Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner recently stated that he does not plan to mourn the passing of former Vice President Dick Cheney, expressing his disappointment over Cheney’s role in the Iraq War.
“Typically, the death of a former vice president prompts some reflection and mourning. But as a veteran of the Iraq War, I’m going to skip that this time,” he remarked in a statement shared on the social platform X.
He continued, “In the days ahead, there will be countless articles analyzing his legacy. But the key point we must remember is that he squandered the lives of thousands of young Americans, many Iraqi lives, and trillions of dollars,” he stated.
Cheney was a significant figure in promoting the U.S. “war on terror” and was a key advocate for the invasion of Iraq following the September 11 attacks. In 2003, the Bush administration sent troops into Iraq, citing false intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction, a move that faced widespread criticism, including from some candidates in Maine’s Senate race.
Platner’s military experience, having served in the Marines and the Army National Guard, is both a strong point and a controversial aspect of his campaign.
Polling indicated that voters became less favorable toward Platner after it was revealed he had a tattoo resembling the Nazi Totenkopf while serving overseas. Additionally, his past remarks on Reddit, which included disparaging comments about service members who survived sexual assault, declaring himself a “communist,” and making negative statements about white rural Americans, have come under scrutiny.
Despite the backlash, Sen. Bernie Sanders has expressed support for Platner, labeling him the best candidate for working-class constituents. “He tells you he served four tours in the Army and was in intense combat. He was a machine gunner, facing very real dangers,” Sanders noted in an interview.
Sanders also mentioned, “He had a tough experience in combat, witnessed the loss of friends, and he openly acknowledges that he struggled with PTSD. He went to the VA, and thanks to their support, he managed to rebuild his life.”
Platner has accused Democrats of attempting to “ruin” his reputation by resurfacing previous missteps, but he remains dedicated to his campaign for the Democratic Senate nomination in Maine.
He leveraged Cheney’s death to emphasize the necessity of holding current Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) accountable, as she seeks a sixth term. “This situation underscores the need for a political system that holds politicians like Susan Collins accountable for supporting unlawful foreign wars like the Iraq War,” he said in a video update.
