A Democratic candidate in search of to flip a Republican Senate seat in Maine is now underneath scrutiny for a collection of offensive on-line posts which have not too long ago surfaced. Whereas veteran Graham Platner has apologized and sought to elucidate the messages, he has vowed to remain within the race, dividing Democrats who noticed him as their greatest hope of successful a Senate seat in Maine.
Don’t ‘choose me on the dumbest factor I ever wrote on the web’
Platner, a navy veteran working as a Democrat to symbolize Maine as a U.S. senator, has apologized after varied media shops reported on offensive posts he made on the positioning Reddit between 2013 and 2021, which appear to approve of political violence, downplay sexual assault within the navy and extra. Platner, a veteran of the Military and the Marines, claims in a video posted on social media that the posts had been made throughout a interval after leaving the navy through which he “nonetheless had the crude humor, the darkish, darkish emotions, the offensive language that actually was a trademark of the infantry after I was in it.” Within the video, Platner apologizes for the posts, saying, “I’m sorry for this. Simply know that it’s not reflective in any respect of who I’m.” He provides, “I don’t need you to guage me on the dumbest factor I ever wrote on the web. I would like if individuals may choose me on the individual I’m at this time.”
The objectionable feedback made by Platner on Reddit lined a wide range of subjects. Platner appeared to endorse political violence in some exchanges. Responding to a different consumer’s publish about buying an AR-15, Platner wrote that the consumer ought to inform a skeptical roommate that “in the event that they count on to combat fascism and not using a good semi-automatic rifle, they must do some studying of historical past.” In a 2021 publish about police, Platner wrote, “Bastards. Cops are bastards. All of them, the truth is.” When one other Reddit consumer posted in 2020, “White individuals aren’t as racist or silly as Trump thinks,” Platner responded, “Dwelling in white rural America, I’m afraid to inform you they really are.” He additionally posted at one level, “I acquired older and have become a communist,” and wrote on one other event that he was “a vegetable-growing, psychedelics-taking, socialist as of late.” In different posts, Platner downplayed sexual assault allegations inside the navy, writing at one level that individuals ought to “take some accountability for themselves and never get so f**ked up they wind up having intercourse with somebody they don’t imply to?” Platner, referencing previous work as a bartender, requested at one level, “Why don’t Black individuals tip?”
Blended response from supporters
The controversy comes as Platner had been considered by many as one of the best likelihood for Democrats to unseat incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who has held her seat for almost 30 years. Outstanding Democratic figures comparable to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have supported Platner over Maine’s Democratic Gov. Janet Mills, who can be working for the Senate seat. Democratic Nationwide Committee Chair Ken Martin has continued to help Platner whereas criticizing his previous feedback. “I don’t assume they’re disqualifying, however actually they’re not proper,” Martin mentioned on CNN. “And I’m glad that he apologized for them. They’re indefensible, they’re hurtful and so they’re offensive.” Nonetheless, Platner’s political director, Genevieve McDonald, resigned from his marketing campaign over the Reddit posts. “Whereas I’m empathetic to Graham’s experiences and respect his private journey and progress, I can’t overlook the quantity and nature of his previous feedback, lots of which had been made as an grownup, not as a younger man,” McDonald wrote in a assertion explaining her choice.
New ‘Nazi’ tattoo controversy
At the same time as Platner makes an attempt to tone down the uproar over his posts, he has responded to a brand new controversy over a cranium and crossbones tattoo he has that resembles a logo utilized by Nazi police. Platner, whose marketing campaign posted a video of him dancing shirtless, claims he acquired the tattoo throughout a drunken outing with fellow officers. He claims he by no means knew that the image had Nazi hyperlinks till not too long ago, saying that his tattoos had been scrutinized by the navy and by no means raised any objections. Platner has pledged to have the tattoo eliminated. Platner’s former marketing campaign supervisor questioned the denial. “Perhaps he didn’t realize it when he acquired it, however he acquired it years in the past and he ought to have had it lined up as a result of he is aware of rattling effectively what it means,” McDonald posted on Fb. And a former affiliate claimed that Platner as soon as jokingly referred to the tattoo as “my Totenkopf,” referencing the German time period that the Nazis used for the image.
For now, Platner is making an attempt to elucidate his controversial statements and choices and climate the political fallout. As extra politicians take the warmth for offensive statements coming to mild, it stays to be seen whether or not or not Maine voters will settle for Platner’s explanations and select him to symbolize them within the U.S. Senate.
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