UMVA has learned that a disturbing social media presence from Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner's past continues to haunt his campaign, with a recently resurfaced post mocking a U.S. soldier who was nearly killed in combat sparking fresh controversy.
The explosive post, made in June 2019 on the Reddit account "P-Hustle" — which Platner has acknowledged he owned — appeared to ridicule a viral video from the helmet cam of Pfc. Ted Daniels taken during a clash with Taliban fighters in 2012 that ended in Daniels being shot four times. Platner's comments were brutal, calling Daniels a "dumb motherf" who "didn't deserve to live" and expressing contempt for his actions in combat.
Daniels later revealed that he had deliberately moved into the open to draw fire away from other men in his unit, and while he expressed some embarrassment about his actions, he emphasized that he had put his life on the line to protect his fellow soldiers. Platner's post was deleted but can be found on a database of his deleted Reddit history.
The backlash against Platner has been swift and severe, with criticism pouring in from a range of sources, including the National Republican Senate Committee, a former Marine, and even a fellow veteran and Republican Senate candidate, Adam Schwarze. Schwarze, a former Navy SEAL and Marine veteran, said that mocking a fellow soldier on social media was "not something we do" and that Platner's post was a clear breach of the unwritten code of conduct among military personnel.
Schwarze also expressed concern about other posts from Platner's account, including one that appeared to denigrate law enforcement, saying "all police are bastards". Schwarze, who served 21 years in the military, including nine deployments, said that such comments were not representative of the views of most combat veterans and suggested that Platner may have "mental issues" that need to be addressed.
The controversy has raised serious questions about Platner's suitability to serve in the U.S. Senate, with critics arguing that his comments demonstrate a lack of empathy and respect for fellow soldiers and law enforcement officers. Platner, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, has previously defended his social media posts as jokes, but the backlash shows no signs of abating.
As the closely watched Senate race heats up, Platner will face off against five-term incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins, with the balance of power in the U.S. Senate potentially hanging in the balance. Despite being backed by progressive champions Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Platner's campaign is now facing a major crisis of credibility.
