Governor has embarrassed people of Maine

To the editor:
    Do the people of the state of Maine have the right to expect our governor to speak in public as an intelligent, civilized adult? Or should the Governor of Maine, the highest elected position in this state, speak like an unruly teenager with a chip on his shoulder?
    When asked by a reporter why he was not attending an event for Martin Luther King Day, Gov. LePage said that the NAACP could “kiss my butt.” Yes, we hear such phrases on TV, but we have the right to expect a higher standard from respected people in responsible positions. Whether one believes in the purposes of an organization or not, one can politely decline to speak to the group. By expressing himself this way, the governor has embarrassed both the state of Maine and the Republican party.
    The governor of this state should be someone we can all look up to. How can we expect the young people in this state to speak respectfully to others if even our governor speaks so crudely?
    Governor LePage, you owe the citizens of the state of Maine, and the members of the NAACP, an apology for your use of language. It is time to act and speak like a responsible adult.
Fred Griffith
Houlton