Maine state Democratic Sens. Colleen Lachowicz and Margaret Craven donned clown noses during a Department of Health and Human Services public hearing about the availability of beds for low-income citizens in nursing homes, according to the Maine GOP.
Maine Republicans were outraged that Maine citizens testifying were mocked and disrespected.
"It’s one thing not to agree on issues," said Maine GOP chairman Richard M. Cebra. "It’s entirely another to mock the citizens who come before the DHHS committee and the trust placed in you by the voters of your district."
Sen. Lachowicz is no stranger to controversy.
She came under fire in October 2012 for her World of Warcraft alter ego Santiaga.
Maine Republicans created a website highlighting Lachowicz’s online comments. ABC News reported:
It turns out that Santiaga has said some not-so-nice things about Republicans, including conservative tax icon and promoter of the "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" Grover Norquist. Santiaga commented that she "may have to go and hunt down Grover Norquist and drown him in my bath tub."
Republicans in the state maintain that their criticism of Lachowicz is not about the fact that she plays the game, rather it’s based on the comments made by her alter-ego.
"This is not about her playing video games, this is about the comments she made while gaming," David Sorenson, communications director for the Maine Republican party, told ABC News, referring to the comments about Norquist, as well as things said about other Republicans. "These are all things that are unbecoming to a state senator."