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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPlatner is fundraising by dissing Democrats
I live no where near Maine, but recently got this text from Platner, and this is the way it began:
Okay, I see primary fundraising texts often that bash their opponent and that's not surprising, but I rarely see one where they bash Democrats as a whole. Why not blame the Republicans who are doing this crap instead of Democrats who are quite limited in what they can accomplish at this moment in time? How does this help Democrats overall?
Not all that long ago we had two newly elected Democrats switch to Republican in my state, so I'm already feeling betrayed by what are apparently Republicans running as Democrats. This text from Platner just strikes me as wrong.
2naSalit
(103,287 posts)Another thing he has no clue about.
He seems to be be either explaining or complaining but never offering ideas about how to change things. I'd be a little more interested if he sounded a little more like AOC who comes to her constituents with ideas and solutions when they tell her what they want. He's not asking us what we want or need from him, he's telling us what he thinks and not much else. He sounds like a cross between sheehy of Montana and fetterman.
He gets the ((((GONG)))) from me.
Reason: Vertical learning curve, not helpful.
cachukis
(4,008 posts)everyonematters
(4,202 posts)Are you saying that you disagree with that? If not, this is more nit picking.
radical noodle
(10,635 posts)That seems pretty obvious.
sop
(18,880 posts)If I recall Democrats in the House voted to impeach Trump twice, and Senate Democrats voted overwhelmingly to remove him. I believe Platner's being disingenuous.
paleotn
(22,413 posts)Be specific.
Cha
(319,560 posts)opinion.
Dems are Winning and Overperforming All oveer the Country and Flipping red Seats to Blue.
Even in Red States.
Our Dems are Fighitng for us.. Planter is dead wrong.
sheshe2
(97,892 posts)In case you haven't been listening.
In some other year, Analilia Mejias 20-point win in New Jerseys 11th Congressional District might have been a stunning result.
But the progressive organizers romp on Thursday elicited little shock, despite the margin in a district former Vice President Kamala Harris had carried by just 8 points.
It is a warning sign for Republicans that has continued to flash across the country every few weeks. Consistent overperformances in special elections have been an indicator of midterm shifts in the past, and the trend over the last 15 months is particularly strong. In the two-year cycle of special elections heading into 2018, margins shifted to the left in about two-thirds of special elections, according to The Downballot. In November of that year, Democrats netted 40 seats.
snip
The overperformance across the country in special election after special election is a trend that cant be ignored and proof that the American people are souring on Republicans broken promises, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Aidan Johnson said in a statement.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/18/democrats-special-election-results-analysis-00879021
Thank you, Cha. They are winning every special election.
Cha
(319,560 posts)I posted this to MorbidButterflyTat in this thread...
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=21183728
It's So Riciculous that Planter is running on an Anti Dem message... Way to build a Coalition.
"..in case you haven't been listening.." ?
Ocelot II
(130,826 posts)radical noodle
(10,635 posts)after having so many disappoint.
paleotn
(22,413 posts)She's well known, well respected, and gave Trump the middle finger. Do you remember "I'll see you in court?"
Platner has issues. I'm not sold on whether he's genuine or not. Generally, I'm not a fan of populists. They spew a lot but much of that wilts when exposed to reality.
BComplex
(9,935 posts)nobody really knows him. I've watched all of his interviews that I could find on YouTube, but I still don't feel secure.
Having said that, I really don't think the 80-year-old governor that takes AIPAC money is who we're looking for, either.
I'm ready for a younger congress/senate, and especially a more progressive leadership structure in our party.
sheshe2
(97,892 posts)Democrats suck but not me. It strikes me as the wrong approach as well, rad.
I have seen part of his platform on his profile page at BSky. He doesn't say how he will help get us out of the mess that tsf and his maggot crew has gotten us in.
However, he said:
-He wants Medicare for all. ( not a bad thing but how is he going to do this...he does not explain.)
-Fire the SCOTUS and require term limits. ( great, though that isn't going to happen either, at least not in my lifetime)
Another thing about him @ BSky, he never once responds to anyone. Not once.
Cha
(319,560 posts)Understand That Dems need to Take BAck the House and the Senate.
Does Planter think he can do all the things he says he wants alone?
Well, he can't.
Thanks, she.
niyad
(133,086 posts)decent people on there? As for term limits? Does he mean for scotus, or everyone? If scotus, does he actually think a constitutional amendment will pass?
