Group That Met With GOP Governor Denies Terrorist Links, Which Is Exactly What A Terrorist Would Say
On Tuesday, it was a revealed by Mike Tipping, that a review of audio recordings of a conspiracy theory radio show, documents obtained from the governor’s office through Freedom of Access requests and interviews with participants indicated that over a period of eight months from January to September, 2013, Governor Paul LePage (R) held at least eight meetings with a group of Sovereign Citizens, recognized by the FBI and Maine state law enforcement as belonging to a domestic terrorist movement.
One of the topics was executing Democratic lawmakers.
The group of men in the Maine Constitution Coalition deny any connection to domestic terrorism.
Sovereign Citizens Wayne Leach, Gary Smart and Phil Merletti speak at a Maine Tea Party rally (Image: YouTube)
“We’re not terrorists,” said Phil Merletti, who is one of four members of the Maine Constitution Coalition. “If I had the money, Mike Tipping would be in court right now. This is a travesty to my rights as a human being.”
The group also denies being Sovereign Citizens. “It’s very demeaning and timed specifically to be brought out in election season,” said Leach. “It’s very unfortunate for this to be done right now. … We are not sovereign radicals. We’re just trying to straighten out the state of Maine and trying to get to a reasonable amount of laws that are necessary to protect the rights of the people.”
However, one glance at this PDF will have your eyes spinning like dice in your head.. The group states that a lawyer is a foreign citizen and the “BAR is associated with the Communist Party.” The group calls dealing with lawyers ‘treason.’
In this day and age of our political discourse, it’s so outrageous that splitting hairs is the only way to distance yourself from your insane first-cousin even when you’re completely off your rocker. If the group, who do appear to be radical, spoke of executing Democratic lawmakers, then they should just get cozy with that first cousin-wife of theirs.
As for LePage, he has denied discussing hanging Democratic lawmakers.
The Bangor Daily News reports:
In two calls Monday evening to the Bangor Daily News, Gov. Paul LePage vehemently disputed assertions made by a liberal blogger in a forthcoming book that LePage made references in 2013 to executing Maine’s speaker of the House and Senate president.
“I was never in the room where ‘execute’ was used,” the governor said in a phone call to the BDN managing editor.
“It never happened,” he said later in the call. “We did not discuss execution, arrest or hanging.”
The group of radicals also state that the “Federal Government has no authority over “We the People of Maine.””
Maine is 10th of the list of states receiving the most federal money per tax dollar paid. In fact, most red states take more funds from Washington than they put in. Mother Jones noted, “Even as Republicans gripe about deficit spending, their states get 30 cents more federal spending per tax dollar than their Democratic neighbors.”
R.J. Carter July 2nd, 2014 at 9:19 am
But just because they’re labeled as a ‘Domestic Terrorist’ group doesn’t mean they’re bad people. Or so I was led to believe in the last story on this group.
Anomaly 100 July 2nd, 2014 at 9:39 am
Well that whole execute Democratic lawmakers thingy is a tad bit overboard. Then there’s the other stuff…
R.J. Carter July 2nd, 2014 at 9:43 am
Yeah, apparently ‘violent rhetoric’ is a good enough reason to earn the label. But bombing a few buildings — hell, who hasn’t done that, amirite? 🙂
Anomaly 100 July 2nd, 2014 at 9:46 am
Violent rhetoric among Sovereign citizens can never lead to a bad thing. Also, read the PDF which I linked to. It’s teeming with crazy talk. I believe in Freedom of Speech up until it calls for executing elected officials.
R.J. Carter July 2nd, 2014 at 9:50 am
Oh, I’m not debating that they shouldn’t be watched. Just that when I compared them to other ‘Domestic Terrorists’ on the FBI watch list, those other agencies started to get a pass.
Anomaly 100 July 2nd, 2014 at 9:54 am
I see what you mean. I’m slow today. Or rather, that’s what my twitter trolls tell me:-)
Republicans_are_Evil July 2nd, 2014 at 10:05 am
So you think people bad enough to be labeled as “domestic terrorists” are good people?
R.J. Carter July 2nd, 2014 at 11:02 am
I don’t know. Do you think the “Weather Underground” don’t deserve the moniker ‘Domestic Terrorists?’
arc99 July 2nd, 2014 at 11:06 am
Yes the Weather Underground did deserve the designation.
What was not deserved was the right wing lie about Barack Obama, “palling around:”
William July 2nd, 2014 at 9:31 am
This is our Governor folks. First he contracts a no bid “consulting” firm to say welfare is bad, then has to try to get the money back when it’s discovered that the study was plagiarized. Then he calls social security “welfare”. Inclusive in his most inane babbling is the statement that makes Sarah Palin seem like a rocket scientist.
Governor LePage: Maine Wind Turbine Runs On ‘A Little Electric Motor That Turns The Blades’
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/04/18/1892111/governor-lepage-maine-wind-turbine-runs-on-a-little-electric-motor-that-turns-the-blades/
Republicans_are_Evil July 2nd, 2014 at 10:07 am
Republicans associate with terrorists. Anyone remember guilt by association? All the things Republicans have done to attack Democrats are coming back to haunt them, and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving organization.
MaryJane Mccarthy James July 2nd, 2014 at 10:52 am
Many of the rethugs and wing nut haters should be called what they are “domestic terrorist.
Rob July 2nd, 2014 at 3:23 pm
The PDF is a fascinating read. Where do they get these ideas from? Plus the grammar is as expected.
Anomaly 100 July 2nd, 2014 at 8:29 pm
It took me 30 minutes to get my jaw closed after reading it. How did America become so infested with stupidity?
CherMoe July 3rd, 2014 at 9:24 pm
They didn’t “discuss execution, arrest or hanging” but I wonder if they discussed SHOOTING Democrats. That IS the weapon of their choice, as we’ve seen over the past few years.