Why Democrats can and should ignore the Platner accusations

[maxrandb]

Last edited Fri Jun 5, 2026, 11:43 AM - Edit history (1)

After so many years of this stuff, it gets exhausting. I feel like we're a bunch of toddlers, constantly sticking forks in a live electrical socket, despite getting zapped over and over again.

I am not saying that "character doesn't matter", but it's a hill we choose to die on, again and again.

In a way, it's as simple as this: Dems have set the standard that "ANY" appearance of impropeiety is disqualifying, therefore, all Retrumplicans need to do is lodge an accusation.

It's as if we think we're electing choirboys, or someone I'd want to date my daughter. If that's what we think. FDR, JFK and Bill Clinton would like a word.

Our history is rife with great, exceptional and successful leaders that are flawed human beings in their personal lives.

I remember something that a great leader I worked for in the Navy said:

"What is important is that you do the right thing. We have all of these standards and regulations and expectations of your professional behavior, because blood has been spilled to write them. We didn't just think that your bootlaces need to be tucked in your boots when we put the anchor underfoot. We do that because, years ago, some Sailor got his laces tangled in the anchor chain as it dropped and was pulled through the hawspipe in pieces.

I don't care if you do the right thing because you have some moral code. I don't care if you do the right thing because you're looking for advancement and money. I don't care if you do the right thing to avoid shaming your family...I only care that you do the right thing!

Civil society only survives if the majority of mankind does the right thing, and it doesn't matter if they do so because of their own moral code, or out of selfishness, or the fear of becoming scorned and shamed by civil society.

That's the most disgusting and dangerous thing Donnie Dipshits reign of terror has done. Retrumplicans are done even "pretending" that character matters. It's fucking anything goes for them.

I don't know if there is any truth to the accusations about Platner...and neither do you, but I know a few things for a fact

- Democratic and Independent voters that elect him, WILL HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE.

- Retrumplicans and Independent voters that elect Susan Collins will NEVER hold her accountable.

- He won't support armed ICE goons or the National Guard decending on cities and polls in Maine.

- He won't be a rubberstamp for justices like Kavanaugh, Gorsuch and Barrett.

If we want to save civil society, we better start defeating Retrumplicans who don't give a rats-ass about doing the right thing.

If you truly want character to matter again, we must defeat Retrumplicans EVERYWHERE.

The best way to send the message that "character matters" is to send Susan Collins to the ash-heep of history, because pretending that character matters is just as important as character itself.

Retrumplicans are done even pretending, and that infects and impacts EVERY human encounter.

[leftstreet]

1. The Dems have ignored Maine for almost 30 yrs

30 yrs of Dem candidates that went absolutely nowhere

Then this populist-sounding guy comes along and packs rallies...everyone's hair is on fire

[Just_Vote_Dem]

2. Some people hate progressives with the fire of a burning sun

And I'll never understand why

[Ziggy Beans]

3. Unfortunately a lot of liberals will ignore this

Last edited Fri Jun 5, 2026, 12:10 PM - Edit history (1)

And their "concern" will only help the fascists

[Wicked Blue]

4. Al Franken

[mzmolly]

5. I'm not thrilled with what I've learned, and I don't live in Maine.

That said, all who run for office are human beings. We're all flawed. Platner is a product of society and one who has seemingly challenged himself to become a better person. I'm quite tired of the notion that Democrats have to be perfect and Republicans can be evil, phony and 'forgiven' for their so called sins.

Platner may be relatable to many who have worked hard on their personal issues, especially men. Further, he might inspire others to do so.

If I lived in Maine, I'd focus on his platform and revisit how he's conducted himself as a Senator when the next election rolls around.

[yellow dahlia]

7. Good points.

[PatSeg]

13. It's funny

It appears to be both the media and republicans who expect perfection from Democrats, but they look the other way whenever a republican does far, far worse. Now THIS is our primary problem.

I don't live in Maine, so I won't be voting for Platner. Right now I'm not sure what to believe, but if elected, I would hope that he would be a far better senator than Collins.

On the upside, if a lot of these attacks were orchestrated primarily by republican operatives, then they must see Platner as a serious threat.

