Veterans are voicing their disapproval of Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate, after old remarks resurfaced where he called the Army “full of fat, lazy trash” and made fun of a soldier who had been shot multiple times in combat and received a Purple Heart.
Holland “Ricky” White, a Vietnam War veteran from the Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade, shared his thoughts with Fox News Digital, highlighting the toll his military service has taken on him: “congestive heart failure, bilateral hearing loss, COPD, sleep apnea, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, PTSD.” He pointed out how he understands ridicule well, having faced it both as a Vietnam veteran and as a black man. “I often wonder why I survived when my friends did not,” he said, underscoring the emotional weight of those memories. “That’s why comments like Graham’s are so offensive,” White added.
Platner, who is pushing to challenge Maine Senator Susan Collins in a highly watched Senate race, has relied on his military background to connect with voters. However, his past comments, especially those made on Reddit, have come back to haunt him. In one notably controversial post from 2019, he criticized a soldier who was wounded by the Taliban in 2012, suggesting he didn’t deserve to live due to “stupidity.” Platner remarked, “The only reason this mouth-breather was able to return home was because of the Taliban’s poor shooting skills.”
The soldier in question was Ted Daniels, a U.S. Army veteran who had been shot four times. Another veteran, Steve, a Purple Heart recipient himself, found Platner’s comments particularly distressing. “Mocking fellow Americans who have come under enemy fire shows a basic lack of understanding of brotherhood and selfless service,” he noted.
Platner’s critique of the Army also raised eyebrows. In a now-deleted post, he described the organization as “complete garbage,” stating it was “full of fat, lazy trash who don’t want to wear a uniform.” Bill Brown, a former Navy SEAL, voiced his outrage: “A senator who calls soldiers ‘trash’ shows he cannot be trusted to do the right thing.” Similarly, Kate Monroe, a Marine Corps veteran, emphasized that honor is about how one respects those who served alongside them, saying, “you clearly didn’t get respect.” Retired Army Sergeant John Rourke echoed that sentiment, calling Plattner’s comments a disgrace.
Responses from military personnel, including politicians, have been swift. Senator Joni Ernst, a veteran who has witnessed the toll of war, stated that mocking wounded service members is “absolutely despicable.” Senator Tom Cotton also weighed in, suggesting Platner’s words reflect poorly on him as a candidate.
Interestingly, requests for comment from some Democratic veterans serving in the Senate went unanswered, as did inquiries directed at Platner’s campaign. This raises questions about how he might navigate the fallout from these revelations.
In the end, Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Marine Corps veteran, succinctly put it: “This man failed the test.”
