Disgruntled plane passenger who tried to strike up a ‘thoughtful discussion’ with Republican senator Susan Collins while on the same flight only for her to brand him ‘rude’ vents his annoyance in a newspaper ad
- Erik Mercer, a Portland resident, shared his experience with Collins in a full-page ad in the Portland Press Herald
- Mercer explained that he was preparing to fly from D.C. to Portland when he noticed the embattled politician
- The Portland resident – who identifies as gay – added that Collins invited him to sit and was pleasant until he started asking questions
- ‘I asked if you believed soliciting foreign interference in our elections was a crime and you would not answer,’ Mercer said in the ad
- Mercer claimed that he even asked for Collins’ position on impeachment, adding that she would not comment
- The two parted ‘agreeing to disagree’ but Mercer asserts that Collins soon started speaking about him in a derogatory way
Erik Mercer, a Portland resident, shared his experience with Collins as they waited on a flight to Maine in a full-page ad in the Portland Press Herald
One of Republican Senator Susan Collins’ constituents took to his local newspaper to blast the politician after she branded him rude based off a conversation they had had while waiting on a plane to Maine.
Erik Mercer, a Portland resident, shared his experience with Collins in a full-page ad in the Portland Press Herald.
Mercer explained that he was preparing to fly from D.C. to Portland when he noticed the embattled politician in the boarding area and asked to sit with her.
The Portland resident – who identifies as gay – added that Collins invited him to sit with her and was keen to their conversation until the questions started being asked.
‘I asked if you believed soliciting foreign interference in our elections was a crime and you would not answer,’ Mercer said in the ad.
The father added that Collins would only lament over the ‘lack of civility in Washington’ when he harped on President’s Donald Trump’s discriminatory language used against minority groups.
The Portland resident – who identifies as gay – said Collins invited him to sit with her and was keen to their conversation until the questions started being asked
Mercer added that Collins would only lament over the ‘lack of civility in Washington’ when he harped on President’s Donald Trump’s discriminatory language used against minority groups
He continued: ‘I asked you about Brett Kavanaugh and you would not discuss it.’
Mercer claimed that he even asked for Collins’ position on impeachment, adding that she would not comment.
The ad states that the two parted ‘agreeing to disagree’ but Mercer asserts that Collins soon started speaking about him in a derogatory way.
‘But on the jet bridge, I heard you comment to someone that a constituent had just been very rude to you,’ he continued.
The ad states that the two parted ‘agreeing to disagree’ but Mercer asserts that Collins soon started speaking about him in a derogatory way
‘It was not my intention to be rude. It was my intention to have a thoughtful discussion across ideological lines.
‘It was my intention to do the work of a democracy, but you were unwilling to participate in that.’
Mercer and his partner, Sandro Sechi, were the subject of a documentary called ‘The Guys Next Door’ exploring their life as a gay couple
The ad concludes stating that people thanked Mercer for the conversation and both he and the others are waiting for Collins response to his questions.
Collins has been under intense fire after giving her support to Kavanaugh’s confirmation after allegations were presented against the judge.
Collins has at least two Democratic challengers: House Speaker Sara Gideon and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Betsy Sweet .
Gideon, who quickly received the backing of the national Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, touted her homegrown fundraising success.
Democratic activists incensed by the Kavanaugh vote already raised $4 million for whoever becomes the Democratic nominee, an online effort that brought in money from across the U.S.
Mercer and his partner, Sandro Sechi, were the subject of a documentary called ‘The Guys Next Door’ which looked at their relationship and Mercer’s college friend who was the surrogate for their two children.
The couple has since had two more children through the surrogate.