Current Events > Graham Platner said assault victims needs to "take responsibility"

(+) Yeah! (+)

LightSnake posted...

I'm not sure why we are taking this as pure gospel when she's trying to win people who vote Dem but love Susan Collins for the "balance."

IMO Mills will lose in the general election if she tries to cater to the both-sides delusions of Maine voters.

After all, any both-sides Maine voter is likely to be perfectly happy voting (again) for Collins as the tried and true both sides slop choice.

It's just another variation on the theme of how Democrats running as Republican-lite almost never works.

https://bsky.app/profile/kleinman.bsky.social/post/3m3fxrrdm6s2b

EPR-radar posted...

IMO Mills will lose in the general election if she tries to cater to the both-sides delusions of Maine voters.

After all, any both-sides Maine voter is likely to be perfectly happy voting (again) for Collins as the tried and true both sides slop choice.

It's just another variation on the theme of how Democrats running as Republican-lite almost never works.

It's also evidence that "running as Republican-lite" doesn't mean anything beyond "be a Dem I don't like"

We saw vehement partisanship doesn't work in Maine. Not even Collins runs like that. People in Maine have bought her bipartisan concerned shtick.

Mills has an unapologetically good record to run on and she's the one and only Democrat who's actually won a statewide race in Maine in like 13 years.

On CE, any policy disagreement makes someone Republican Lite it seems

Doe posted...

On CE, any policy disagreement makes someone Republican Lite it seems

I don't get it. It seems to mean anything on the actual issues, it's just frustration with rhetoric.

Mills has been one of the most progressive governors in the country on trans rights, but there's always some dealbreaker. And it's wild because Platner was talking how he was friends with republicans and could win them over!

Doe posted...

On CE, any policy disagreement makes someone Republican Lite it seems

A quick googling shows she's veto'd a number of progressive legislation that on paper sounds good. I can't really comment more than that as an outside observer, the common response she gives is that the wording is too vague or broad, so I'll just have to assume she was right to do it. Either way, probably has passed more good bills than stopped.

LightSnake posted...

We saw vehement partisanship doesn't work in Maine. Not even Collins runs like that. People in Maine have bought her bipartisan concerned shtick.

Anyone in Maine that remains convinced by Collins' bullshit is a vote for Collins. Especially in a head to head race vs. Collins herself.

Therefore, any campaign vs. Collins that accepts the framing of the both-sides lies is going to fail, IMO.

Of course the Democrat in that race can't tell the truth about how awful Republicans are, but there has to be some attempt to say what needs to be done, how Republicans are against doing what needs to be done, etc.

And that's the problem with public support of the Senate filibuster. It's a promise to get nothing done.

EPR-radar posted...

Anyone in Maine that remains convinced by Collins' bullshit is a vote for Collins. Especially in a head to head race vs. Collins herself.

Therefore, any campaign vs. Collins that accepts the framing of the both-sides lies is going to fail, IMO.

Of course the Democrat in that race can't tell the truth about how awful Republicans are, but there has to be some attempt to say what needs to be done, how Republicans are against doing what needs to be done, etc.

And that's the problem with public support of the Senate filibuster. It's a promise to get nothing done.

I think getting hung up on the filibuster during a race is a bad idea. You're gonna need to hear "I will work across the aisle and Susan Collins has betrayed that promise" in a race like this.

I'm not saying Mills is perfect, but I think she knows something about getting elected in Maine. Don't get me wrong, it might be doomed anyway. People who vote Republicans are sometimes fine with a Democrat for governor, but don't like them in the senate.

All other gross implications aside... How tf is the bartender trying to shift blame when it's literally his legal responsibility to not over serve

I wish my rapist had taken responsibility for ruining my life

LosingStreak06 posted...

https://bsky.app/profile/kleinman.bsky.social/post/3m3fxrrdm6s2b

In his defense, they cant stop you from ordering a steak and a glass of water.

LightSnake posted...

I don't get it. It seems to mean anything on the actual issues, it's just frustration with rhetoric.

Mills has been one of the most progressive governors in the country on trans rights, but there's always some dealbreaker. And it's wild because Platner was talking how he was friends with republicans and could win them over!

The point is not to find a reason to vote, but an excuse not to.

LightSnake posted...

I think getting hung up on the filibuster during a race is a bad idea. You're gonna need to hear "I will work across the aisle and Susan Collins has betrayed that promise" in a race like this.

I'm not saying Mills is perfect, but I think she knows something about getting elected in Maine. Don't get me wrong, it might be doomed anyway. People who vote Republicans are sometimes fine with a Democrat for governor, but don't like them in the senate.