And then there are his disgusting comments about sexual assault victims. I would really love to know who the guy behind the curtain is.
sheshe2
(97,892 posts)No respect for women raped or gays assaulted sexually.
I don't like him and I sure as hell don't trust him. When you have to apologize every day for something new that has come to light about their past comments and actions then...I will take a pass.
mcar
(46,173 posts)This is a disaster waiting to happen.
BaronChocula
(4,629 posts)I got that text months ago and it was a major red flag. There's been enough revealed about him since that I totally forgot that text was the first thing that turned me off about him - until now.
MaineNative
(98 posts)stuck between a rock and a hard place. The Platner appeal to some stems from his brutal honesty. Hes sharpened his approach but he still makes a thoughtful person squirm. His comments about women, the skull and bones tat, etc., and it gnaws on some that hes from a monied family. On the other side weve got Governor Mills; capable but old.
I cant call this one, I am too cantankerous, lol. Primaries coming soon.
And of course right after posting this a found Hassan speaking with Platner. https://youtube.com/shorts/b13JCO_eeIk?si=AtschzOKQV3X_qpv
paleotn
(22,413 posts)Fiendish Thingy
(23,455 posts)Platner will be the Democratic nominee, and his haters must face that reality.
sheshe2
(97,892 posts)His past history has come into light as the news drips out. Every day he seems to have to come out and apologize for his past comments about women and rape, gay men and rape that he found hilarious. Read his Reddit posts, they are revolting. How could anyone forgive that?
mr715
(3,720 posts)sheshe2
(97,892 posts)I don't and we are making a huge mistake if he does win the nomination.
You and I know that Collins is primed and ready to let loose on him. If he gets the nomination I do believe we will lose.
mr715
(3,720 posts)His schtick does not inspire confidence but he is winning, which makes me feel a little bit uncomfortable.
He will destroy Susan Collins - I have no doubt about that.
ShazzieB
(22,708 posts)If I lived in Maine, I honestly don't know who I'd vote for in the primary. Mills is great, but she'd be taking office at the age of 79 and finishing the term at 85. Ar that point, I assume Maine Dems would then have to start all over again with a new candidate, because a second term would take her into her 90s. But the more I hear about Platner, the more problematic he sounds. What a conundrum. 🤔
sheshe2
(97,892 posts)Yup, "honesty" where he talks about the Senate and Congress made up of 'elites'. And Graham is just a regular working class, average, hardworking everyday Joe. Strange considering he attended private school (college prep school cost 12.5K a year) comes from a very wealthy family. He is not your average 'working man'.
Cha
(319,560 posts)"elite" talk from? It sounds so Buzz Wordy familiar.
Especially when he himself came from "priviege"
Why not just be honest? People are finding out anyway.. and it looks bad to misrepresent yourself.
sheshe2
(97,892 posts)plays so much better than I am a rich kid.
(Tourism at $95 a person appears to form a significant part of Platners business.)
Graham Platners takeover of an existing oyster business was actually funded by a $20,000 grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, a Greek billionaires nonprofit, and by his mother, Leslie Harlow, a local businesswoman who owns two restaurants and a gift shop in the area.
His best customer happens to be his mom, one description put it. The fact that I get to have a personal and business relationship with my mom, the fact that my mom has a restaurant that I get to sell my products at, its really quite wonderful, Graham Platner said in a video profile.
https://www.danielgreenfield.org/2025/09/how-rich-kid-politician-was-spun-as.html
Cha
(319,560 posts)portray yourself as working class when everything is handed to you.
Thanks for the research, she.
betsuni
(29,144 posts)So they pretend, go around calling themselves New Deal/FDR Democrats. All righty then, FDR was a working class democratic socialist and presidents Carter, Clinton, Obama, and Biden were all swanky rich powerful upper class elite establishment neoliberal-monsters.
JI7
(93,740 posts)What he said about blacks, gays etc was honest ?
I understand that is why people like him there and Maine is a largely white state without many non whites and Jews so thai helps .
But I guess it's a difference of views.
ABC123Easy
(327 posts)If he sticks to the narrative that Dems in Federal office currently aren't doing enough. To me that says he wants them to and plans to himself, fight harder.....I'm cool with it. I feel the same way honestly.
Just curious, are any of us on here pleased with the current level of effort from our federal democrat elected officials?
For me I'd say some of them, yes.....many of them, no.