[mzmolly]

18. I agree. I'm sure he's considered a threat.

In part, because the flaws he is working through are considered 'attributes' by MAGA and embraced as the stuff real men are made of.

[PatSeg]

19. That's a good point

I hadn't thought of that.

[yellow dahlia]

6. Well written, max.

You have identified the bottom line.

Some of us may have trepidations, but there is an end goal that matters.

Personally, I would rather my Congress critters were a little less rough around the edges...especially in the Senate. Personally, I like to see people dress the part - respect for the institution, respect for the job, respect for oneself. It is serious work. I think some of us have a little PTSD related to Fetterman. But I have a lot of PTSD related to Manchin and Sinema. Manchin dressed the part, and Sinema was playing her own drama game w/ attire.

Hopefully, Platner can set some goals for himself as a human being and husband, and stick to them. It would be nice not to brace for another scandal.

BUT! Thank you for reminding us of the bottom line.

[hay rick]

8. There are policy issues and character issues.

The stark policy differences would submerge "character issues" in any country without a oligarchy-complicit media establishment. If character is addressed, Collins complicity with a homicidal, authoritarian regime should outweigh Plattner's personal shortcomings.

[MineralMan]

9. Well, I know I'm not voting for Platner!

I don't live in Maine. I'm voting for Flanagan for Senate here in Minnesota, where I"m registered to vote.

[AZLD4Candidate]

10. I said this in another post about the timing and their playbook. All people here looked at was my misuse of the word

nominee, since I believed the primary already happened.

[Fil1957]

11. Platner's "transgressions" are pretty weak tea, especialy compared to Republicans. Susan Collins herself had an affair

with a married man (now her current husband) while his wife was dying of cancer.

That's much worse than a tattoo and text messages. Not to mention voting with Trump 97% of the time.

I understand and sympathize with Jake Auchincloss's position on Platner, but he's wrong. We can't give up the senate and possibly our democracy, because of a tattoo, no matter how deplorable and offensive that tattoo may be. Auchinloss doesn't seem to remember or know that one of the most effective senators in the history of his state and this country -- Ted Kennedy was responsible for the accidental drowning of a young woman, probably while drunk. Something much worse than a tattoo and text messages.

If we can't support a candidate who doesn't pass a strict purity test -- you can kiss our democracy goodbye!

[maxrandb]

17. I served 28.5 years in the Navy

Do you have any idea how many drunkass young Sailors went out and got a tattoo? The vast majority picked a tattoo because they thought it looked "cool". They had no idea what it might symbolize. Proof in point was one young male who got an Asian symbol that didn't quite mean what he thought it might.

?si=waN4KwwORjyzHGlA

Me and my brother were talking to each other
'Bout what makes a man a man
Was it brain or brawn, or the month you were born
We just couldn't understand

Our old man didn't like our appearance
He said that only women wear long hair

So me and my brother borrowed money from Mother
We knew what we had to do
We went downstairs, past the barber and gymnasium
And got our arms tattooed

Welcome to my life, tattoo
I'm a man now, thanks to you
I expect I'll regret you
But the skin graft man won't get you
You'll be there when I die
Tattoo

My dad beat me 'cause mine said "Mother"
But my mother naturally liked it and beat my brother
'Cause his tattoo was of a lady in the nude
And my mother thought that was extremely rude

Welcome to my life, tattoo
We've a long time together, me and you
I expect I'll regret you
But the skin graft man won't get you
You'll be there when I die
Tattoo

Now I'm older, I'm tattooed all over
My wife is tattooed too
A rooty-toot-toot, rooty-tooty-toot-toot
Rooty-toot-toot tattoo too

[wolfie001]

12. I'm sensing some PUMA energy here

Remember that horseshit? This is a seat we need.

[Ars Longa]

21. Yeah, I remember the 2016 PUMAs..........

My SIL was one…fun times!!!!! (Sarcasm)
This is reminisent.

[wolfie001]

24. ....

