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[Chasstev365]

This message was self-deleted by its author (Chasstev365) on Sun May 31, 2026, 06:42 AM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[Pisces]

1. There were many red flags but we chose to ignore them.

[ananda]

41. Not all of us.

He had revealed himself way before the election.

[Skittles]

90. WE??

nope - some of us saw reality

[Pisces]

100. "We" The proverbial Democrats. We supported this guy ala Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

[Skittles]

110. yeah well, again....

not all of us

I cannot stand BS

[sheshe2]

126. !!!

[W_HAMILTON]

132. You can't blame the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad DNC for this guy.

Platner came in attacking """"the Democratic Establishment""" and his initial support was buoyed by those fighting that same (ridiculous) fight.

[betsuni]

145. Yes, he's supported by the Progressive Establishment.

[QueerDuck]

173. Who are, I hear, anti-establishment.

[dem4decades]

2. Wow, at least 5 stories on this in the first 20.

[JBTaurus83]

3. I didn't care for either candidate

But, I don’t give a shit about their personal life. We have a rapist as president, and a senator in Maine that supports rapists.

[-misanthroptimist]

33. Agreed

He's running for Senate, not sainthood.

[surfered]

4. Jeez!

It always comes out….

[niyad]

5. The latest reported problem is only one of many.

[mr715]

6. Ah yes, thanks Rawstory for providing, what is it? What exactly?

[mcar]

18. NYT and WSJ. You could read about it.

[mcar]

20. Whatever.

[mr715]

21. I went a little overboard.

[surfered]

58. Multiple news outlets. Google it.

[mr715]

61. My reflex is to make fun of rawstory

because they make money on doing what I end up having to do anyway.

In this case, apparently the wife is reporting proactively that text might be a problem in the future tense. And that they attended counseling and that their "marriage is stronger than ever".

Like, if I were prone to a certain sort of conspiratorial thinking (wink wink), I'd say there are no texts at all and he is a articulating perhaps the best media-driven narrative possible.

I'm partially joking. It sucks if he cheated on his wife. But I don't really care because neither his wife nor he are my friend. He is indicating he will take a hatchet to billionaires. I'd like that.

[surfered]

65. I understand. In this case, it's not just Raw Story . It's everybody

And it shows poor judgment on his part. That many different women and he didn’t think it would come out? As a candidate, his decision affect us. He was 7 points up on Collins before this news broke. I now expect the worst.

[W_HAMILTON]

135. What's that Rachel Maddow saying?

"Watch what they do, not what they say."

Everyone liked what Fetterman was once saying as well, but nowadays the only people liking what he is doing (and now, only now, also saying) are those on the rightwing.

[mr715]

136. I prefer John Fetterman to Susan Collins

[W_HAMILTON]

143. And I'd prefer a strong Democrat with a proven track record who we can reliably count on over all 3.

[mr715]

146. People in hell want ice water.

Or, alternative, these purity tests again?

[W_HAMILTON]

149. Is that what you call voting for a strong Democrat that has actually walked the walk and not just talked the talk?

If wanting someone that we can trust to uphold and further pursue Democratic values is a purity test, it's one that we all should be administering to every candidate wanting our nomination.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

155. David Costello is on the ballot for the June 9th primary.

He's got experience and no Nazi tats.

Platner's wasted more than enough time sucking the oxygen out of the Democratic party.

[Nanjeanne]

7. Im glad his wife and he did the work they needed to do to keep their marriage strong.

And unless his messages were with underage women or vulnerable women he was using some influence of power with — this is going to smack of desperation looking for a story.

[mr715]

8. For the record, as a Graham Platner skeptic

Anyone on this thread giving this oxygen is supporting Susan Collins.

[DaBronx]

104. What happened to freedom of expression

Truth be told he is a poor candidate who continues to damage the party.

[mr715]

108. The primary is soon.

After the primary, the choice is binary.

[mr715]

9. And here's some more:

Why couldn't Governor Mills find this oppo with the full force of Schumer and Gillibrand?


The reason is because this is oppo from the Collins campaign and we, as Democrats should know better.


If he has sex tapes, I hope he and has wife enjoy them. I care not the least little bit about his personal life because he is saying the right mouth words and his opponent, Susan Collins, can't even form a sentence.

It is concerning that I am this concerned by this post.

I apologize for 3 direct replies to the same post.

[Cirsium]

23. but Raw Story!

And WSJ!

[mr715]

24. But Susan Collins!

[surfered]

10. Here's another difference between Democrats and Republicans: Republicans wouldn't care.

Including the “family values” voters.

