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LePage Apologizes for Walking Away from UMF Ceremony

Gov. Paul LePage has apologized to the president of the University of Maine Farmington and to longtime former UMF President Theodora Kalikow for what he described in a written statement as “the sequence of events on Tuesday.” Translation? For walking away from the podium during a dedication ceremony at the college.

LePage was addressing a building dedication ceremony in honor of Kalikow when two students in the audience quietly held up signs critical of the governor. He suddenly left the podium, calling them “idiots” as he walked away.

One sign read “LePage: Maine’s Shame.” The other was a report card that gave LePage an “F” on environmental issues and Kalikow an “A.”

In a written statement, the governor said he was “sickened by the lack of respect displayed by two protestors holding up demeaning signs, including one with Theo’s name on it.” He said he is used to daily attacks and ridicule from protestors but others are not.

And then, as he does often, the governor blamed the media for refusing to cover “good news” and for disparaging him over issues he says are unrelated.

“Since I am such a distraction to the media, I will no longer attend some of these public events,” the governor wrote. ” I sincerely hope the media will continue to attend these events and report on the good people of Maine and the many positive things they are doing for our state.”