Maine Democrat Troy Jackson Defends Telling Sen. Collins to 'Shut Up'
Jackson stated he would not be "talked down to" by Collins after she suggested a protester who interrupted their debate was his supporter.
Maine Democrat Troy Jackson stated Sunday that he does not regret telling Sen. Susan Collins to “shut up” after the Republican senator suggested a protester who interrupted their recent debate was one of his campaign’s backers. Jackson, who is challenging Collins in a closely contested race, said in an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” that he had no prior knowledge of the protester.
During their final debate Thursday, as Collins was speaking, a protester opposing data centers began yelling. While moderators attempted to remove the individual, Collins stated the demonstrator was “obviously one of Troy’s supporters.” Jackson responded, “Oh, shut up. I don’t even know that kid.”
The Sunrise Movement, a left-wing political advocacy organization, later posted on Instagram that the protester was one of its members. The protester, Henry Elgie, a 19-year-old student at Bowdoin College, told The New York Times that he had “zero coordination” with Jackson’s campaign and did not know him personally.
Jackson told CNN that he shakes hands with Collins after each debate but added, “what I’m not going to be is talked down to by Sen. Collins.” He continued, “I’m fighting for Mainers and I just think that was another situation where she was talking down to me and I’m not going to apologize for that.”
Collins, the longest-serving Republican woman in the Senate, told Fox News on Friday that she was “struck by how reflective the response, ‘Oh, shut up,’ was” and that the quick reply seemed “very telling.” She also referenced Jackson’s “reputation” in the Legislature, particularly when disagreeing with women.
Some state lawmakers have criticized Jackson’s temper, with one instance involving him throwing a water bottle during a disagreement with a female lawmaker. Jackson has previously acknowledged his temper, stating, “I wear my heart on my sleeve,” and has apologized for past confrontations.
When asked on CNN about Republican claims that his remark was another example of aggression toward women, Jackson cited millions of dollars spent by Republicans on “attacking me and my family, making untrue claims.” He stated that such claims do not surprise him.