[Chasstev365]

12. But the corporate media will make this an issue!

They let an adjudicated rapist off the hook, but mark my words, they will make this an issue to help Collins. The Nazi tattoo doesn't help either.

At the same, they will gloss over Ken Paxton's infidelity.

[surfered]

16. Just to be clear, I did not mean we shouldn't care.

[mr715]

43. Sorry to butt in

But we shouldn't care, either. Politicians are vehicles for policy and we shouldn't look to them for moral clarity. They are as a consequence of power, history, and law by nature compromised. As such, all our candidates are at best complex and at worst compromised.

Where it matter is the words they say and the deliverables they achieve. In this contest, it is between Graham Platner who is saying some seriously solid mouth words, and Susan Collins who is made of jello.

As a matter of political tactics, I think it is fascinating that his sex life is coming up, considering his opponent who I believed is the uncontested sexiest member of Congress.

[surfered]

51. It demonstrates poor judgement. Not only on moral grounds, but expecting so many instances of it not to eventually come

Out. He ended up giving ammunition to his enemy. And we will end up being the worst for it…losing a seat in the Senate.

[mr715]

54. I mean, what the hell do we know?

Maybe Maine voters what a candidate that has had sex in the last 30 years.

[surfered]

56. 😁🙏

[oberle]

175. When Trump was running the first time

the Republicans said the same thing: they didn't care that he was sleazy and had done and said all kinds of horrible things. They wanted him because he was a Republican. Are the Democrats going to sink to that level and not care what kind of sleazy things Platner has done all because he's a Democrat?

[whathehell]

47. I don't know..

it seems there's some Democrats here who don't care much either.

[surfered]

68. I know, too. We wanted so much to control the senate

[whathehell]

86. Yes, and we may still do that

and I certainly hope we do!

My point isn't that Planter should end his campaign. As some others have noted, this couple has apparently worked it out, and it is something that's essentially between them.

Having said that, I just get a bit tired of people acting like cheating on a spouse "means nothing" in terms of character or eligibility, especially in the case of a candidate whose past has already come under some scrutiny.

That's all folks.

[surfered]

87. 👍

[whathehell]

89. You betcha!

[Igel]

123. Consider Abbot in TX.

Yes, he won the primary by a wide margin.

But a lot of (R) consider him scum and either voted Cornyn or just sat out the run-off.

That is, some (R) care.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. Bring back Governor Mils

[mr715]

13. She had her opportunity to do opposition research.

She doesn't want the job.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

98. Seriously?

The Nazi tattoo, his use of the word ret*rd, and this charming comment:

"...people concerned about rape should 'take some responsibility for themselves and not get so f—-ked up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to.'”

wasn't enough to sink this guy? And it's Janet Mills' fault??

[mr715]

102. Nope, not enough.

He's running and winning and she suspended her campaign when polls showed her 30-40% behind.

[betsuni]

114. Has to be somebody else's fault. Panic as conspiracy is cobbled together.

Mills' (Old! AIPAC!), Corporate Dems (corrupt campaign contributions! AIPAC!), diabolical centrist establishment rigging cabal establishment, Bigfoot (AIPAC!) ... no purity tests allowed (that's for the enemy, the Democratic Party).

Holding feet to the fire, earn my vote, lesser of two evils, vote my conscience -- we won't be seeing these kinds of moral outcries.

[Intractable]

170. Useless comment. It's Platner or Collins.

AIPAC = more war

Fuck AIPAC and those who support it.

[MichMan]

142. Don't forget "Black people don't tip"

Another one of his statements

[MorbidButterflyTat]

156. I had forgotten it

Thanks for reminding me, even though it makes me sick.

[Mark.b2]

52. Not being a Mainer, I don't know the story behind her not being the heir to this seat...

I trust Maine Democrats have a reason.

[sheshe2]

129. She is still on the primary ballot. nt

[aeromanKC]

14. Just makes me despise senator Collins even more!!

Fuck her and her faux concerns!!

[sop]

15. Who made this public, an aide working for Platner's campaign doing oppo research on their own candidate?

(Raw Story) "Platner's wife, Amy Gertner, told his Senate campaign about the texts with several different women, insider sources told the WSJ. Gertner discovered the texts in spring 2025, and in August, she told an aide whom she considered a friend, while the campaign was doing opposition research on Platner, the WSJ reported."

[MorbidButterflyTat]

82. I wonder if that Platner aide

his wife considered a "friend" has a closet full of MAGAt hats.

