When Democrat Graham Platner entered the race to unseat incumbent Republican senator Susan Collins in August, he instantly clicked with Maine voters. An oyster farmer and ex-marine who seems to be the a part of a rugged Down-Easter, Platner’s model of left-wing populism, centered squarely on the state’s cost-of-living disaster, resonated broadly. Platner has raised a formidable $4-plus million, gotten reams of constructive press, drawn massive crowds throughout the state, and acquired endorsements from Bernie Sanders and a number of other progressive organizations. He has efficiently positioned himself because the rebel various towards the Democratic Institution’s choose to tackle Collins: Maine’s 77-year-old governor, Janet Mills, who lastly joined the race this week with the backing of nationwide figures reminiscent of Chuck Schumer.
A significant a part of Platner’s attraction is that he’s the alternative of a seasoned politician. However on condition that he was mainly unknown earlier than the summer time, it appeared inevitable that his lack of polish would include a number of downsides. So it was maybe not stunning when CNN’s investigative reporter Andrew Kaczynski — identified for exposing politicians’ unsavory pasts — printed an article that included a number of eye-opening web feedback made by Platner throughout his pre-politician days posting on Reddit, largely from 2020 and 2021. A few of the most notable:
In a single now-deleted Reddit remark from 2021, Platner responded to a thread about individuals turning into extra conservative as they age by saying: “I bought older and have become a communist.” The remark was made on a subreddit known as r/Antiwork, a far-left discussion board “for individuals who need to finish work.”
In a single deleted remark, in a thread a couple of Black military lieutenant who was held at gunpoint and pepper-sprayed by police throughout a visitors cease, one Reddit person wrote, “Bastards. Cops are bastards.” Platner replied, “All of them, in truth.”
In one other since-removed put up from 2020, Platner responded to a thread titled “White individuals aren’t as racist or silly as Trump thinks” by writing, “Residing in white rural America, I’m afraid to let you know they really are.”
Within the now-deleted posts, Platner additionally used the phrase “retarded” repeatedly to denigrate different commenters, together with different harsh language, as when he responded to a query about why Maine had voted towards an influence line that will join Massachusetts to Canada: “I’ve to ask, and I do imply that is essentially the most charitable of how, however are you retarded? We shouldn’t have the [sic] eat the ache since you cunts and Massachusetts couldn’t act like adults. Fuck off and die, go away Maine out of your capitalist fantasies.”
And Platner detailed the disillusionment he skilled after his navy service, sounding a pessimistic notice in regards to the U.S.: “My time in America’s imperial wars positively radicalized me additional,” he wrote, “and I’m considerably extra left right now than I used to be again then. It’s troublesome to see all that horror, in addition to all of the grift and corruption, and never discover the whole factor completely bankrupt. I did used to like America, or a minimum of the thought of it. Nowadays I’m fairly disgusted by all of it.”
In an interview with Kaczynski, Platner mentioned lots of his feedback had been broadly unrepresentative of his present views. “That was very a lot me fucking across the web,” he mentioned. “I don’t need individuals to see me for who I used to be in my worst web remark — and even, frankly, who I used to be in my finest web remark … I don’t suppose any of that’s indicative of who I’m right now, actually.”
“I’m not a communist. I’m not a socialist. I personal a small enterprise. I’m a Marine Corps veteran,” he continued.
Platner mentioned he’s nonetheless “very indignant nonetheless in regards to the wars I needed to combat in and what I had to participate in” — a view that’s unlikely to alienate many citizens — whereas sounding a brighter notice about America’s future: “I completely love the place that I reside, and I like the individuals round me,” he mentioned. “And I do truly consider firmly in the concept that we as People have lots in frequent and that we may be the factor that we need to be the factor that we declare to be.”
On Thursday night time, Politico printed its personal story about Platner’s web previous, this one specializing in his seeming endorsement of political violence. In feedback he produced from 2018, as a part of a sub-Reddit known as the Socialist Redditor Rifle Affiliation, Platner wrote that if individuals “count on to combat fascism with out a good semi-automatic rifle, they must do some studying of historical past.” And there was extra the place that got here from:
In a July 2018 put up on the identical subreddit, Platner mentioned that he “agreed” with a 1914 quote from former socialist presidential candidate Eugene V. Debs that employees ought to arm themselves except they’re “keen to be pressured into abject slavery.”
Platner cited Debs, who ran for president from jail, for example to counter the notion that the 2nd Modification solely gained salience within the Seventies.
“That’s why this poster and the Debs quote that follows above must be shared far and large. An armed working class is a requirement for financial justice,” Platner mentioned.
“As I informed CNN, I used to be fucking round on the web at a time after I felt misplaced and really disillusioned with our authorities who despatched me abroad to look at my associates die,” Platner informed Politico. “I made dumb jokes and picked fights. However in fact I’m not a socialist. I’m a small-business proprietor, a Marine Corps veteran, and a retired shitposter.”
Whether or not Platner can surmount any fallout from the posts could depend upon how properly he can incorporate them successfully into his regular-guy picture — and whether or not there may be extra from his previous to be uncovered, which looks like a good guess at this level. One good signal for him: Two of his backers within the Senate appeared unperturbed, a minimum of after the CNN report.
Both manner, that is undoubtedly excellent news for Mills, who faces main electability questions herself, primarily relating to her age. She has pledged to serve just one time period, but when Mills beats Platner and Collins, she could be the oldest freshman senator ever, at 78. Particularly after a presidential election outlined by a Democrat’s superior age, Mills might want to persuade voters each that she’s match to serve six years and that an Institution deeply disliked by rank-and-file voters can nonetheless be trusted to choose the fitting candidate towards the formidable Collins. Any extra doubts about Platner’s viability will assist.
