Sen. Susan Collins complained that the “lack of civility” shown by her constituents during recent peaceful protests “is really disturbing.” Collins specifically criticized Mainers for Accountable Leadership for labeling her as inaccessible to Maine voters after she met with eight of the group’s members.
MFAL is one among many new citizen organizations concerned about an increasingly authoritarian executive branch and the Republican effort to roll back 70 years of social and economic progress. Many groups held events during the February recess. Sen. Collins incorrectly told the No Labels audience that MFAL sponsored a demonstration outside Maine Public’s radio studio in Bangor on Feb. 23, while she was on the air. In fact, that rally was organized by another group, not MFAL.
MFAL will continue to ask Collins and the rest of Maine’s delegation to oppose the radical agenda espoused by the White House and her party’s leadership. Her rapid endorsement of Sen. Jeff Sessions for Attorney General, which she did not discuss, now appears to be ill-advised, given recent revelations of his meetings with Russian officials during the campaign.
There will be many issues during the coming months to which MFAL will respond as Attorney General Sessions assaults voting rights, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos dismantles public education, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin returns the financial industry to reckless excess, and Donald Trump refuses to release his tax returns, criticizes a free press, disrupts the processes of government and builds his personal wealth.
April Humphrey, Yarmouth
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