WATERVILLE (AP) — Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell spoke out against the political attacks that have taken over this current presidential election at a statewide symposium in Waterville.
Mitchell told the crowd gathered Thursday for the Maine Council of Churches event that politics in this country have always been divisive, but never as much as right now.
In Mitchell’s opinion, the political attacks now being repeated endlessly on television and social media channels are causing a much deeper and longer-lasting negative effect.
He says citizens of Maine and every other state can play a role in reversing these “hateful trends.”
Mitchell says we need to focus more on real political discourse while holding candidates more accountable for their speech and behavior.
The Democrat served as Maine’s senator from 1980 to 1995.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less