Our View
Levesque campaign positioned on a falsehood
Jason Levesque launched his campaign challenging Rep. Michael Michaud for the 2nd Congressional District seat in Auburn last week with smiles and handshakes all around.
Days later, Levesque posted a serious accusation on his Facebook page, claiming a "very liberal" member of the Auburn Public Library's board of directors improperly canceled Levesque's Tuesday campaign appearance at the library after seeing Levesque interviewed on television. Levesque then suggested to supporters in a widely-circulated e-mail that the cancellation was just another repulsive game of "old tricks" played by the Democrats to thwart conservative progress.
The accusation against the library was not fair and not true. And that's an incredibly poor, and utterly curious, way for Levesque to muster support for his tender campaign.
It is true that the library canceled Levesque's appearance, but not for the reasons he claims.
The Auburn Public Library, like many libraries in Maine, makes space available to community members for all sorts of functions, including meetings of political entities, such as the Androscoggin County Republican Committee. The library asks, understandably so, that anyone who wants to reserve space sign a contract of understanding about keeping the room neat, limiting the number of attendees, whether food can be served, keeping noise levels down, etc.
One of the agreement's provisions is that no fees can be charged to attend whatever function is being planned. No admission fee, no fundraising, no selling of cupcakes and cookies, no matter how worthwhile the cause.
Levesque's appearance was canceled because he never signed a contract with the library, and he advertised a $10 attendance fee, in direct violation of library policy.
The library was right to cancel. Levesque was wrong to accuse anyone of unsavory political games for doing so.
In his campaign material, Levesque notes that unemployment is too high and too many families are struggling. Both are true.
He also says we are getting the "same old blah blah coming from Washington, and Mainers are tired of it."
True again.
But Levesque's tactic of falsifying action by the Auburn Public Library to make a point about how low Democrats will go to continue to rule the country is exactly the "same old blah blah coming from Washington" that Mainers are tired of.
Levesque has removed the accusation from Facebook, but it remains in circulation. The accusation is alive on the Web and lurking in e-mail in-boxes across Maine and he has done nothing to step up and set the record straight, driving dozens of complaints to the Auburn Public Library that library employees are now patiently addressing.
On Thursday, Levesque said he wouldn't engage in a back-and-forth with the library on this. He refused to acknowledge the precise wording of his Facebook post accusing the library's board member of pulling strings to cancel the campaign stop, saying only that he posts and removes material "all the time." Levesque said he's put the whole episode behind him and moved on. Nothing to see here.
Not an auspicious way for such a promising candidate to start a campaign.
editorialboard@sunjournal.com
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Displaying comments, from newest to oldest
Im usually siding with the
Im usually siding with the conservatives, but on this one I can only say "goodbye Mr. levesque, we hardly knew ya"!
HUM Where to Begin!!, I would
HUM Where to Begin!!, I would think the Sun Journal would not let Michaud campaigners continue to Pen Sun Journal Editorials, Especially when the topic is about Michauds Republican opposition. BUT NOTHING THIS LEFTIST RAG SURPISES ME ANYMORE.
You would need Mike and his forklift to move this load of $#!+. Richard you really should stop writing editorials until after the Election or remove yourself from Michauds re-election campaign, If you have a dog in the fight you really can not be impartial.
C'mon Mr. Levesque, we know
C'mon Mr. Levesque, we know you're reading this. Are you going to come clean and apologize to the Auburn Public Library?
Once Mr levesque put out the
Once Mr levesque put out the ad for donations for the event it was no longer eligible.The republicans dont think it's ok if a majority of the country population to choose health care as a priority. Doesn't it seem hypocritical that on of the most progressive democratic citys should subsidise the right wings candidates campaign. Once the ad went out donations roll in yet they dont have to pay a cent for the room! I have rented that room in 5hrs filled out the very specific contract and had a confirmation in less than 5hrs!
I don't believe all sides are equal in this argument. 1) Clearly Mr. Levesque didn't know the Androscoggin Republican committee has their meetings there or if he did he as about as politically savvy as his campaign deserves.2) I hope in the future he treats his hometown better than a his slick erectile desyfuntion pill campaign. 3) The librarian told him the rules and the process and he broke the rules and didn't even send in the contract and its the evil librarians' fault. I grew up in Auburn and he's lucky the police aren't still located there, he probably wouldn't know it and would have insulted two public servants with one shot. Vote for me I will blame public servants for my mistakes!
