Paul LePage said a number of things last week that — while unsurprising to anybody familiar with the kind of things that come out of his mouth — were deplorable and, at this point, a little exhausting. In addition to leaving a foulmouthed voicemail message for Westbrook Democrat Drew Gattine, LePage also claimed that more than 90 percent of drug dealers in Maine are black or Hispanic, based on the contents of a mysterious binder of suspected drug dealers he allegedly keeps, but that no real data can be found to support.

In response to this latest controversy, Statehouse Democrats called on LePage to resign, while Maine’s Republicans did what they normally do when it comes to a LePage hissy fit — shut their eyes, cover their ears and hope it all blows over without any of them having to say anything or do anything.

This week, rumors flew — rumors fueled by comments made by the governor himself — that he may resign. Then a few hours passed and LePage tweeted an indication that he wouldn’t resign. Then, on Tuesday, after it was clear this particular gaffe was not going to blow over, the Republican minority caucus met to try to figure out what to do about the governor, if anything.

After the two hour meeting, House Minority Leader Ken Fredette, R-Newport, made it clear while fielding questions from reporters that although what LePage said was wrong, Maine Republicans are more concerned with moving forward and focusing on the issues — the caucus would not take any action against LePage.

It was clear during the question and answer session that Fredette had more diverting to do than actual things to say about the governor. While he made reference to the fact that LePage needed to sincerely apologize to Gattine in person (which he did, in a private meeting on Wednesday) it was clear that Republicans would remain tight-lipped when it came to LePage’s comments on black and Hispanic drug dealers.

While answering reporter questions, Fredette noted that LePage is good at making headlines — which seemed like a not-so-subtle dig at the media indicating that they care more about blowing a story out of proportion than reporting on the issues we face as a state.

But then that begs the question: Is racism not an issue, or is it just an issue Republicans would rather not talk about?

Fredette indicated that focusing on LePage’s comments draws attention away from the important issues and doesn’t help to move Maine forward. But I would ask Fredette what sort of meaningful change could possibly be achieved when racist attitudes are proven time and again to be present in our leadership? The demonization of black and Hispanic people in our state is the distraction that prevents real progress, not the headlines resulting from a crude voicemail message.

Racism functions in a more insidious way than LePage and House Republicans seem willing to admit. A person who continually disparages people of color cannot effectively create positive change because their decisions are tinged by that misplaced hostility. If LePage believes that the vast majority of drug dealers in Maine are Hispanic and black, despite evidence to the contrary, then the decisions he makes about the drug crisis will be colored by his assumptions and harmful to all Mainers — especially those of color.

Last night on Facebook, Rep. Sara Gideon of Freeport posted a response to Republicans’ inaction from the House and Senate Democratic Leadership. It said, in part: “The problem we all face, regardless of party, is that we cannot afford to spend the next two years mired in this kind of mess over and over again when we should be focused on solving the real challenges facing Maine people.” I couldn’t agree more.

This issue here is not that LePage said some regrettable things — it’s how those words reflect who he is at his core and how he views other people, and how those views hinder our ability to create a better future for Maine.

Republicans can try to brush LePage’s words under the rug, but ignoring what he says does nothing to move the state forward. Minimizing racism only drives us further into the past, and our state deserves better.

Alicia Bane is Deputy Managing Editor of The Times Record.