[Cha]

138. That was my question on an earlier

thread. Who leaked this information?

It was Platner's wife telling it to an Oppo research aide. So how did it get out there to the NYT?

[mcar]

17. Many of us have been warning about him. nt

[MorbidButterflyTat]

94. Of course!

Throw out a competent, successful woman governor for a younger white male with at least half a dozen red flags blazing, and shockingly, there's more! Who could've guessed that!

[JustAnotherGen]

105. He's going to be another Fetterman

I'm calling it now.

[Emile]

169. That should make centrists happy.

[gulliver]

22. The midterm results will be positive either way

We'll either make gains or we'll learn who to run (or not) in 2028.

[JBTaurus83]

25. We don't have that type of time

He’s the official nominee, so we need to make sure he wins in one of this nation’s most important elections. I see certain Democrats can be bashed here though while others cannot. I saw a Dem “strategist” go right on to Fox News and claim it would be fine for Susan Collins to win.

She should tell that to women all over the country who lost the rights to their own bodies. That is directly due to Susan Collins and Dump. It always amazes me that democrats will tear each other apart first, even when we have actual Nazis running the country.

[gulliver]

29. If it gets too obvious he's going to lose...

...it would be his duty to the party to step aside and endorse a write-in for Mills, imo. I don't know if we're there yet. That would be a desperation move. I'm waiting for our elected leaders to weigh in, frankly.

[mr715]

31. He's ahead by 9 points.

[JBTaurus83]

40. If something like that were to come out

I would fully agree. We need that seat. So far, he seems to be ahead of Collins.

[lapucelle]

95. He is not the official nominee. The ME primary election is June 9. N/T

[sheshe2]

130. Which Democratic strategist was that?

Name please, I do not watch Fox news.

[mr715]

26. No -- We only win the Senate with Graham Platner.

Don't pretend otherwise.

Don't equivocate.

THIS is the race that will be the harbinger of the night. So those among us that pearl clutch at his orgasmic practices are only helping Susan Collins and therefore control of the Senate.

Purity tests my somewhat-digusted-but-resigned-for-and-yet-enthustiatic-support of Graham Platner ass.

[JBTaurus83]

27. Correct

If we come down to 51-50, what do people think Fetterman is likely to do?

[mr715]

28. If Graham Platner is losing in Maine

Dan Osborne isn't winning in Nebraska.

[gulliver]

32. Let's see if there's unrecoverable damage

There's no rule that Dems can't react real time to reality.

[mr715]

34. To the reality of winning?

He is ahead by 9 points.

Susan Collins looks like an undead muppet.

It seems to me that you are suggesting the Democratic party use the above information to seize defeat from the jaws of victory.


Graham Platner is beating Susan Collins. He is saying the correct mouth words. He is running a campaign strong enough to outperform national Democrats in a season when Democrats are already outperforming.

He is running a campaign so good that Susan Collins had to acknowledge her fucking tremor.

What are you talking about!?

[SSJVegeta]

30. Could be worse

He could have voted to end abortion rights for millions of Americans and protected a belligerent president for years while helping forfeit the role of congress from oversight roles entirely.

[MustLoveBeagles]

103. I was a Mills supporter but that's water under the bridge

Platner is our nominee for better or worse. We need every seat we can get.

[SSJVegeta]

144. Truth is, nobody's perfect.

But Platner is far closer to it than Collins will ever be.

[MustLoveBeagles]

150. This is true

I still hate his past comments about rape victims though

[SSJVegeta]

159. And his nazi tattoo and his inappropriate texts, and his comments supporting violence in politics

And his use of the R word.

Yet none of that together remotely comes close to how bad Collins is because... thats just where we are as a country

[oasis]

35. Bottom line, Trump has to be put in check. Too

late to find an ideal candidate.

[MustLoveBeagles]

106. This

[fujiyamasan]

36. Meh

I wasn’t his biggest fan, but right now the only thing that matters is beating Collins.

There were issues with both candidates in my opinion. Going with Mills would have posed its own problems. She was a great candidate on paper, but I think there should have been alternatives to Platner, who was barely vetted, and Mills who is close to 80 years old. There’s also a lot of anti establishment vibes, and rightly or wrongly Mills is viewed as the establishment pick, especially since she was Schumer’s chosen candidate.

[B.See]

37. again...

Lesser of two evils.

