Maine governor to Rep. John Lewis: You need a history lesson

The Republican governor on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, addressed Lewis’ criticism that GOP President-elect Donald Trump is not a “legitimate president.” LePage, who’s white, said on WVOM-FM that the black Democratic Georgia congressman needs a lesson on how presidents freed the slaves and fought against Jim Crow laws.

PORTLAND, Maine — Democratic U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights leader who says he doesn’t see Donald Trump as a “legitimate president,” should be grateful for all that Republican presidents have done for black people, GOP Gov. Paul LePage said Tuesday.

LePage, who’s white, said on WVOM-FM that the black Democratic Georgia congressman needs a history lesson.

“We’re sick of the silver-tongued people. How about John Lewis last week? Criticizing the president?” LePage said. “You know, I will just say this: John Lewis ought to look at history. It was Abraham Lincoln that freed the slaves. It was Rutherford B. Hayes and Ulysses S. Grant that fought against Jim Crow laws. A simple thank you would suffice.”

LePage on Tuesday also had harsh words for a Maine congresswoman who is among more than 40 House Democrats so far to say they are skipping Trump’s inauguration. He said Rep. Chellie Pingree should resign if she doesn’t attend.

“They’re trying to bully us out of believing our Constitution,” LePage said of Democrats.

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This story has been corrected to show LePage said, “A simple thank you would suffice,” not “A simple thank you should suffice.”

(Well said Governor LePage.)

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