Summary
- Senate candidate Graham Platner faces backlash for old Reddit posts.
- Posts contain insults toward police and rural Americans.
- Comments include promoting armed resistance and criticizing government.
More of Platner's past posts were examined in a 2013 online database created under the handle "P-Hustle," according to a report published by the Bangor Daily News on Friday. Between 2009 and 2021, Platner posted more than 1,800 times on the social media platform, according to reporter Sawyer Loftus.
Platner questioned why Black people "don't tip" in one post, while another said that those who are worried about rape shouldn't become "so f—-ked up" on drink.
According to the report:
Platner responded to a 2013 post on Reddit entitled
“What is one question you have always wanted to ask someone of another race,”
writing,
“Why don’t black people tip?”
He worked as a bartender at Tune Inn on Capitol Hill, where he was a guest bartender last month.
“I work as a bartender and it always amazes me how solid this stereotype is,”
he wrote.
“Every now and again a black patron will leave a 15-20% tip, but usually it [is] between 0-5%. There’s got to be a reason behind it, what is it?”
That same year, he also responded to a post about underwear designed to prevent sexual assault saying people 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?”
Platner labeled himself a communist, called rural Americans “racist” and “stupid,” called all police officers “bastards,” and used the word “retard” in a series of tweets from 2021 that CNN’s KFile published on Thursday. In response to a 2018 topic where a poster discussed leaving the United States due to President Donald Trump's actions, he also seemed to support political violence.
“Fight until you get tired of fighting with words and then fight with signs, and fists, and guns if need be,”
Platner responded.
When asked by CNN to comment on the now-deleted posts, Platner said,
“I don’t think any of that is indicative of who I am today, really. I’m not a communist. I’m not a socialist. I own a small business. I’m a Marine Corps veteran…I can honestly say that that is me just being an a**hole on the Internet.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has endorsed Platner, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in Maine against Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME).
A request for comment on the latest disclosures from The Bangor Daily News was not answered by Platner's office.
Which Maine Democratic leaders have withdrawn or affirmed support?
A former employee has departed Platner's political campaign after some offensive subreddit posts resurfaced. And, the Democratic establishment is concerned about how this will impact the primary.
Despite some controversy, Platner has endorsements from respected labor unions and other grassroots progressive organizations, indicating that there are still sections of the party base that remain supportive of him.
Governor Janet Mills, the establishment choice, has solid endorsements including Senate Democratic leadership members Kirsten Gillibrand and Catherine Cortez Masto. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) has endorsed Mills, believing she would have a better chance against the Republican incumbent Susan Collins.