When he starts promoting cutting food and health aid for children worldwide,

kicking millions off of snap and Medicaid,

killing Black jobs and silencing minority representation via gerrymandering and voter suppression,

locking women and children up in concentration camps under some bullshit 'worst of the worst' LIE,

tanking the economy, killing off environmental and consumer protections,

sabotaging the function of government via the installation of A PUPPET AUTOCRACY,

ending birthright citizenship,

'taking over elections,

partnering with authoritarian dictators to engage in war (i.e. LAND GRABS),

WHILE pocketing BILLIONS of profit on the taxpayer's dime,

(and that's not nearly the HALF of it)...

then CALL me.

[chelsea0011]

38. Another anti Planter post

I’m a Mainer and beating Susan Collins is all that matters. Platner is a multi tour veteran who came home and posted crap. So what? Collins supports Trump almost all the time. You choose.

[MustLoveBeagles]

107. Correct

Time to support ALL Democratic nominees. I as an Illinoisan , preferred Mills but as an out of stater I had no say. Mainers have made their choice. Platner now needs our support. Hold your nose if you have to. We need every seat we can get.

[mzmolly]

39. "We did the hard work that marriage requires...."

"We did the hard work that marriage requires. We went to counseling. We were honest with each other in ways that weren't easy," Gertner said in a statement provided to the WSJ by Platner's campaign. "Our marriage today is stronger than ever before."

Not my business, unless laws were broken. Doesn't sound like they were.

That said, he's not a Presidential candidate or I might think differently about his character and vulnerabilities. We're in the Trump era where pedophiles are being actively protected by the Republican Party. There is no comparison.

[mr715]

45. I need you to know MzMolly, I really like you and your opinions.

[WSHazel]

42. Don't count on Mills for having done any oppo research

She didn't want to run for this seat, and was happy to drop out. Schumer basically guilted her into doing it, which was a huge mistake. She barely ran a campaign at all.

[sop]

44. Talarico and Platner should switch races.

Platner's online philandering would pale in comparison to Paxton's sleaze, and Talarico's christian beliefs would make Collins look downright immoral.

[mr715]

46. Switch wives. Make it a reality TV show.

I'm sorry, it is a bad and unfunny joke but it immediately popped into my head and I just felt compelled to pitch it.

[delisen]

48. I don't waste time on candidates who lie or hide facts to get nominated.

So I don’t worry about Senator Fetterman or a possible future Senator Platner.

I do not have big money resources but I do volunteer my time and my voice to persuade others to vote for Ossoff and candidates who share my values

I figure Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders can continue working for Platner and persuading Maine voters.

[mr715]

50. Ossoff is a dynamo

I remember him debating the empty podium, and doing it in a compelling way.

He is another eventual President.

[yorkster]

124. On that we agree.

[DFW]

160. I'd love to see that, but Jon isn't thinking anywhere near that

He is in the fight of his life to get re-elected, and he is spending every waking minute on that. We keep in regular touch. He is one of my favorite Senators, and, even though I only know a few them, is, I am convinced, the sharpest intellect of that body.

[mr715]

162. He's going to walk away with it.

GA has two firebrand Senators.

Ossoff will have his time to run. I'm not in any rush

[DFW]

174. He will NOT have an easy race, and he knows it

There are two Senate races the Republicans will pour a hundred million each into, and cheat if it’s at all close, and they are Texas and Georgia. Texas because as much as they hate Paxton, they can’t afford to lose the seat, and Georgia because they desperately want those Senate seats back. Jon, more so than Warnock, is their worst nightmare for a southern state: young, attractive, personable, incredibly intelligent, and a “libbrul” Democrat. Neither side has any illusions about their chances. It’ll be a slugfest. Never mind that Jon has done an admirable job. Cornyn did an admirable job, too (from a Republican point of view), but they still chopped him at the knees.

Our one not-so-secret ace up our sleeve is that the Georgia Republicans haven’t yet come with a charismatic opponent yet, and the clock is ticking. Whoever it is will rely on an updated version of their 1950s tactic of seeing who could yell the “n” word loudest. When that fell out of style, the word turned into “kommanist.” These days, they yell “libbrul” instead, but it’s just a new version of their old strategy. They’ll have to suppress their instincts to yell “Jew!” because a modest number of Jews have moved to Georgia from other parts of the country. Not huge, but they vote, While Jon can’t count on their votes automatically, if the Republicans start in with racial slurs, they will certainly push Georgia’s undecided Jews in Jon’s direction in a race where every vote will count.

[demmiblue]

49. We shouldn't accept the claim that Platner was "sexting" anyone without seeing the texts. He's controversial...

We shouldn’t accept the claim that Platner was “sexting” anyone without seeing the texts. He’s controversial, there are a lot of attempts to sink him, and it’s perfectly possible the texts were just innocent discussions of securing the existence of our people and a future for white children.