If I were in Maine, I would happily vote for Mills (or any D, of course) in the general election, and also for Mills vs. Platner in a primary.

Regarding the filibuster, it would have been far better for her to be non-committal about it than what she apparently did (unequivocal support).

That really is a hard promise to get nothing done.

EPR-radar posted...

If I were in Maine, I would happily vote for Mills (or any D, of course) in the general election, and also for Mills vs. Platner in a primary.

Regarding the filibuster, it would have been far better for her to be non-committal about it than what she apparently did (unequivocal support).

That really is a hard promise to get nothing done.

I'm just saying it's not a binding, set in stone vow. It can change and I don't think Mills is a Manchin or Sinema on this matter. Maybe her view on it really is a shitty one or she's BSing to sound better to Mainers. we don't know, but I don't think we should judge it too harshly. We can hit Mills on it if she does turn out to be a disappointment

LightSnake posted...

I'm just saying it's not a binding, set in stone vow. It can change and I don't think Mills is a Manchin or Sinema on this matter. Maybe her view on it really is a shitty one or she's BSing to sound better to Mainers. we don't know, but I don't think we should judge it too harshly. We can hit Mills on it if she does turn out to be a disappointment

If Mills gets into the Senate and turns out to be a disappointment on the filibuster, there will be no point in "hitting her on that".

EPR-radar posted...

If Mills gets into the Senate and turns out to be a disappointment on the filibuster, there will be no point in "hitting her on that".

and right now there is a very real chance the choice is her or Collins, so we may just need to take that risk

LightSnake posted...

and right now there is a very real chance the choice is her or Collins, so we may just need to take that risk

Of course. But if a progressive challenger were to appear in the D primary that was against the filibuster and didn't have the show-stoppers that Platner has, that would be a good candidate to consider.

EPR-radar posted...

Of course. But if a progressive challenger were to appear in the D primary that was against the filibuster and didn't have the show-stoppers that Platner has, that would be a good candidate to consider.

I think we need to look at this on a case by case basis because Platner is not the first gruff dude to trick progressives on the basics of aesthetics. He had red flags from the get go that got ignored. So did Fetterman, Randy "Ironstache" Bryce, Tulsi Gabbard, etc.

Like it really feels sometimes that aesthetics are the things that matter most and I think Platner and the others need to provoke a real look at this that just saying the right thing shouldn't be enough. And likewise look if "What appeals to ME" is actually something that plays well with the broader electorate as a whole because that's another issue online spaces have a hard time with.

Also:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/b/b7b7f081.jpg

LightSnake posted...

no. Sorry. No. Were not doing this. He needs to drop out and support Mills.

I'm in complete agreement with you in this topic but I do want to point out that this is a kind of funny post.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/e/eac49420.jpg

I wouldn't support running Ethan Klein for Senate either. There's a bit of a difference in these situations!

Canceling someone online for old edgy posts isn't the same as Platner running for a goddamn Senate seat after he said women who get raped have some responsibility in the matter.

^That's a most unfortunate typo.

EPR-radar posted...

^That's a most unfortunate typo.

Yyyyes it was lol

LightSnake posted...

I'm just saying it's not a binding, set in stone vow. It can change and I don't think Mills is a Manchin or Sinema on this matter. Maybe her view on it really is a shitty one or she's BSing to sound better to Mainers. we don't know, but I don't think we should judge it too harshly. We can hit Mills on it if she does turn out to be a disappointment

I mean, again, I hope that Mills wins the seat (assuming that Platners campaign is sunk by this and he either drops out or loses to her in the primary), but I also want to point out that your very best defense of her stance on the filibuster is Well, you see, shes probably lying! and we are all for some reason supposed to be fine with that.

I cannot stand the moderate/mainstream Dem attitude that candidates dont have to be perfect in their policies, attitudes, decision making, etc but we have to be perfect in our full-throated support of these candidates and anything less is a betrayal of the party and support of Trump and his fascist regime. Its a double standard that truly pisses me off.

LosingStreak06 posted...

I mean, again, I hope that Mills wins the seat (assuming that Platners campaign is sunk by this and he either drops out or loses to her in the primary), but I also want to point out that your very best defense of her stance on the filibuster is Well, you see, shes probably lying! and we are all for some reason supposed to be fine with that.

I cannot stand the moderate/mainstream Dem attitude that candidates dont have to be perfect in their policies, attitudes, decision making, etc but we have to be perfect in our full-throated support of these candidates and anything less is a betrayal of the party and support of Trump and his fascist regime. Its a double standard that truly pisses me off.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/c32d2e65.jpg

I'm sorry, but Platner literally admitted he voted for Collins multiple time, we are so far beyond complaining about purity tests. This guy just fucking sucks.

