claim: governor paul lepage said that the "worst possible thing" you can do for the homeless is to offer them food and shelter.
question: false: paul lepage quote on homeless people
origin: on or around 17 december 2015, a “gop fail ultimate edition” meme featuring the governor of maine, paul lepage, and a quote purportedly uttered by him started circulating around facebook:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  the worst possible thing to do for a homeless poor person is to offer them a free meal and warm bed; that will only encourage them to feel sorry for themselves and cry over their sad destiny. it would be more merciful to simply take a gun and put them out of their misery. if you’re really keen on helping poor people, which is something i am very sympathetic with, you’d be better off calling them names and insulting them…. as a way of motivating and forcing them to snap out of their feelings of worthlessness.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  the above-displayed quote was not published by a credible news publication, it was not uttered by lepage during an interview, nor was it featured in a press release from the governor’s office. the quote originated on 15 december 2015, when it was published in an article on newslo, a web site that uses a combination of fiction and factual information to create an odd brand of fake news:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  newslo is the first hybrid news/satire platform on the web. readers come to us for a unique brand of entertainment and information that is enhanced by features like our fact-button, which allows readers to find what is fact and what is satire.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  in this case, the “show facts” button revealed that lepage was recently criticized for the mismanagement of maine’s food stamp program. the quotes attributed to lepage in the newslo story, however, are purely fictional.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  we have big plans. we need your help.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  © 1995 - 2020 by snopes media group inc.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  this material may not be reproduced without permission.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  snopes and the snopes.com logo are registered service marks of snopes.com
comment: governor paul lepage did not say that the "worst possible thing" you can do for the homeless is to offer them food and shelter.
summary: a meme featuring the governor of maine, paul lepage, and a quote purportedly uttered by him started circulating around facebook. the quote originated on 15 december 2015, when it was published in an article on newslo, a web site that uses acombination of fiction and factual information to create an odd brand of fake news. in this case, the “show facts” button revealed that lepage was recently criticized for the mismanagement of maine’s food stamp program.