PRESQUE ISLE, Maine - In Michael Willette's hometown of Presque Isle, constituents have mixed views of the Republican state senator and the Facebook postings that forced him to give up his chairmanship of a legislative committee.
Some in Aroostook County say Willette's statements are unbecoming of a statewide elected official and represent a broader undercurrent of prejudice in the state. But supporters say he's apologized and is now being unfairly hounded by critics.
Dick Engels knows Mike Willette well. The two have done lots of business together. Engles, an attorney, serves on the Presque Isle City Council.
"He's a realtor in town," Engles says of Willette. "Good part of my practice is real estate law, so we interact on a fairly regular basis. Privately, I've never heard him make any racial comments. He may crack a joke. But nothing that is over the edge."
But Engels acknowledges that, if you're a politician, you've got to be careful what you say. "And, in this day and age, you have to understand that everything that goes on the Internet is going to be public matter and fodder for public comment."
Engels says he was surprised to learn about the content of some of the Facebook posts. But he doesn't think Willette, who called his comments "inappropriate" in a speech on the Senate floor, should face further consequences.
"Because some politically correct person from down in Portland doesn't like what he says...should not take his job," Engles says. "Democrats are making a big issue of this, but the Democrats have been out to hang Mike Willette now for quite awhile, ever since he changed parties four or five years ago."
"It's really discouraging to me that someone like Dick Engels, who's on the City Council, who's a respected attorney in the area, would support him," says Alice Bolstridge. Bolstridge, who describes herself as a Democratic activist, is one of nearly 5,000 Mainers to sign a petition, circulated by the Maine Democratic Party, calling for Willette to resign from the state Senate.
"I do think he's prejudiced," Bolstridge says. "He seems to be driven by what most people who are prejudiced are driven by - ignorance and fear. He hasn't really apologized for the content of his messages, only for what he calls the 'inappropriateness' of it."
Bolstridge, a former teacher at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, says she thinks Willette's views are widely held, both in Maine and across the country. But what about all those folks in Presque Isle, who may have learned about the story on TV or from the newspaper? What do they think?
At Teresa's Corner Cafe and Bakery, it's mid-morning and the breakfast crowd isn't letting up just yet.
"I belong to men of prayer and every week we pray for people with cancers and liver problems and believe in god to heal," says Karl Dampf, who is here to grab a bite after a weekly prayer meeting. Dampf, who says he voted for Mike Willette, says the state senator's critics need to take a hard look at themselves.
"How many times do we say the wrong thing or even do the wrong thing?" Dampf says. "I think everybody makes a mistake and we forgive and move on."
But another member of the men's prayer group isn't willing to let Willette off the hook so easily. Paul Saija says he understands how angry some people are at President Obama. "But I was brought up to believe that, you know, you may not agree with everything a president does, but you respect the office. And I think the office of the presidency is an office that should be respected."
As a Christian man, says Saija, "I'm taught that we're supposed to pray for our leaders and respect our leaders."
