I get Gov. LePage’s recently mentioned difficulties in understanding non-native dialects and accents. The language I have trouble with is “Le-Page-ese.” With filtration by translator Adrienne Bennett, it’s often still unintelligible.
On April 1, LePage unilaterally canceled Sen.-elect Susan Deschambault’s swearing-in, ostensibly, as Bennett noted, because “Democrats treated (Unemployment Insurance Commission nominee) Steve Webster despicably and it’s unfortunate that good people get caught up in political games.”
Translation: Swap “LePage” for “Democrats” and “Deschambault” for “Steve Webster,” thus getting a resoundingly accurate description of how the governor acted, which was seemingly lost in translation by Bennett.
On April 27, a statement was issued regarding a ceremony “in which the governor was heckled.” Here, “heckled” really means that two mute sign holders were at the very back of the assembly. LePage seemingly apologized for “the sequence of events on Tuesday.”
Translation: “I couldn’t take the passive, mute actions of two unassuming picketers and rudely left the lectern.”
He continued: “This event was not about me.” (Well, the apology certainly wasn’t.)
Translation: “I did everything possible to make it about me.”
He followed: “I was sickened by the lack of respect displayed by two protesters holding up demeaning signs.”
Translation: “These feelings compelled me to display a heretofore unprecedented lack of respect from someone holding my high office as I walked out of an ongoing speaking engagement mid-sentence.”
The governor was heard calling the poster-holding Mitchell Scholars “idiots” – thereby demeaning one of the greatest supporters of Mainers’ higher education endeavors. The translation here is especially difficult. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and interacting with many Mitchell Scholars over the years, and “idiot” has no place in the discussions.
This translation is truly one for Bennett, our publicly funded apologist. I can’t wait to see it. I just wish we had a leader who didn’t need one so much.
Mike Del Tergo
Falmouth
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