I didn't have all the facts,
I didn't have all the facts, so I posted a question on his Facebook page. It was deleted within a few hours. I posted another question, again deleted. I then sent him a private message asking for his version of the story. He waffled, and refused to answer.
In my humble opinion, he has no credibility. If he can't be honest about this incident, why should I think he can be honest about anything else.
I predict he'll receive fewer votes than the eccentric Mr. Frary did last election. At least Mr. Frary was honest, and entertaining.
Just another lying
Just another lying politician! Just more blah, blah, blah. Different party, same stuff!
verified What's new about a Republican
What's new about a Republican lying to gain political advantage? Old as Joe McCathy, Richard Nixon, and George W. Bush or James O'Keefe the young Republican, employee of ultra-right wing web master Andrew Beitbart, and master of dirty tricks and disciple of Liddy who was recently arrested for attempting to bug the democratic Louisiana Senator's office. Republican and liar are synonyms.
As a supporter of Levesque
As a supporter of Levesque for Congress, I find the Sun Journal's view extremely biased. The real truth will come out. Mr. Levesque came back after the first attempt to cancel and said he WOULD NOT accept any money from this fundraiser or individual's info. The APL still came back with a flat "NO". This was a board member's response via the director. Mr. Levesque made the attempt to resolve this quietly and to let it go. Did Mr. Levesque post a messege on FB? Absolutely! I saw it. It was change of venue and that APL cancelled, ALL FACT! Anyone who would book a function at ANY venue and have it be cancelled last minute would be just as peeved. Plain and simple. Unfortunately, the Sun Journal gives a sided story once again!
verified I would like to respond to
I would like to respond to your allegations. When Mr Levesque first announced his candidacy the SJ published two pictures and articles three days in a row. And this was just an announcement that he was running, absolutely nothing about his platform, principles or ideas. It appeared the SJ was shilling for his candidacy, as the SJ does for most republican candidates
Your statement that Mr. Levesque "WOULD NOT" accept any money from the fundraiser ignores that fact that ANY fundraising at the library is against policy, no matter who is receiving the money. Mr. Levesque did not follow the rules, and he slammed a venerable institution in the process. If he gets in a snit every time things go awry, do we really want him in Congress.
He still doesn't have a
He still doesn't have a platform. Just making lame attempts at attacking Mr. Michaud. Does anyone really want a tele-marketer representing them in Congress?
verified He really hasn't attack
He really hasn't attack Michaud, yet. He attacked the Auburn Public Library's board and he did so using the old weary canard "liberal bias". I am still interested in what he has to offer. Being a telemarketer doesn't disqualify him from serving, Michaud was a mill worker. Anything would be better than another dang lawyer.
Yes, he attacked the Auburn
Yes, he attacked the Auburn Public Library. And unless he issues a public apology, I"ll never forgive him for that. We are blessed to have such a great institution in our city.
He's not ready for prime time. Thank God I'm on the 'do not call' list.
Don't go away mad Mr. Levesque. Just go away.
verified "I don't see any republicans
"I don't see any republicans complaining about this"
I am a Republican and I think this is unacceptable.
read my post!
read my post!
verified This lie will remain in
This lie will remain in circulation until election day. In fact I would not be surprised if we see it in several LTE and especially columns on the right wing wacko newspaper that always supports reactionary candidates. It is the way of the republican party, the party of NO.
I haven't seen this weeks
I haven't seen this weeks version of the Twin City Times. Did Mr. Steele choose to investigate this impropriety? Doubt it.
I don't see any republicans
I don't see any republicans complaining about this must be they are busy sending out the emails or filling out their blogs with this "LIE" that Levesque is tendering. Of course I don't expect many of that party to admit to "any" wrongdoings after the last eight years of their defending Shrub. Just par for the course I guess, SJ has it right, blah, blah, blah.
SJ is wrong my friend. Many
SJ is wrong my friend. Many individuals, not including republicans have complained! This is a situation where a guy wanted to have an event and was cancelled. Plain and simple. Mr. Levesque didn't tender a thing!
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