Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner (D-ME) is facing renewed scrutiny after a Politico report revealed that he once endorsed armed resistance in a series of now-deleted Reddit posts.
A former Marine and oyster farmer, Platner wrote in 2018 that “an armed working class is a requirement for economic justice” and added that anyone who “expect[s] to fight fascism without a good semi-automatic rifle” should “do some reading of history.”
Platner has confirmed authoring the posts but distanced himself from their tone and intent. “I was messing around online during a time when I felt lost and disillusioned with the government that sent me overseas to watch my friends die,” he told CNN. “I made dumb jokes and picked fights. But of course I’m not a socialist. I’m a small business owner, a Marine Corps veteran, and a retired shitposter.”
According to CNN, Platner was active in the r/SocialistRA subreddit and similar left-leaning communities roughly five years ago, using the handle “P-Hustle.” In those posts, he described police as “all bastards,” identified himself as a communist, and mocked rural white Americans as bigoted. He deleted the posts in August, shortly before launching his campaign, saying he wanted to “move away from a difficult period” in his life.
The New York Times portrayed Platner as a political newcomer focused on improving conditions for Maine’s workers, but the resurfaced comments have complicated that narrative. His campaign team includes Democratic strategist Morris Katz and senior aide Joe Calvello, both of whom have ties to high-profile progressive candidates and organizations.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who has endorsed Platner, downplayed the controversy, calling it an internal party struggle rather than a reflection of ideology. But critics point out Khanna has previously condemned similar rhetoric from Republicans, fueling accusations of a double standard.
Whether voters in Maine will overlook Platner’s online past remains uncertain, but the deleted posts have ensured that his earlier rhetoric will shadow his campaign deep into election season.
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More and more we the people see and hear how criminal the Democrats actually are.They are all hardcore Communists and Marxists far from Democratic
Not far from today’s Democrat mainstream, if at all. And certain crazy republicans.
“If being angry as a young man disqualifies you from running for office later as a Democrat, Dems will have basically no men running” And that explains why there are no real men running, only sissy men in that party.
Platner is not a “former Marine”; he’s a disgrace to the Marine Corps and as such is an ex-Marine, betraying his oath.