Veteran Reacts to Candidate’s Controversial Comments

A Purple Heart veteran, Teddy Daniels, has expressed strong disapproval of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner following a video in which Platner did not apologize for his remarks. In fact, Daniels has stated he doesn’t want or need an apology. His perspective is rooted in respect—if he doesn’t feel respected, he’s less inclined to care about the comments made.

Daniels did not hold back, calling Platner a “self-proclaimed communist” and critiquing the difference between those who act in the face of danger and those who attack from behind a keyboard.

In June 2019, a now-deleted Reddit post, which Platner admitted was from his account, suggested that Daniels “didn’t deserve to live” after a video surfaced showing him being shot four times during a confrontation with Taliban fighters. This post has drawn significant criticism, particularly as Platner has refused to acknowledge its impact.

In a rather dismissive tone, Platner referred to Daniels in a derogatory manner, attributing Daniels’ survival to the Taliban’s supposed lack of skill. His deleted posts resurfaced recently, revealing content where he identified as a “communist” and a “socialist,” among other inflammatory remarks praising violent tactics.

Additionally, Platner has made disparaging comments about military personnel, including criticizing Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, suggesting that Kyle may have inflated his kill count by targeting civilians. Daniels believes such remarks stem from jealousy toward someone he sees as a far more honorable figure.

“If anyone deserves an apology,” Daniels said, “it’s the children and widow of Chris Kyle.” He argued that Platner should offer them a direct apology for his ungrounded insults.

While Platner has previously mentioned struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as an explanation for his social media behavior, Daniels remains skeptical. In his view, Platner is misusing his experience to evade accountability for his harmful words. Daniels, who has endured extensive surgery and recovery to manage his own PTSD, sees it differently, suggesting that genuine acknowledgment and accountability are essential.

Daniels remarked, “This behavior seems to be a consistent pattern for Platner, and it’s an insult to everyone truly affected by PTSD.” He underscored that using PTSD as a shield against responsibility is fundamentally flawed.

Defenders of Platner have characterized his controversial posts as mere “locker room talk” or an attempt to cope with hard experiences. Daniels, however, contested this notion. He pointed out that while rough conversations do occur in military settings, the gravity of Platner’s statements transcends casual banter.

Daniels firmly stated, “Platner wouldn’t know what real locker room talk is. What he has publicly displayed is just vile.” He expressed disappointment at the lack of sensitivity and responsibility in Platner’s commentary.

As for the ongoing situation, there has been no further comment from Platner’s camp.