM calls a "bizarre and threatening"—not to mention foul-mouthed—voicemail for a Democratic state lawmaker he believes called him a racist. "I’ve spent my life helping black people and you little son-of-a-bitch, socialist cocksucker," Gov. Paul LePage said in the message to Rep. Drew Gattine on Thursday. He also demanded Gattine "prove" he's a racist. The Portland Press Herald reports Gattine denies calling LePage a racist and says the voicemail was "inappropriate and uncalled for." The issue arose after LePage said more than 90% of drug dealers in Maine are black or Hispanic earlier this week, according to CNN.

LePage later invited reporters over and proceeded to long for an armed duel with Gattine. "I wish it were 1825," he said, claiming he would point his gun "right between his eyes." While the state's Democratic Party chair calls that a "threat," LePage claims otherwise. "Obviously, it is illegal today," CNN quotes the governor as saying. "It was simply a metaphor." LePage apologized for the voicemail but says he was justified in reacting that way after being called a racist. It's not the first time LePage has dealt with such accusations. Earlier this year, critics called him out for saying dealers with names like "D-Money" would come to Maine to sell drugs and "impregnate a young white girl." (More Paul LePage stories.)