Congressman Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) allegedly assaulted a reporter after being asked about his support for Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the Senate in Maine.
“Do you support Graham Platner in Maine?” an unnamed journalist inquired.
Moulton’s demeanor changed immediately, and he moved closer to the journalist, responding with an angry, “Who are you to ask such a question?”
The situation escalated, with Moulton making a sarcastic remark about needing to improve his phone skills. This likely followed after he slapped the phone out of the reporter’s hand.
What’s behind Moulton’s annoyance?
Let’s break it down…
To start, his party backs Graham Platner, a figure known for having a Nazi tattoo for 17 years. He has made disturbing remarks about women, marginalized communities, and has a troubling history, including mocking veterans.
Platner poses significant challenges for Democrats, leading to ongoing scrutiny about their support for him.
Moreover, Moulton feels frustrated by repeated setbacks in his political aspirations.
Although he has been a U.S. Representative since 2014, his presidential run in 2020 was a failure, and he now faces an uphill battle for a Senate seat against Ed Markey—a seasoned Democrat. Polling shows Markey leading Moulton by substantial margins.
Clearly, Moulton’s frustration has been heightened by the uncomfortable questions about Graham Platner.
In response to the incident, Moulton’s campaign stated, “It’s not surprising that Fox is reluctant to invite Seth back, but they seem comfortable with America Rising’s MAGA tracker harassing him at various events.” They emphasized that Moulton is always ready to confront MAGA forces and attributed any issues to the tracker’s poor handling of the situation.
Interestingly, this incident could potentially benefit Moulton in the upcoming primary, as Democratic voters seem to be reacting increasingly negatively to such situations.
Now, if this had been a Republican appearing to slap a phone from a journalist’s hand, there would likely be extensive coverage and outrage from major media outlets. It’s a double standard, but it seems to be the way things are right now.
