More unsavory news regarding Graham Platner
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221282415

As Nanjeanne notes in that other thread:

There's a difference between being a terrible boyfriend and an abusive one. 3 women have independently said he's the latter.

There are three people on the Dem primary ballot.
I believe voters can rank 3 candidates.
He can be ranked 3rd.

NT

Give it a rest. He's the Democratic candidate for Senator. If he's good enough for Bernie, he's good enough for me. We have the Epstein cabal ruining the entire government. I won't see whether the government is ever fixed because of my age. Stop screwing around as the shop teacher in South Park says.

Tell the freaking NY Times to give it a rest not me.

NT

Last edited Thu Jun 4, 2026, 10:22 PM - Edit history (1)

the June 9 primary.

He is a very flawed candidate - and man. We're supposed to ignore this:

I was always wary of Platner because he never ran for anything else and was running for U.S. Senator. As such, he was never vetted in the way a candidate recruited to run would have been.

But we are where we are.

And he is the presumptive nominee. And will likely be the nominee.

You can choose.

Is his a story of redemption and reform from a life in which he got a nazi tatoo and dealt with anger issues and alcohol abuse -- something that is a quintessentially American story.

Or is he someone you are so sure has not *really* reformed that you would vote for Collins, and thereby vote to keep control of the Senate in the hands of the Trumpublicans?

Are you so sure he is unredeemably screwed up that you would rather ensure the most dangerous man ever to have occupied the WH continued to be unchecked by a Trumpublican Senate than see him voted into the Senate?

Because THAT is the choice.

Running for senate qualifies as redemption now?

What transformation are you talking about??

As a couple, they say they did (and are doing) the work. That's enough for me.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/graham-platner-wife-amy-gertner-disclosed-extramarital-sexting-rcna347737

The "piling on" sure looks like what they did to Al Franken

New Yorker
The Case of Al Franken
Jane Mayer
July 22, 2019

For most members of the Senate who called for his head, that action was one they regret above all others.

https://web.archive.org/web/20190829044419/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/07/29/the-case-of-al-franken

And X GOP operative Rick Wilson

Link to tweet

I'd call the personal transformation he describes "redemption."

YMMV.

So I don't count this as redemption.

If you don't live in ME, how would you vote if you did?

If you won't (or wouldn't) vote for Platner, I pose the question again:

Are you so sure he is irredeemably screwed up that you would rather ensure the most dangerous man ever to have occupied the WH continued to be unchecked by a Trumpublican Senate than see him voted into the Senate?

Because I don't live there.

...sounds to me like he has "come through the other side."

This argument aside, if you had to choose, would you vote for Platner or Collins?

Or would you not vote (a default vote for Collins).

I didn't realize that's how it worked.

Now I have a couple questions for you.

Do you live in ME?

If so, do you plan to vote for Collins (or not vote, a default vote for Collins).

If you don't live in ME, how would you vote if you did?

If you won't (or wouldn't) vote for Platner, I pose the question from an earlier post again:

needed to change, and then described the work he had done to make amends for the past and what he's doing for the future. I suppose people can expect different things when it comes to the concept of a transformation though

And that was a person talking about a "dark time" or "dark period" that was presumably behind him.

VA disability, so maybe it’s PTSD ? Why so unstable.

Disclaimer: we’re very supportive of veterans. Just curious about his details.

One thing that pissed me off was hearing someone excuse his rape apologist posts as being a result of PTSD. In all my decades of counseling, and dealing with, PTSD vets, not one of them has ever said anything like that.

It's gross.

in general, seldom experience redemption.

YMMV

And over the years I've seen some of those people get sober. That kind of transformation is not all that rare.

you did not mention the rape apologists.

I have no idea what his condition was a decade ago when he posted the despicable comments. I have no idea what Reddit rabbit holes he had been traveling down.

One thing I KNOW is that people can radically change their view of the world on almost any dimension. Just look at David Brock. Look at people who have left violent extremist groups or cults and are helping others break free. There are countless examples. I don't have any X-rape apologist persons in mind, but transformation is absolutely possible.

Talking in generalities doesn't get far. What we have here is a person who is almost 100% guaranteed to be the Democratic nominee. And the choice of whether or not to support his candidacy.

Are you so sure he is so irredeemably screwed up that you would scuttle his candidacy and thereby vastly increase the possibility that the most dangerous man ever to have occupied the WH will continue to be unchecked by a Trumpublican Senate?

person.

Flawed candidate, flawed candidate, flawed candidate. I feel like repeating the words repeated over and over and over. Also, "baggage."

But guess who gets the benefit of the doubt! No mention of holding feet to the fire or earning one's vote or holding noses.

NT

Lamb. And, now I've read AOc has apologized to Lamb.

I bet you are too!

I know you weren't asking me but how can anyone be okay with this?

I know what my gut is telling me about a great many things in many areas these days. It has been known to be wrong on rare occasions, though.

smearing him.

for a group rather than just themselves?

smearing him!

out of the actual subject matter — just say “centrist.” There is not an answer to your questions other than “centrist.”

You know, his quintessentially American redemption story?

acknowledged after three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan he had big anger issues and alcohol problems and had a sexist bravado that was very unbecoming. He’s spoken many times about that openly. So no,of course they aren’t lying about that dark period.

That anyone with a Nazi tattoo won't get my vote, no matter what the reason.

He probably wouldn't want your vote anyways.

That you're definitely not worth replying to any longer.

Buffering.......buffering

I enjoy the thought of your buffering issues!

Glad I could help.

Tis a glorious day, indeed!

Lyndsey had a volatile relationship but mutual friend did say the behavior Lyndsey described seemed out of character for Platner.

Heavily drinking individuals are known for their good character.

Democrats need have a higher standard than this. I don't want to lower my standards this low.

As I've said many times, the very best people don't want to work for people who will turn on them, who hound them, who dox or threaten them. Amazing no one seems to get that. We all think we're in a buyer's market. No, we are not.

The people, I hate to say it, need to be accountable. Polite. Patriotic. Reasonable.

Passion is worthless.

You're amping up the attacks on a Democratic candidate who is trying to replace her.

How else should I read your post?

This is getting really annoying.

Shrill, sell-out that is Susan Collins.

The measured attacks against Dems and against progressives are getting more than annoying.