[Icanthinkformyself]

14. Apparently, one or two women

said they were uncomfortable with him and several others with whom he had relationships have said Platner was a good person. I believe the women. That said, I don't recall anyone accusing him of raping them when he was in his 40s and 50s and the victim was 12 to 15. I don't recall any of his accusers saying he raped them either in a store dressing room or anywhere else or otherwise sexually assaulted them. But, that will not stop the right wing corporate media from disparaging and slandering him with misinformation, lies and propaganda, with a heaping helping of shyt from the 'moderate' (read shythead conservative) Democrats. Establishment Dems are as bad as the Republicans. All addicted to billionaire donors like a heroin junkie.

[Uncle Joe]

15. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread maxrandb

[QueerDuck]

16. But not for the totenkopf tattoo and the implausible denials...

... I would have been more forgiving and skeptical about this. But, I have a finite source of goodwill and benefit of the doubt. I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

[MineralMan]

20. Well, unless we live in Maine, it doesn't really matter what we do.

It will be the voters in Maine who decide, thank goodness.

I'll be happy to have them make the decision, and will trust them to be fed up with Susan Collins, finally.

The rest of us can talk about it until we're blue in the face, but that won't make an ounce of difference.

[maxrandb]

22. I think it does make a difference

It made a difference in Minnesota with Al Franken.

It made a difference with Kamala Harris.

It almost made a difference 5 days before the recent Virginia AG election when some texts he sent in anger were dropped. Fortunately, he stayed in the race and won. His Retrumplican opponent, the incumbent AG was a straight-up fascist.

It also makes a difference because when it works, Retrumplicans are emboldened to do it again and again.

Look, I am a Democrat, because I believe in the underlying core values of the Democratic Party. I'll take a "flawed" candidate that will help govern under those core values over a Retrumplican fascist everyday.

[MineralMan]

23. In that sense, you're right.

It can mess things up, for sure.

[LAS14]

34. Didn't you start a thread on this subject a day or two ago?

If we used this standard for what's worthy of discussion, DU would shrivel and die.

[MineralMan]

35. Maine's primary election is Tuesday.

Get back to me on Wednesday. We'll know who the Democratic candidate is then.

If you're in Maine, go and vote on Tuesday. If you're not, wait and see.

[dsp3000]

25. To be honest all of this graham platner finger wagging reminds me of sydney sweeneys genes

Completely made up hysteria astroturfed by the media and republican operatives, in order to try to sow division among the democratic base

[Chasstev365]

26. Planter should have a very simple responses:

"What about Ken Paxton? Why don't you ask him about his personal controversies and criminal actions?" "I don't see the media doing that."

"What about Donald Trump? A jury of his peers convicted him of sexual assault, not to mention his paying off a pornstar while his wife was pregnant with their child?" " Did you hound him about these facts when he was running for President in 2016 or 2024?"

"Have you investigated Lyndsey Fifield ties to the Heritage Foundation and other arms of the GOP?" "Do your job as journalists."

[FBaggins]

27. Premature at best

He isn’t currently the nominee. I see no reason to hold my nose and vote for him anyway when the alternatives are other democrats.

[sop]

28. "A democracy that insists on perfection will eventually find itself represented only by people skilled at hiding

their flaws." - Daniel Barkhuff

[LisaL]

29. Well that hasn't happened in US, has it.

Considering who the president is.

[sop]

30. Your views about Platner's personal failings are quite clear.

[maxrandb]

31. Yes! And that's precisely what allows civil society to function and thrive

It's what allows an LGBTQ paramedic to provide lifesaving care to a homophobe.

It's what allows a racist firefighter to rescue a Jewish family.

It's why a banker doesn't steal money from the bank vault.

And on and on.

What you describe as "skilled at hiding their flaws" is actually "societal standards of acceptable behavior and norms".

Again, it matter not whether someone does the right thing because of their own moral code, or because societies values and norms demand it. Mankind is still compelled to do the right thing.

When society says the people no longer need to be "skilled at hiding their flaws", you end up with Donnie Dipshit, the current Retrumplican Party and the fucksticks that vote for them, in control of all the levers of power.

If we want to save civil society, Retrumplicans must be defeated EVERYWHERE.

Even...no...ESPECIALLY if it means voting for someone "skilled at hiding their flaws"

[LAS14]

32. Hear, hear!!!! nt

[dalton99a]

33. Democrats are in desperate need of fighters, not saints