Controversy Surrounds Maine Senate Candidate Graham Platner
A potential Democratic Senate candidate from Maine, Graham Platner, is under fire for derogatory remarks aimed at the military on a now-deleted Reddit account. Furthermore, additional posts have emerged where Platner discusses prostitution while serving overseas, and even defends infidelity among men in similar situations.
In two Reddit posts, one from 2019 regarding Thailand and another from 2012 about Latin America, he made references to prostitution. Additionally, he has been quoted defending men who cheat on their partners abroad, specifically in response to concerns about the exploitation of women in sex work.
“You don’t have much experience with Latin American prostitutes, do you?” Platner commented in 2012 to a user expressing worries about Colombian prostitutes being part of a significant sex trade.
Politically Charged Comments and Responses
Platner’s past comments have been scrutinized as he ramps up his campaign to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins. Among his more controversial statements were those labeling the U.S. military as “a bunch of fat, lazy trash” and disparaging individuals like Ted Daniels, a former Army infantryman and Purple Heart recipient. His archives reveal further offensive remarks aimed at rural white Americans, support for political violence, and sexually explicit content.
Interestingly, the same day he made his comment about “Latin American prostitutes,” he also posted defenses for men cheating with their lovers overseas. He reflected on a frequent sentiment in military culture: “If you can’t stay loyal to your wife, how can you stay loyal to your colleagues?” in response to an article regarding Secret Service agents using prostitutes.
In that context, Platner noted, “It’s a feeling only moral relativists who need something to cry about have, and intelligent people understand that they are not mutually exclusive.”
Ongoing Fallout
Much later, in another Reddit discussion, he linked to the implications of Afghan taxes. “You could sell yourself that you can avoid federal income taxes by spending your vacation in Thailand banging prostitutes instead of getting mad at your wife back home,” he wrote in 2019, likely alluding to a tax loophole for government contractors working overseas.
Despite the rough nature of his comments, it’s important to note that there’s no solid evidence that Platner ever employed sex workers. His remarks were often crude and exaggerated.
Platner’s comments resurfaced amid his heavy responsibility to challenge Senator Collins, drawing significant criticism. His campaign did not respond to queries for clarification. Meanwhile, Bernadette Breslin from the National Republican Senatorial Committee condemned his remarks as profoundly concerning to Maine voters, suggesting that Democrats are now distancing themselves from his controversies.
In a reflective note, Platner attributed his online behavior to the psychological impact of his combat experiences and remarked on how “vulgar humor” became embedded in his service life. He apologized for the past remarks, asserting, “I hope people judge me for the person I am today, not the stupidest thing I’ve ever written on the internet.”
