Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner faces backlash over controversial Reddit posts, which he attributes to PTSD from his military service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Graham Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Maine, is under scrutiny following the resurfacing of controversial posts he made on Reddit. The 41-year-old Marine Corps veteran has faced significant backlash for statements related to race, sexuality, and political violence, as well as for expressing his ideological beliefs.
In response to the criticism, Platner has attributed his past online behavior to depression and PTSD stemming from his combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He explained that during his time as an infantryman, he became accustomed to using “crude humor” and “offensive language.” “I’m sorry for this. Just know that it’s not reflective at all of who I am,” Platner stated regarding his previous comments. “I don’t want you to judge me on the dumbest thing I ever wrote on the internet. I would prefer if people could judge me on the person I am today.”
Although Platner no longer uses the Reddit username “p-Hustle,” many of his deleted posts and comments have been archived and made accessible by various media outlets, including the Maine Monitor. This has reignited criticism of his campaign as he seeks to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins and flip the Maine Senate seat to the Democratic Party.
Some of Platner’s old Reddit posts reflect a progressive stance on issues of race, yet they also include troubling comments. For instance, in August 2013, he wrote, “Why don’t black people tip?” in response to a question about race on the AskReddit forum. He elaborated that, as a bartender, he found the stereotype to be “solid,” noting that while some black patrons tipped well, many did not.
Platner’s posts also included derogatory language aimed at homosexuals and individuals with disabilities. In one now-deleted comment on a firearms subreddit, he wrote, “Betcha not a single downvoter is a real combat vet. Feel free to back it up with facts, f–s.” He used slurs targeting the mentally disabled at least 18 times between 2013 and 2021, including a comment that read, “If you believe that, it’s pretty clear you’re, in fact, a r-tard.”
Despite his use of offensive language, Platner has also expressed support for LGBTQ+ rights. He advocated for greater acceptance of homosexuals in the military, acknowledging the struggles faced by gay service members. “Just know this: I can’t imagine how much it must suck not being able to share who you are with the people who are supposed to be your comrades,” he wrote in a supportive comment to a fellow Marine officer.
In a September 2020 post, Platner commented on a discussion about racism, stating, “Living in white rural America, I’m afraid to tell you they actually are,” referring to the racist attitudes he observed among the population he now seeks to represent in Congress. Maine is noted for being the whitest state in the U.S., with approximately 91.3% of its population identified as non-Hispanic white, according to the Census Bureau.
Platner has also made statements suggesting that the public only cares about certain crimes when they involve white victims. He remarked on gun violence, saying, “It’s pretty absurd no one ever talks about that, although I’m assuming it’s because handguns mostly kill young black men. Nobody really gives a s–t about things until it’s well spoken white kids getting hurt.”
His past posts reveal a complex relationship with political ideologies. Platner expressed support for Marxism, which could pose challenges in a moderate state like Maine. In November 2021, he stated, “I got older and became a communist,” on an anti-work subreddit. He also claimed to be a member of the Socialist Rifle Association, a leftist organization focused on firearms education, and described himself as a “vegetable-growing, psychedelics-taking socialist.”
In a particularly alarming comment from September 2013, Platner suggested that violence might be necessary against political opponents. “There are times in this world when, for the good of tolerance and humanity, you need to kill a motherf—er,” he wrote, responding to a post about anti-fascist protests in Greece.
Platner’s comments have drawn criticism from various quarters, including those who argue that his remarks are disqualifying for a Senate candidate. National Republican Senatorial Committee press secretary Bernadette Breslin stated, “Platner’s perverted and bigoted comments are disqualifying and degrade women, black Americans, the gay community, and even wounded U.S. soldiers. Try as he may, Platner can’t outrun his own words, and Mainers won’t excuse them in November.”
As his campaign progresses, Platner continues to distance himself from the labels he once embraced. “I’m not a communist. I’m not a socialist. I own a small business. I am a Marine Corps veteran,” he told CNN when the posts first resurfaced.
Despite the controversy surrounding his past, Platner remains committed to his Senate bid, seeking to redefine his public image and focus on the issues that matter to Maine voters.
For more details on Platner’s campaign and the fallout from his past comments, refer to Maine Monitor.