We shouldn’t accept the claim that Platner was “sexting” anyone without seeing the texts. He’s controversial, there are a lot of attempts to sink him, and it’s perfectly possible the texts were just innocent discussions of securing the existence of our people and a future for white children.

— The Popehat Fits Fine (@kenwhite.bsky.social) 2026-05-30T22:17:19.507Z

[mr715]

53. You are accusing a Democrat of being a white nationalist.

I am not alerting this post because I don't know if you posted this in error or not.

[Quiet Em]

59. It's humor and it's funny

It's making fun of his most vocal defenders, white guys, who will say or do anything to defend him.

Like this one

Platner could’ve sexted my mom and I’d still vote for him

— Secular Talk (@kylekulinskishow.bsky.social) 2026-05-30T20:57:38.424Z

I mean, .... way past ridiculous at this point

[mr715]

62. I guess

My mom does need to get out more.

[karynnj]

55. No fan of Platner, but could he do a Bill Clinton 1992 primary talk

like the 60 minutes where he spoke of causing pain in his marriage. I have not read enough to know what he said or did, but was it worse than Clinton and Flowers and Jones?

In some ways, there could be similarities. Like Hillary, his wife is standing behind him. Also they apparently worked to keep their marriage together. Also, the Republican is a generation older person who at that point was uninspiring.

Like others, I wish he would have been eliminated by all the things that already came out. However, the fact that he over that time became more popular, suggests he might in some ways be like Clinton. Clinton was able to make people forgive him.

The primary is June 9th, which seems to late to switch to anyone else. Mills might be the only option and it is not clear she could win the primary.

[mr715]

57. Who cares about his sex life?

Donald Trump is President.

Jeffrey Epstein is on the ballot.

[karynnj]

63. We don't know yet if voters in Maine care, this just came out

As Platner seems to be charismatic and Maimers did not hold all the other stuff against him, I was suggesting that as he will likely be our candidate, that the Clinton example could work.

Not to mention, if Trump becomes sufficiently unpopular in Maine, it is possible ANY Democrat will win as they vote to try to keep Trump accountable.

[mr715]

64. If you are comparing Clinton to Platner

there is a lot of very interesting things to unpack, and I'd love to hear more.

[karynnj]

66. Do you remember the 1992 primaries?

Do you remember that Hillary and Bill Clinton went on 60 minutes because revelations of his relation with Gennifer Flowers were threatening his rise in the primaries. Hillary was incredible pointing out she was not just standing by her man.

I don't know how to compare the flaws or the good qualities of the two men. It is also true that culture of 1992 is not the culture of 2026. Not to mention that knowing nothing of his wife, Hillary was exceptional and likely pulled him out of this trouble.

[mr715]

67. I was pretty young.

I was in 4th grade, so my political awareness was not very nuanced.

It did start my lifelong desire to see Sec. Clinton become President.

[karynnj]

69. I hate to admit I was already 42.

My oldest was a couple of years younger and was very proud that she pulled the lever when we went to vote.

[mr715]

70. So you are around my parents age...

My dad liked vacillated between Brown and Clinton but was a truly rapid Clinton lover. Particularly of his intelligence and rhetorical ability.

Bill Clinton is another very interest contrast with Barack Obama, who was equally intelligent and rhetorically masterful, but applied this differently.

[karynnj]

72. I liked Brown, Tsongus and Harkin

I was concerned about environmental issues as his Arkansas record was not good. I was impressed by both Clintons' intelligence.

I was blown away by Obama.

[Skittles]

91. is that the bar we want to set?

[mr715]

92. Respectfully, it is a low bar.

But we didn't set it.

[Skittles]

111. we don't have to lower ourselves to it either

no INDEED

we need to do BETTER

[walkingman]

60. I prefer to leave Maine elections to voters in Maine. I would love to hear the thoughts of Mainers.

[AZProgressive]

71. I was always told to Vote Blue No Matter Who

Even if I wasn't a big fan I would still support the nominee even after my preferred candidate lost the primary.

As far as Platner he is great on policy but there are red flags in his background. I believe he has made mistakes he apologized for which is something that Trump would never do.

