# Are there any reasons to reject Graham Platner in Maine (campaign suspended July 8, 2026) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179 "2026-03-04T03:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 62
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1223 "2026-06-11T22:49:28Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > 1. More shit will come out that will actually sink his candidacy, and the mummified Collins will win. I estimate the chance of more stuff coming out about this guy to be roughly 100% Yes, it will, mostly lies and half truths. But he is the candidate now, so he is what we have. Lets just not spread the lies. > [@Aeschines](#): > > He was coyly covering it up with a towel in his Kik profile (yeah, he was in the buff except for a towel When was that pic taken, and when did Plater get rid of it by covering it? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1224 "2026-06-11T22:49:51Z")
For a Senator, I just don’t really care. Maybe if he’s running against another Democrat who’s otherwise equal. But against a Republican? I definitely don’t care. And neither would anyone willing to vote for a Republican in today’s Republican party. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1225 "2026-06-11T22:51:57Z")
Not doing the repetitive back and forth. So sure. You can believe me or not but put an R over him and the same in every other way and I would be reacting the same way, other than hoping he’d lose. No double standard being applied. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1226 "2026-06-11T22:55:28Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, it will, mostly lies and half truths. But he is the candidate now, so he is what we have. Lets just not spread the lies. What has come out about him thus far that has turned out to be lies? He’s had to defend himself against undeniable evidence. I was referring to more _true_ things coming out. Of course the nazis are going to pile a bunch of shit on top of that, as that’s just how they work. > [@](#): > > When was that pic taken, and when did Plater get rid of it by covering it? Someone else who knows more will have to respond about this, but apparently he had the profile up until extremely recently. Oh, and Platner covered the tattoo up fairly recently as well. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1227 "2026-06-11T22:58:02Z")
I believe you. I just think that that’s not a great standard. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1228 "2026-06-11T23:06:20Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > What has come out about him thus far that has turned out to be lies? The accusations by the known republican operative, we can assume she is lying- or at least I can assume a known GOP operative is lying about a political opponent that is a clear danger to her party. But I was talking about future MAGA swiftboating. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1229 "2026-06-11T23:12:33Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Someone else who knows more will have to respond about this, but apparently he had the profile up until extremely recently. It was still up until the end of May, after the story had dropped. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1230 "2026-06-11T23:13:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The accusations by the known republican operative, we can assume she is lying- or at least I can assume a known GOP operative is lying about a political opponent that is a clear danger to her party. Then how was the NYT able to verify the existence of contemporary diary entries corroborating her story? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1231 "2026-06-11T23:14:04Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Then how was the NYT able to verify the existence of contemporary diary entries corroborating her story? Cite? This is the first time anyone has mentioned this. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1232 "2026-06-11T23:21:58Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Cite? It was in the original NYT article linked above, though I don’t seem to have the gift link I used to read it originally anymore. > [@DrDeth](#): > > This is the first time anyone has mentioned this. Well, I know for a fact that this isn’t true, because I mentioned it myself a couple of times in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1233 "2026-06-11T23:26:11Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > It was in the original NYT article linked above, though I don’t seem to have the gift link I used to read it originally anymore. Well, find it. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1234 "2026-06-11T23:26:40Z")
You’re welcome to scroll up to where it is posted. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1235 "2026-06-11T23:36:41Z")
I have access. No corroborating evidence in her diary of the event. This yes: > She referred to him in a diary entry in June 2016 as “the most toxic literally abusive man on earth who destroyed my life.” Not an endorsement of him or the relationship true … And explicitly > spoke with two of her friends who confirmed that the pair had an emotionally volatile relationship but could not corroborate the physical altercations or the most controversial comments she described As I’ve said before: I DO believe she is telling what she remembers happened 12 ish years ago as she remembers it, her truth. And that he is also honestly recalling that no such event. Strong emotions and time allow for such. Shit my wife and have had arguments and each _next day_ have very strong absolute certainties about who had said and did what. And we are married over four decades. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1236 "2026-06-11T23:53:09Z")
To be clear about a few things: 1. I hope he beats Collins no matter what. This is war against a Fascist Reich. We need to win. 2. I hope there is no “iceberg” and no further revelations. I hope he turns out to be an awesome guy who behaves well in the future. 3. If he turns out to have more skeletons in the closet, I hope they come out _after_ he wins, and I hope he just resigns so that the Democratic governor of Maine can appoint a Democratic senator. In short, I’m hoping for the best on this. This is separate from what I think of the guy right now, which I made clear, and what I think about how certain Liberals are defending him, which I’ve also made clear. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2026, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1237 "2026-06-11T23:59:27Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I believe you. I just think that that’s not a great standard. Which is fair. But the claim was a double standard - not just one that you personally think is not a great one. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1238 "2026-06-12T00:01:05Z")
I didn’t think that you had a double standard–just that a lot of Dems apparently do. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1239 "2026-06-12T02:47:28Z")
I am sure there are some who would be sincerely upset over an R candidate cheating on their spouse as a major reason to not vote for them. But honestly I don’t see all that much hay being made other than as schadenfreude and mocking hypocrisy. Few are upset that these unfaithful spouses are still getting votes despite their lack of fidelity; they are upset they are getting votes because of the hateful policies they promote and enable. I wouldn’t care an iota if Collins had affairs by the dozens and a very inappropriate tattoo from her twenties that she’s kept hidden. I care that she enables Trump and has help create a SCOTUS that is causing great harms. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1240 "2026-06-12T03:29:30Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > How many Doper’s saw Platner’s janky tattoo, and without being media influenced, immediately made the unmistakable connection with Nazi symbolism? A swastika absolutely. But that’s not what this is. Seriously? That’s the SS cap symbol. You don’t need to have studied World War Two, you need to be someone who had ever watched movies and television, anything from Schindler’s List to fucking Mitchell and Webb. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1241 "2026-06-12T06:48:38Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Oh, I didn’t know this well known Nazi symbol was a Nazi symbol!” That is NOT a “well known” Nazi symbol. I managed to make it past 60 without recognizing it. > [@RickJay](#): > > you need to be someone who had ever watched movies and television, anything from Schindler’s List to fucking Mitchell and Webb. I’ve watched Schindler’s list. It’s an obscure Nazi symbol. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1242 "2026-06-12T06:56:12Z")
Anyway, there’s a fundamental difference between choosing someone for a friend/partner and voting for a politician. In the first case, it’s up/down on that one person. Platner sounds like an asshole, despite his being smoking hot (and yes, that will help him politically). He sounds like a terrible boyfriend and i doubt I’d want him as a friend, either. But when you vote for a politician, it’s this guy OR that gal. You can’t just walk away, you get stick with one of them whatever you do. And that gal is actively participating is turning our country fascist. Platner is an unknown, and night be terrible. But Collins is certainly terrible. Anyway, it makes tons of sense to have minimum standards for a friend or lover. Your alternative is to not spend time with that person. Maybe you won’t find a husband. But you don’t have to be with that guy. It doesn’t really make sense to have a hard minimum standard for a politician, because the other could always be even worse. I didn’t vote for Bill Clinton when he ran for reelection, because there was credible evidence that he was a rapist. (And i don’t mean he took advantage of his intern, i mean the woman in the hotel room.) But i could afford to do that, because i lived in NY, and knew my vote didn’t matter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179.md?page=61) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179.md?page=63)