Keepthesoulalive
(2,327 posts)Beware of false prophets. He has shown you who he is. There is something about him that I can put my finger on and oh its Democrats.
ABC123Easy
(327 posts)I don't follow your reply, sorry.
I will say that I am very suspicious of Platner and others like Sweyer in California. I'd hate to see another Sinema or Fetterman.
It was just that the message from the text that was in the post doesn't bother me too much.
Iggo
(49,973 posts)Youre right, Tats. Were not idiots.
AverageOldGuy
(3,995 posts)-- this idiot, and,
-- a 79-yr-old ex-governor?
NO wonder Collins was re-elected time and again.
dsc
(53,416 posts)Omaha Steve
(109,491 posts)biocube
(233 posts)A whole lot of people underestimate how Trump being hated by most of the political class is a selling point. Market yourself as anti-establishment. No reason to kiss up to Democratic leadership when they poll so unfavorability. Maine Democrats can decide who they want.
Fiendish Thingy
(23,455 posts)I dont think hes going to suddenly bolt for the Republican Party.
radical noodle
(10,635 posts)impeachment is done in the House, and there's no way in hell they could get 67 guilty votes in the senate so that's a pie-in-the-sky promise at best.
Fiendish Thingy
(23,455 posts)Impeachment starts in the house, but, as you know, it ends up in the senate.
My point is, hes not going to flip and become a republican.
radical noodle
(10,635 posts)that you can say anything if it isn't even possible in the long run.
Fiendish Thingy
(23,455 posts)Thankfully, the numbers of Dems calling for accountability for all the corrupt officials in all the branches of government is steadily growing.
MorbidButterflyTat
(4,622 posts)Cha
(319,560 posts)to Take a Majority of Dems in the House and the Senate.. and he's Texing around the Country that Dems aren't fighting for us.
Which is comlete Bull Shitt.
Not only that but Democrats are Winning All over the country. Flipping red Seats Blue, and Overerperforming.
Fiendish Thingy
(23,455 posts)He holds regular town halls that attract capacity crowds, and accepts unscripted questions from the audience.
If the concerns raised in these Platner-bashing threads are shared by Maine voters, I would hope they would use these frequent forums to get their concerns addressed.
MorbidButterflyTat
(4,622 posts)Medicare for all, impeaching SC justices, require term limits.... promises, promises.
How about unicorns, I think I'd like one.
Cha
(319,560 posts)It Also requires all the Dems in House and Senate who are there now and those running in November.
We need the Majority not just some candidate that says they're not "fighting for us" when they are.
So right.. "Talk is Cheap"..
This is real..
'A trend that can't be ignored': Dems have made up ground in nearly every election since Trump took office
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=21183667
Waywardpedestrian
(6 posts)So what? The majority of Democrats need to and must be called out for their actions. Or lack there of.
Cha
(319,560 posts)Not helping magas?
Dems need to Win the House and the Senate Back to Get anything Done.
And, if Dems think Dems aren't Fighting For us in Congress, why are Dems Winning now All Over the Country.. Flipping red Seats to Blue.. and Overperforming in red states and Districts.
niyad
(133,086 posts)How about the lack of action from the party actually IN power? His phony "woking man" schtick?
radical noodle
(10,635 posts)that they are not doing and CAN do?
Welcome to DU, btw.
niyad
(133,086 posts)radical noodle
(10,635 posts)Thanks, niyad.
niyad
(133,086 posts)sheshe2
(97,892 posts)So.
So what? The majority of Democrats need to and must be called out for their actions. Or lack there of..
So, in fact you are giving us permission to call out Platner for his past racist, sexist and homophobic posts!
Good to know, Waywardpedestrian!
Thank you for giving us 'permission' to call out all the wrongs of a Platner run!!!'
Hot dayum!
Oh, BTW....welcome to DU.
Cha
(319,560 posts)sheshe2
(97,892 posts)
Cha
(319,560 posts)Point that OUT!
JI7
(93,740 posts)How do you have a Nazi tattoo and say bigoted things about people and that should be excused but democrsts that are in minority because people like him voted for Collins are the problem ?
betsuni
(29,144 posts)Clever evil elites trying to pull the sheep over our eyes BUT THEY CANNOT!!!!!1
Um, the opposition party is the Republicans.
Cha
(319,560 posts)Maaho for letting him know who the opposition is... he seems to have forgotten along the way.