[Sewa]

73. But David Costello, a 65-year-old Brunswick Democrat

Long-shot Senate hopeful tells Maine Democrats Graham Platner isn’t their only option

But David Costello, a 65-year-old Brunswick Democrat who has experience in federal, state and local government, continues to make the case to voters ahead of the June 9 primary that he’s the best one to take on Republican Sen. Susan Collins in the fall.

https://www.pressherald.com/2026/05/21/longshot-senate-hopeful-tells-maine-democrats-graham-platner-isnt-their-only-option/

[AloeVera]

74. Why leak this now? Who benefits?

Fom the NYT article:

In a statement released by the campaign, [Platner's wife] Ms. Gertner suggested that she had been betrayed by Ms. McDonald, saying she was “deeply hurt” and bothered by “the invasion of our privacy.”

“I confided deeply personal details about my marriage to someone I considered a friend,” she said. “I trusted this person with the most private chapter of our lives — the early days of our marriage before any campaign was on our mind.”

Unlocked:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/30/us/politics/graham-platner-maine-senate-texts.html?unlocked_article_code=1.mVA.N7oK.801gKbSUrwkY&smid=url-share

Are we falling into a trap here? Made too easy by a propensity to eat your own and the (apparently selective) donning of puritan robes in the ultimate "purity test".

I hope this desparate attempt to derail Platner fails. Makes me wonder though why exactly he seems such a threat to too many - on both sides.

[mr715]

76. Wait a sec... purity tests?

I thought those only worked one way.

(As a ludicrous rhetorical construction used to discredit people questioning the orthodoxy when the orthodoxy fulfill 2 conditions: being wrong AND losing elections)

[AloeVera]

79. Think of it as the Literal Purity Test.

Purity being derived from puritanical. As in a rigid insistence on moral purity.

Of course the Original Purity Test has stood the test of time and is not likely to be supplanted or replaced - not for a while at least. It's still so useful!

[mr715]

81. Oh I get it, so as long as kneel on enough glass

we can kill whoever we want overseas!

[AloeVera]

83. Why yes! But actually...

Staying silent on the killing of babies and schoolkids and starving their remaining relatives is perfectly fine - but SEXTING is a bridge too far!

[mr715]

84. Gonna level with ya -- I still think Platner is gonna win.

And however flawed he may be, the greater the well-deserved humiliation for Susan Collins.

Maybe no more kneeling on glass for Democrats. Hopefully.

[AloeVera]

85. I do too.

In fact I think there's a chance this may backfire. Desparation looking for a story, as I think you aptly put it. Voters are smarter than we think.

[sop]

177. "Purity being derived from puritanical." Actually "puritanical" is derived from "purity" (or purify).

"Puritanical" means to be like the Puritans, a religious sect that fled England because they couldn't "purify" the corrupt and immoral Church of England. So they settled in New England, and attempted to "purify" all of us, whether we wanted to be purified, or not.

[Quiet Em]

88. We don't know who leaked it.

Amy Gertner shared the texts with several members of the campaign staff.

Genevieve McDonald confirmed it to the NY Times as did another current Platner Campaign staffer.

[mcar]

96. Do you really think Collins' team doesn't have tons of oppo on him?

They've got the attack ads ready to go as soon as the primary is over. Blaming the leaker is weak sauce. We all knew Platner had tons of red flags.

[AloeVera]

97. Well, let's help her out then!

[mcar]

101. Oh, so we hide all his red flags?

Why? Because he's for Medicare for all? We ignore his rape apologia, his Nazi tat, his many other - and relatively recent - foul statements?

People here and elsewhere smeared the hell out of Janet Mills, a good, solid Democrat who has done a lot for her state. Oh, but she's old!!11

He should have been thrown to the curb the second the Nazi tat came out. Instead, we're possibly stuck with a very publicly flawed nominee. Because why? Because his supporters brushed off his flaws and made up crap about Mills (AIPAC sound familiar?).

At some point we have to actually vet candidates realistically. Platner threatens all of our Senate candidates. I can already see Paxton coming out with ads saying Talarico and his party support Nazis who are sexual predators.

But sure, let's just close our eyes about it all.

[mr715]

109. Janet Mills suspended her campaign.

Because he's medicare for all? Yeah, in part.

Janet Mills, you describe as a "good, solid Democrat". The thing is voters aren't interested in "good, solid Democrats". They don't want their old reliable team of oxen.

They want fire, not kindling.

[sheshe2]

151. Interesting.

Last edited Sun May 31, 2026, 02:26 AM - Edit history (1)

"Good, solid Democrats" They don't want their old reliable team of oxen."

I am not sure you should be dissing Mills as one of the old ones. She is a good reliable Dem. By your standers you are saying the old ones need to be herded out, and I will mention a few here:

Markey, Sanders and Warren should step aside as they are just a herd of oxen? Time to put them out to pasture? Old and in the way? Two are mine and they are good solid Democrats as am I.