Progressives spent a long time complaining about dealbreakers and how character mattered and then vacated any of those principles for people like Tulsi and Fetterman. This is the wrong election for this complaint.

If we didn't have the Fetterman debacle, then I'd be a bit more forgiving.
I'm still interested in the full context of those quotes. Are they also linked?

Does he have any recent behavior of racial insensitivity and sexism, or at the very least examples of supporting racial justice and women's rights?

Hopefully, he's changed after so many years, but it does lower my enthusiasm. I still want him to stay in to at least push forward some good ideas, even if he doesn't win.

LosingStreak06 posted...

I mean, again, I hope that Mills wins the seat (assuming that Platners campaign is sunk by this and he either drops out or loses to her in the primary), but I also want to point out that your very best defense of her stance on the filibuster is Well, you see, shes probably lying! and we are all for some reason supposed to be fine with that.

I cannot stand the moderate/mainstream Dem attitude that candidates dont have to be perfect in their policies, attitudes, decision making, etc but we have to be perfect in our full-throated support of these candidates and anything less is a betrayal of the party and support of Trump and his fascist regime. Its a double standard that truly pisses me off.

FWIW, my version of this ask runs as follows:

1) After the primary election is done (or the D candidate for the general election is otherwise determined), it is time for critics of Democrats to shut up about how Ds are fucking up and do what they can to help the D candidate win in the general. This ask runs through election day.

2) At all other times (such as now, for example) any and all good faith criticisms of actual and likely D primary candidates are fair game.

So yeah, I'm not a big fan of the idea that Mills' stated position on the filibuster is not supposed to be a problem. If there's nothing better, then it shouldn't be a show stopper.

But come on. We need serious changes, and support of the filibuster is a direct negation of that.

Sansoldier posted...

If we didn't have the Fetterman debacle, then I'd be a bit more forgiving.
I'm still interested in the full context of those quotes. Are they also linked?

Does he have any recent behavior of racial insensitivity and sexism, or at the very least examples of supporting racial justice and women's rights?

Hopefully, he's changed after so many years, but it does lower my enthusiasm. I still want him to stay in to at least push forward some good ideas, even if he doesn't win.

I can't imagine a clown that voted for Collins multiple times because of sincerely believing in her act is capable of having any good ideas.

Sansoldier posted...

If we didn't have the Fetterman debacle, then I'd be a bit more forgiving.
I'm still interested in the full context of those quotes. Are they also linked?

Does he have any recent behavior of racial insensitivity and sexism, or at the very least examples of supporting racial justice and women's rights?

Hopefully, he's changed after so many years, but it does lower my enthusiasm. I still want him to stay in to at least push forward some good ideas, even if he doesn't win.

He was still making shitty comments in 2021. Those were the first shitty comments to leak, in fact. And who amongst us didn't have odious views as a mere 32 year old adult man.

Also, his politicla director has resigned. There's probably worse coming. Honestly, the complete lack of scruples from some people in the political spheres have been insane.

Mills supports Medicare For All, supports free college, has one of the best pro-trans records in the country. Doesn't matter.

LightSnake posted...

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/c/c32d2e65.jpg

I'm sorry, but Platner literally admitted he voted for Collins multiple time, we are so far beyond complaining about purity tests. This guy just fucking sucks.

Progressives spent a long time complaining about dealbreakers and how character mattered and then vacated any of those principles for people like Tulsi and Fetterman. This is the wrong election for this complaint.

Why quote me only to address absolutely nothing Ive said in my post?

Refer back to this:

"Progressives spent a long time complaining about dealbreakers and how character mattered and then vacated any of those principles for people like Tulsi and Fetterman. This is the wrong election for this complaint."

LightSnake posted...

I'm just saying it's not a binding, set in stone vow.

I just chiseled it into some granite.

Where is your Law God now, Law Man?

The Maine reddit has some interesting discussion, but still appears to support Platner overall, with some dems like Ro Khanna as well.

Former Maine lawmaker resigns from Graham Platners campaign over Reddit posts
https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/10/17/politics/elections/former-maine-lawmaker-resigns-graham-platner-campaign/

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/4/4e1c15ed.jpg

Khanna is the dumbest guy in the caucus and Grim is godawful. I'm not shocked Reddit is all in for this guy, though.

Seriously, Khanna is terrible. And Grim pushed the Tara Reade hoax and tried to run apologia for the psycho in Kansas who abused his girlfriend. I'm not shocked he'd have this take

LightSnake posted...

