Does MPBN Posting of LePage Video End Professional Courtesies?

Threatening to punch a reporter ends professional courtesies.

skf - with all due respect, you weren't running for Governor when you had those conversations with reporters. Apples and oranges.

This was not a threat. This was a joke. And, posting of this off-air taping was treachery of the first order.

MPBN fears LePage as do all those who steal the peoples money with the guns of government.

It's newsworthy, professional courtesies notwithstanding.

LePage is clearly engaging in pre-taping chitchat, and it's clear that he's voicing frustration, not issuing a threat. Which said: by now, LePage has been in the spotlight long enough to have figured out that there's no such thing as off the record. The only time you can let your guard down with any reporter is when you can see them no less than half a mile away - and in your rear-view mirror.

"LePage is clearly engaging in pre-taping chitchat,..."

Does it sound like chitchat from Jennifer's perspective? She is trying to arrange an interview and he says he won't talk to the reporters. Then he says he'd like to punch the reporter. Then he plasters on a smile. Professionals don't behave this way. Candidates for office most definitely shouldn't behave this way. I guess if he's governor he'll send someone else on trade mission because he might want to punch someone?

HM, I don't disagree with your larger point - that LePage was unprofessional. That's my point, in fact. My comments stem from years of experience dealing with TV reporters in a variety of settings. Often, pre-taping "chit chat" includes discussion of parameters and logistics of the media encounter.

He just might punch "public broadcasting" in the budget. That's all they care about.

When running for or after elected to public office, people should realize that there is no "off-air" time..anything said at any time is fair game and will more likely be misconstrued or rehashed to a different point of view than what was intended...Mouth A Foot B..open A, Insert B

"I don't want to talk to either one of them..... I'm about to punch AJ Higgins."
Phsych 101 says the truth lays in the non-verbals.

Either verbal or non-verbal, this candidate clearly discloses how he shall operate as the state executive. This is not in line with moderate people/voters. I can see where angry people like a guy who would punch a person rather than talk to him/her.

Professional courtesies? Since when did media liberals ever have this for any Republican they were targeting?

Well, being able to see the video does change the color of things.

While it didn't sound like a joke with just the audio, his smile and demeanor indicates that he was indeed joking. not the most appropriate kind of joke, but a joke, nonetheless.

Yes, we are all better off taking the daily beatings dispensed to us via Democratic legislation.

Does he look like he is joking when he learns that radio reports want to speak with him? Or when he says I don't want to speak to them?

Chris Coose: Neither. He looks quite serious about those statements.

But the afterthought bout being about ready to punch Higgins is clearly something he thinks is funny, hence the smile.

My only point is that to say he was threatening about it is incorrect. It is still wildly inappropriate, and the excuse that a life on the streets makes him act and speak inappropriately is a silly and insulting excuse. But I don't believe he was indicating that he was seriously considering punching the reporter who has caused him so much trouble lately.

Someone correct my dates, please. This story broke one day before the video was made available?

Why not release both at the same time?

skf

Total guess on my part, but I was wondering the same thing.

Might it be that the campaign, after hearing how bad it sounded, and knowing it the visual helped to put it into context, asked for the video to be released?

He threatened of their reporters so I think its apt for them to make it public.

Yes, there is no such thing as a mic thats "off" especially not in TV studio where there are loads of mics everywhere.

As someone who believes dueling should be re-legalized in order to bring courtesy back to public discourse, I fail to see the harm in a beating or two.

I just watched the video. I know - where have I been?
But I am glad that they released the video. The headline seems worse. If Paul lePage "threatened" to punch Aj Higgins, I would be very troubled.
Watching the video shows clearly that it was NOT a threat. AJ was never in any danger. Paul LePage was clearly joking as a way to express his frustration.

I honestly wish he would not make such comments and I happen to like AJ. But there is an obvious attempt to make more of this than anyone should.

I hope Paul and AJ will get together for a cup of coffee and everyone will get over it.