Actually, I just read that Markey is being challenged for the reasons that you have stated and just like the last time when Kennedy challenged him, I voted for Markey and will again.

I will stick with my reliable oxen.

Ta.

[AloeVera]

113. Felonious adulterer and neo-Nazi supporter Paxton is going to shame Platner?

There is projection and then there is comedy. Paxton would be laughed off the airwaves. Hope he goes for it!

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/houston/2026/02/06/542808/ken-paxton-screwston-antifa/

It's not just single payor. It's a whole new perspective that resonates. Anti-war, anti MIC, anti-oligarch, pro-worker, no more weapons to Israel, stop the genocide. The latter of course is why AIPAC opposes him and calls him a " direct threat to the US-Israeli relationship". It's clear the knives are out for him.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

154. What are his strategies for all those grand plans?

"Anti-war, anti MIC, anti-oligarch, pro-worker, no more weapons to Israel, stop the genocide."

How? How is Platner gonna "stop the genocide?" How is he gonna get rid of the oligarchs? Can you cite a source with his plans? Besides his say so?

Nazi tattoos and misogynistic rape bullshit really isn't about "purity testing," FFS.

How about being a decent human being.

I wouldn't be so quick to assume that "Paxton would be laughed off the airwaves."

[betsuni]

166. Populist promises have no strategies.

That would involve detailed plans, incrementalism, working with others, compromise, like in all large diverse groups .

[Scrivener7]

75. Well. That clinches it. I will never date or marry Graham Platner.

[mr715]

77. Why not?

As I crudely suggested in a post a deleted because of initial crudeness: no one's seen the tapes. Maybe it tickles the right buttons.

[Scrivener7]

78. I wouldn't date or marry him before this came out. He's kind of a pig. But I'd vote for him if I lived in Maine.

He's the one we got.

[sheshe2]

137. That is the same thinking that got us..............................

[Scrivener7]

172. You prefer Collins?

[MorbidButterflyTat]

158. He is?

Is it okay if Mainers vote first?

[Scrivener7]

171. You're seeing another Dem shooting up in the polls?

[Skittles]

93. he gives me the creeps

tapes or no tapes

[AloeVera]

80. Winner!

[videohead5]

99. We have a 3-time adulterer in the White House and sexual assaulter

And we are concerned about some text messages? He and his wife went to marriage counseling, and she said that their marriage was stronger than ever.

[BannonsLiver]

112. That's why I'm going to hold off until November before calling Platner a mistake.

[ColoringFool]

148. Read the rest. A Nazi tattoo, among other things.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

115. It doesn't matter whether we think all this is disqualifiying or not.

It only matters what the voters of Maine think. Everything else is noise.

[yorkster]

133. The primary is June 9th and David Costello

is on the ballot. He's my choice.
If platner wins, I'll vote for him.

[Seeking Serenity]

116. We're Democrats. We can overlook just about anything.

Our guy had a Nazi tattoo for years upon years and only covered it up when it became politically expedient? Not a problem. He's our guy. We're Democrats.

A Democratic candidate has a demonstrated history of racist shitposts on Reddit? Absolutely nothing to see here. We're Democrats.

Our guy gets outed by his wife for having sexual conversations with other women, demonstrating a real lack of judgment? Kyle says he could rape his mom, and he'd be OK with it. So must we all. We're Democrats.

Would we accept even a tiny fraction of such deeds from anyone who isn't us? Absolutely not, and fuck you for even thinking that we might! We're Democrats!

[TVguyCards]

117. We don't know details other than "sexting"

We don't know what's up other than hearsay about this.
I think many possibly may be equating this to sexual harassment which is quite understandable given what we've all seen and been through the last several years with Trump. Naturally a default position of that is going to take the lead but what if this was consensual and had nothing to do with sexual harassment anything?

I think we're at a very different time in this country where a majority of voters really don't care much about this at all and are focused on how they're going to afford rent, health insurance, groceries, and gas in their tanks especially if this has nothing to do with sexual harassment. Should it though then that's a whole other store entirely and he's done.

Republicans will drag up anything and everything they can which includes openly lying to their base about the Democrats running against them. That's evident with how shit bags like Stephen Miller say Talarico is trans and a vegan. And those consuming such nonsense will never vote for any Democrat to begin with.

Platner should lean into this and challenge the Republicans who will go after him with this. He should straight up ask them why they're so concerned about this when their guy, Trump, is in the Epstein files more than 35,000 times, is a rapist, and fucks around on every wife he's ever had.