Refer back to this:

"Progressives spent a long time complaining about dealbreakers and how character mattered and then vacated any of those principles for people like Tulsi and Fetterman. This is the wrong election for this complaint."

Im from Pennsylvania so I followed the Fetterman thing a bit more closely than the average person and I can tell you straight up, progressives did not at any point make the argument that Fetterman was above criticism, or was a perfect candidate. In fact most of the progressives I know were pretty split on him due to his support of fracking. I met him in person when he was going on his town hall tour to get input about marijuana legalization and I called him out for not visiting prisons and talking to people who have actually had their lives ruined by the war on drugs. Dont come around acting like I or anyone on the left have canonized these politicians (even Bernie) as saints above reproach.

As for Tulsi, was she ever a serious candidate for anyone? She was a whack job who hardly ever polled above 1%, got two whole delegates from American Samoa and shes supposed to have been some darling of the left? I feel like Im taking crazy pills.

My complaint here is that the centrists clearly dont have a problem with criticizing anyone in the progressive movement, but the moment any suggestion of flaw or weakness or bad policy is aimed at a moderate its suddenly a bridge too far. Fuck right off with that shit.

Not that I am defending Platner's tweets because damn that is very unfortunate and really tanks my opinion on him

But to be morally consistent shouldn't we have also all dropped support of Hilary due to her super predators comment?

LosingStreak06 posted...

Im from Pennsylvania so I followed the Fetterman thing a bit more closely than the average person and I can tell you straight up, progressives did not at any point make the argument that Fetterman was above criticism, or was a perfect candidate. In fact most of the progressives I know were pretty split on him due to his support of fracking. I met him in person when he was going on his town hall tour to get input about marijuana legalization and I called him out for not visiting prisons and talking to people who have actually had their lives ruined by the war on drugs. Dont come around acting like I or anyone on the left have canonized these politicians (even Bernie) as saints above reproach.

I'm gonna say this is straight not true and I remember being screamed down over saying his hunting down a Black man with a gun was a red flag. .

As for Tulsi, was she ever a serious candidate for anyone? She was a whack job who hardly ever polled above 1%, got two whole delegates from American Samoa and shes supposed to have been some darling of the left? I feel like Im taking crazy pills.

She was a literal congresswoman who coasted to reelection. She was a major campaign surrogate for Sanders who, to date, has yet to apologize for defending her from the (truthful) accusation she was a Russian asset.

"Crazy pills" is a good assertion, because hoo boy, this is gaslighting in the extreme.

El_Dustino posted...

Not that I am defending Platner's tweets because damn that is very unfortunate and really tanks my opinion on him

But to be morally consistent shouldn't we have also all dropped support of Hilary due to her super predators comment?

How is that the same thing? "Super Predators" was literally based on a pop psychology book whose most prominent example was the Columbine kids.

Also, this is defending Platner and you know it.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/0/0018378e.jpg

Good god, just ditch this psycho. Why are so many people debasing themselves for a guy they've known about for two months?

LightSnake posted...

Good god, just ditch this psycho. Why are so many people debasing themselves for a guy they've known about for two months?

Voters hate the establishment. It doesn't matter if the replacement populist isn't good, they just want something different. Democrats and other center aligned parties around the world refuse to accept this and it's one of the reasons these parties will become extinct.

Board_hunter567 posted...

Voters hate the establishment. It doesn't matter if the replacement populist isn't good, they just want something different. Democrats and other center aligned parties around the world refuse to accept this and it's one of the reasons these parties will become extinct.

There's 8 months to the primary and there's a non-zero chance Mills absolutely annihilates him. I really don't get how you're defending abandning all principles to support a racist, war-hungry mercenary who victim-blames sexual assault victims and derides his own would-be voters

And the Democrats are not becoming extinct.

"Small wars are pretty enjoyable" is such a fucked up thing to say. Your village may be gone and family slaughtered in the crossfire, but for him, it was just another exhilarating Tuesday.

Making sense of Small Wars Journal and Correlates of War datasets was my original idea for a more interdisciplinary compsci masters project. This really pisses me off.

LightSnake posted...

There's 8 months to the primary and there's a non-zero chance Mills absolutely annihilates him. I really don't get how you're defending abandning all principles to support a racist, war-hungry mercenary who victim-blames sexual assault victims and derides his own would-be voters

And the Democrats are not becoming extinct.

Not sure where you're seeing the defense or excusing. I believe I made my thoughts on the guy clear. It's a reality that voters are beyond frustrated and are embracing anything that might actually bring about change, even if that decision leads to something irrational. Voters do not want to hear about Democrats doing this and that for them because they don't feel like things have gotten better. Democrats are going to become extinct because they cannot accept this and will tear themselves apart to cling onto the last remaining "safe and sensible" candidates while Republicans lean heavily into the new and reckless.