I'll remind everyone that at Saturday's WGME forum, LePage also said he that he only wants to throttle reporters when they are not being honest.

I agree that he was joking about punching Higgins, but under the circumstances, to make such a joke demonstrates an incredible lack of judgment.

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I think Scott is confusing on background or off the record with the taping of the MPBN show. He must know that the mics are hot and cameras rolling.

Myself, I'd far prefer bluff, honest speech about LePage's wish he could punch someone, than to endure the unspoken, blatant THUGGERY coming from Maine's current Blaine House resident & pals.

Would you rather have someone in Augusta with the spine to honestly speak his mind, or another round of suave, oily pocket-pickers? Is it okay if someone's a thief, just as long as they phrase their robbery request politely?

Is it better to have honesty, or "PC" thuggery? Would the Mitchell economic blackjack hurt less, because the phraseology used during its deployment is "polite"?

You choose.

As for MPBN, their publishing of the video is plain old dirty pool. No euphemisms needed. They would never do the same to Libby Mitchell, or any of the liberal candidates.

As for MPBN, their publishing of the video is plain old dirty pool. No euphemisms needed. They would never do the same to Libby Mitchell, or any of the liberal candidates.

For the sake of discussion, let's stipulate that you're correct.

Does that not make LePage even MORE foolish for allowing himself this sort of gaffe?

Scott, I think that the OTR policies have gone the way of embargoes in the digital age. Maybe a good thing, maybe not.

"I'd sure like to get hold of A.J.'s steno pad and bend the spiral wire in it."

"If I had a chance, I'd get hold of one of A.J.'s cuff links and push out the little pin in the toggle thing."

"Darn that A.J.; his mother was rumored to have worn combat boots at one time."

Hey Fair Share: as to mic's hot and cameras rolling, AMG's are now, so this would be a good time to tell us how much you're getting back thru the Circuit Breaker program. And while you're at it, how many rides on the big thing with wings and jet engines you've been promised to do Rochelle's bidding on your media outlet.

Will you be getting peak days on the waterfront, or do you have to wait until off-peak?

You are right that LePage shouldn't have suggested he would punch a journalist, though, even in jest. Afterall, as any good liberal knows, violence doesn't solve anything.

Right?

(LePage is getting play on Howie Carr today, and Howie likes him.)

What amazes me is the amount of time and bandwidth devoted to attacking/defending/explaining/rationalizing/condemning each of Paul LePage's excursions into the gray areas of public scrutiny.

I wonder what he'll do or say next week. And the week after that.

How many more threads, Mr. Speakah? How many more threads?

For all we know, there may be worse footage of Mitchell. However, if the tv stations don't air that footage, we'd know about its existence, how?

Why was it released a day after the audio? I'd guess it's because they needed to edit it. You can tell that there were two cameras involved. It's easy to post the audio, takes slightly more time to put the video together from two cameras. This is just a guess.

He was sitting on a TV set. There were cameras in front of him. A mike had already been placed on his lapel. Unless Jennifer Rooks told him everything was off the record until the interview started, he had no reason not to believe he was being taped.

That said -- I am glad to see the video. The video shows he was joking. The audio and the transcript were worse.

Scott: I think you should have some t-shirts made up with Paul's quote on them for an AMG fundraiser. They would be big sellers.

There is something that is becoming very clear about Paul LePage: he is not a politician. He is not polished and has little training in the political art of being a chamelon. He is rough, unvarnished, and represents a blunt masculinity that has all but vanished from the political realm and the metrosexual culture of the 'elites'. He does something that every genuine politician knows they must never do--he says the first thing that comes to mind.

In other words, what you see is what you get with LaPage, and he expresses the frustration that most 'regular people' feel at the blatant dishonesty and the wholly artificial world that the political and cultural elites have constructred for themselves at our expense.

I like him. I think I'll vote for him.

I noticed the name LePage on the front page, above the fold again today.

:)