ME-SEN: DNC chair: Platner's resurfaced comments 'not disqualifying'

[RandySF]

Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin said Sunday that Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner’s resurfaced comments are not “disqualifying.”

“I don’t think they’re disqualifying, but certainly they’re not right. And I’m glad that he apologized for them. They’re indefensible, they’re hurtful and they’re offensive,” Martin told Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

Platner, a veteran and oyster farmer who is running a progressive campaign in the Pine Tree State, called himself a “communist,” called “all” police officers “bastards” and said rural White Americans “actually are” racist and stupid, according to a review of previously deleted Reddit posts conducted by CNN’s KFILE.

In 2013, Platner also minimized issues that service members face in reporting sexual assault and said those who are raped should “not get so f—ed up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to,” according to The Washington Post.



https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5562531-platner-resurfaced-comments-dnc-chair/

[dsc]

1. The Democratic Primary voters of Maine need to make this decision

I would have a hard time voting for him with some of that, if for no other reason, fear that even more might come up.

[SSJVegeta]

3. Same. And yes this type of speech should be disqualifying

Completely unacceptable for any public servant.

[dsc]

4. He wasn't a public servant when he said it

and it was over a decade ago. Those would work in his favor. But again, we have no idea if this is the last comments we will see.

[SSJVegeta]

5. He's trying to be a public servant is what I mean. Our standards should not accept this sort of behavior.

IMHO


I mean. Obviously the current standards we have are scraping below the rotten, corroded barrel, but maybe we should raise them a bit.

[RandySF]

6. He was between 28 and 33 for many of these comments. He was a grown-ass man.

[dsc]

8. Yeah it is problematic

I would have a hard time dismissing those comments.

[SSJVegeta]

2. Thats up to the voters Mr. DNC chair.

[Cha]

7. Yes, but it seemed Ken Martin

was speaking as far as the DNC Committee was concerned..

They're not condemning Planter.

I just learned this right now..

In 2013, Platner also minimized issues that service members face in reporting sexual assault and said those who are raped should “not get so f—ed up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to,” according to The Washington Post.

What?!

I'm For Gov Janet Mills.

[SSJVegeta]

10. There should be a zero tolerance policy on this sort of speech.

Especially now. I'm in complete agreement with you and supported platner before this news came out. It is unacceptable.

[Cha]

11. I agree.. it's kind of ironic ...

because Planter has been against so called "establishment" and they are giving him a pass on this.

I was never for him.. didn't like him from the get go.

[ananda]

9. Boy, they sure sound disqualifying to me.

Period

[Blue_Adept]

13. His whole campaign is about how he realized he was an idiot when he was younger

and actually changing because of it and figuring out a new way forward.

[ananda]

16. Well, people do deserve a chance to grow up.

I hope he means it.

[tritsofme]

12. Platner should do the right thing, and drop out.

[Bluetus]

14. Redemption and evolution

A person can learn from their mistakes and grow as a person. A person can't stop being old. Mills would be 84 at the end of a Senate term. That is too old, IMHO. It is too old for a person to learn that job. It is too old for Democrats to convince the 3 younger generations who can vote, that Democrats are not all fossils. Yes, only the voters of Maine can make this decision, but it affects all of us, so we should be allowed to voice concerns about this.

Regarding the statements, I am sure I have done worse, if you want to go back and look at everything I have ever said or written. I am not the person I was 15 years ago and certainly not 25 years ago. Plattner has plenty of 'splaining to do. But I agree that these statements should not automatically be disqualifying. If anything, they are helpful because it will cause the voters to take a very hard look to see if they believe Plattner has grown and learned sufficiently. If not, maybe they need to look for another candidate who isn't 80 years old.

[peggysue2]

15. Having sex with someone they don't mean to??

What the hell does that even mean?

Sorry, that comment sounds too much like a Hegseth quote.