LightSnake posted...

How is that the same thing? "Super Predators" was literally based on a pop psychology book whose most prominent example was the Columbine kids.

Also, this is defending Platner and you know it.

It's a racist dog whistle, we all know this. She agrees as she's also said she regrets her use of it. It's not as bad as Platner's sexual assault comments, but if we're being consistent that should have been disqualifying as well.

And no, I am not defending him, I think what he's said is heinous.

Also with the Fetterman thing you're doing the same thing again where you have an interaction with a weird lefty and then extrapolate that to every single progressive glazing Fetterman 24/7.

El_Dustino posted...

It's a racist dog whistle, we all know this. She agrees as she's also said she regrets her use of it. It's not as bad as Platner's sexual assault comments, but if we're being consistent that should have been disqualifying as well.

Yeah, these aren't remotely the same things and I don't really care for the retcon, sorry.

And no, I am not defending him, I think what he's said is heinous.

Not contesting this. also not sure his long period of doing things like this is equivalent to how you're spinning it or why it's relevant and it's not a standard I've seen you hold to other politicians.

Also with the Fetterman thing you're doing the same thing again where you have an interaction with a weird lefty and then extrapolate that to every single progressive glazing Fetterman 24/7.

Fetterman was a progressive darling during his run. You cannot seriously try to pretend he wasn't beloved by leftists and his racist attack with a gun on a jogger wasn't handwaved

For Fetterman, I do literally remember people being unsure about continuing to support him once the story about him hunting down a black jogger with a shotgun came to attention. At the same time, would you have preferred Oz?

For Clinton, it's not a retcon, she said a very racist thing, she knows she did and has apologized for it. She said a very bad thing in her past and I do think it was relevant during her election as well.

I'm not in Maine nor have plans to live in Maine, but I would be pulling support of Platner. Though if he does win the primary, I imagine he would unfortunately be preferable to the Republican in the race.

El_Dustino posted...

For Fetterman, I do literally remember people being unsure about continuing to support him once the story about him hunting down a black jogger with a shotgun came to attention. At the same time, would you have preferred Oz?

Connor Lamb would've been better. And sorry, but I remember how it went when the jogger story came in. Fetterman didn't even apologize.

For Clinton, it's not a retcon, she said a very racist thing, she knows she did and has apologized for it. She said a very bad thing in her past and I do think it was relevant during her election as well.

No, it's 100 percent a retcon. People pretende "superpredators" was a specific reference to Black teenagers and completely ignored it was based on a book that coined the term and listed a number of white offenders with the most prominent being the Columbine shooters. Yeah, it was absolutely used in a racist way by people, but this is "Biden threatened to cut social security" all over again.

I'm not in Maine nor have plans to live in Maine, but I would be pulling support of Platner. Though if he does win the primary, I imagine he would unfortunately be preferable to the Republican in the race.

IF he wins, yes he would be preferable to Collins. And it is a little noticeable that Mills is one of the most pro-trans governors in the country to the point she beat Trump's admin in court for trans rights twice, supports M4A and free college and it counts for nothing for some people

Just to be clear, your contention is that Hillary learned the term Super predators, which she used in a speech supporting an anti-gang bill proposed in 1996, from a book written about the perpetrators of a school shooting that took place three years later in 1999?

Hey, you're right, it's been a while, I did get the timelines mixed up!

I am, however, saying "Super Predator" was a pop psychology term in the 90s that didn't apply just to Black kids. "But Hillary" is also pretty useless at this point for many reasons

LightSnake posted...

Hey, you're right, it's been a while, I did get the timelines mixed up!

I am, however, saying "Super Predator" was a pop psychology term in the 90s that didn't apply just to Black kids. "But Hillary" is also pretty useless at this point for many reasons

And pray tell, which white gangs was Hillary referring to when she used this term? Because shes specifically referring to gangs of kids who need to be brought to heel by the FBI due to their connection with drug cartels and street crime.

You can try to twist the original definition of the term however you want to, but the connotation in which she used it was specifically referring to black youth. Otherwise you may as well argue that thug and gang violence arent racist dog whistles as well.

Probably the ones that had been threatened along the news as of 1994? Starting in 1993, national networks were focused on teen killers in the suburbs and rural areas, where the superpredators myth initiated. Superpredators stories were huge in the news.

But I guess we gotta rehash this to cover for Platner for....some reason. Along with the constant, self-pitying wails of being held to any kind of standard.

"Platner is bad...BUT!" is so trite. Just cut the losses and move on. There'll be another gruff daddy soon.