I only hope that he does do that.

[hardluck]

118. Seems like an issue between der Austerfuhrer and his wife

They went to counsel and seemed to resolve the issue. He just needed a bit of lebensraum.

[mr715]

119. Unacceptable, please reconsider.

[Music Man]

120. Hard disagree

Politically, he's what we have been begging for. An unapologetic progressive who isn't filtered through corporate, focus-tested crap.

Personally, it's clear he's not been a Boy Scout. But he attributes much of his past bad behavior to PTSD and alcohol, and I'm willing to at least entertain what that might be like. And to the current topic, his wife is upset that it was leaked, given it was a personal matter that they addressed, worked on, and she loves him.. Unless you can point to something illegal in these texts, can we move on rather than eat our own?

If Platner was so awful from the get-go, why is the best that Schumer could recruit a 78-year-old, unenthusiastic Janet Mills? I mean, Jesus Christ. What an inept party.

[Skittles]

122. the real question

why is the choice an "unenthusiastic 78-year old" and a creep with a nazi tattoo?

THAT is the real WTF

[Renew Deal]

128. That's a good question

There seemed to be a viable third option but he never got much attention. Planner sucked up a lot of energy early. It’s pretty much the opposite of what happened in the California governors race where nobody stood out.

The Sanders endorsement carried a lot of weight.

[Skittles]

131. yup

and I never could stand BS either

[luv2fly]

121. His wife summed it up well

"It's shameful behavior to spend time and energy and resources on negative ads and negative stories."

Yes indeed.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

161. So I guess they won't be using any negative ads or negative stories against Collins if Platner wins the primary?

So much for "fire over kindling!"

[Easterncedar]

125. His wife defends him.

I find this story suspiciously timed

[oldmanlynn]

127. I don't think we made a mistake. We knew all this stuff.

Democrats have to support Democrats 100% in order to get this country back on track. Can’t do circular firing squads.

[RandySF]

134. Is Mills still on the ballot?

[Quiet Em]

139. yes

sample Maine Primary ballot at link

https://durhammaine.gov/uploads/state-of-maine-dem-primary-election.pdf

[yorkster]

141. Yes. The three Dems are Mills, David Costello,

and Platner.

[Historic NY]

140. Once again another epic fail like the idiot in Pa.

Another reason to not contribute to campaigns.

[ColoringFool]

147. Just GD Swell. 😡😠🤬 And It's More Than Steamy Texts.

Don't get me wrong; I'd vote for a dead dog instead of Susan Collins, but can I not have to hold my nose?

[jmbar2]

152. I don't get why Platner gets a pass after what transpired with Eric Swallwell

Pisses me off that someone who is so good at messaging has such a deeply deceptive personal life. I've had enough with sociopaths and sex pests in office. I hope Mainers elect his Dem opponent.

[mr715]

153. Because there is a difference between infidelity and rape.

[Sympthsical]

167. It is unbelievable people are making that comparison

Just unbelievable.

Rape and consenting adults texting.

Same thing!

I swear to god, people do not think before they speak. It's so bizarrely cynical and dismissive of women for people to take this tack.

I've always been lukewarm with Platner - fine with it, but wouldn't have been my first choice. But Jesus Christ, the things people are saying about this.

And I'll note, with no real emphasis, that plenty of people I'm currently watching wrestle with the vapors have defended a *lot* worse than this when it's their favorite establishment candidates. If it's an eye-rolling competition, everyone's winning.

[OAITW r.2.0]

157. Oh geez, as a Maine voter I will probably now have to vote for Sue Collins.

[Nixie]

163. This explains all the shirtless and posing pictures and

those look pretty recent. Makes you wonder what other pictures were sent while sexting and when we’ll find out about them.

Sadly, this might make Collin’s look like the more stable and reliable choice for those that don’t really care about the bros.

[mr715]

164. Collins? Stable?

She looks like a willow tree in a tornado.

[betsuni]

168. I see references to Anthony Weiner and hope there are only oysters, no sausages.

[lapucelle]

178. I've been at weddings where drunken, overweight buffoons were guests,

but I've never been at a wedding where a drunken, overweight buffoon took off his shirt. That alone should be disqualifying.

[Pris]

165. Many liberals preferred the Nazi Tattoo over the women's rights/LGBTQ+ progressive

Some "progressives" need an intervention.

Platner is sexist
Mills is feminist

Who voted for who?

[Emile]

176. You need to learn how to spell his name.