Potsdam town council member under fire for saying Trump should be ‘put down’ like ‘rabid dog’
BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country
POTSDAM — A Potsdam town board member faces potential censures from both county and town levels over Facebook comments she made regarding the assassination attempt on former Pres. Donald Trump at a campaign rally July 13 in Butler, Penn.
Town Council member Christine Paige, who said in a Facebook conversation that shooting the former president would be like “putting down a rabid dog,” told North Country This Week in a separate conversation that she has a right to freedom of speech and she did not apologize for her statements.
Her comments were part of a larger conversation thread in which the original poster said “Shit they missed his head,” in the wake of a failed assisination attempt.
The thread can be read online here.
The comments by Paige have come to the attention of a county legislator who plans to introduce a formal resolution condemning her comments as a Potsdam town council member.
“It is totally unbecoming of a government official to say something like that,” said Glenn J. Webster, District 11 Legislator. Webster, who is from Norwood, represents a section of the town of Potsdam at the county level.
“It’s basically political assassination, it's terrorism,” Webster said of the assassination attempt on the former president.
The legislator said there are a lot of people he does not agree with, and some he doesn’t respect, but he would never wish them murdered.
“There is no room for people in our government (to say things) like that. That’s why we are where we are right now.”
Webster said Paige’s statements have caused a stir and he has been urged to do something formally over the comments.
“I have had quite a few constituents call me and ask me to do something about it,” he said.
Webster said he will introduce a formal resolution at the next county legislature meeting which denounces Paige’s statements and calls on the Town of Potsdam to remove her from office.
“This isn’t somebody saying this in their house to a neighbor or a friend,” Webster said, pointing out that statements made on social media forums have more reach and influence. He said Paige’s statements, as an elected official, incite political violence.
Webster suggested that Paige be asked to resign to do what’s best for the town.
“This isn’t something I want to do, but I feel like I have too,” Webster said.
Potsdam Town Supervisor Marty Miller said the town board will be discussing the issue at the next town board meeting in August.
“I’ve been made aware of the situation and we are working on it. There will be some sort of action taken at the next town board meeting,” Miller said. Miller did not have any further comments on the issue.
For her part, Paige is not apologizing for her statements and said it's a First Amendment issue.
“My right to free speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment, whether you agree with it or not,” Paige said. “As is everyone else’s.”
The town council member said she is not heeding any of the blowback that has resulted from her statements.
“I don’t really pay much attention to it. They have a right to their free speech,” she said.
Paige said however that she has gotten some hate mail regarding her Facebook exchange.
She said she will continue to be outspoken about the things she believes, whether people are critical or not. “That’s the beauty of America,” Paige said.
As for the critics of her statements and those calling for her ouster, she believes those comments will eventually subside.
“I’ve lived in the North Country my entire life and I’ve dealt with this type of individual many times,” she said.
“I don’t pay attention to their foolishness. This will blow over,” Paige said.
https://www.northcountrynow.com/stories/potsdam-town-council-member-under-fire-for-saying-trump-should-be-put-down-like-rabid,252201