Imagine a charismatic, working class progressive with strong policy values, down-home personality, and awesome articulation – displaying the self-esteem and honesty to apologize and seek forgiveness.
It’s dicey to endorse national candidates without either state or Washington experience. Heading his local Planning Board, salvaging an oyster farm and serving as town harbor master, plus military tours, capture how Platner proves good, heart-felt politics start locally. Were this independent, true “outsider” (disowned at first by tin-ear Dems) to advance to the Senate, that would be a stunning signal that change is on deck.
Here’s the ideal, “citizen” prospect who commits to “working Mainers” by joining a looming progressive coalition to overcome the dismal D.C. stall. Only a serious coalition does anything lasting – and this upstart activist wants to be Maine’s coalition voice. That he looks good to flip a Senate seat grabs everyone’s attention.
What energizes what’s already a success story is Platner’s unvarnished acknowledgement, as a Mainer who’s overcome hard trials, his primary victory is wholly about locals “having his back,” a main speech motif. Unlike egotists obsessed with their special “brand,” Platner talks far less about “I” than “we,” that Mainers must come together to defeat the stagnant status quo. His lack of braggadocio, plus high sense of urgency, are as refreshing as his brilliant speech-making. Gosh, imagine a straight-talking, left-leaning populist who knows, without having the populace at his back, all dreams of curbing excesses by billionaires and reactionaries are doomed. Redeeming the virtues of true “populism,” like the Progressive Era a century ago, places Platner at the center of a revitalized progressive movement.
Two remarkable currents coalesce to make Platner a breakthrough challenger battling the unpopular, five-time Senate queen of hypocrisy, Susan Collins. Few hacks phony up their pro-people, pro-voting and procreative rights pledges, then repeatedly empower policies and extremist Supreme Court justices that obliterate healthcare, abortion and good faith voting laws. A sleazy, wishy-washy “moderate” is bad enough; enabling extremism aligns her with the worst MAGA mindset.
Sanders identified a serious change-agent
The first is Bernie Sanders’ full-throated endorsement of a nearby state’s campaigner during his Fighting Oligarchy Tour last summer. Sanders spotlighted Platner as the top Maine prospect forceful enough to confront the onslaught of MAGA Trump’s oligarchic and fascist coups. Sanders backed both Platner’s life-story and progressive platform that both reject counterproductive wars and democracy-crushing billionaire payola. Despite media dust-ups over Platner texts, most recently by a covert GOP operative, Sanders reiterated his unwavering support, quipping “There are no saints in the U.S. Senate.” Platner was later endorsed by Elizabeth Warren, ex-Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, labor unions and activist organizations, including the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund.
Second critical factor: this guy may not boast election wins but knows how to formulate a focused platform and how to present complexity with the extraordinary lucidity of a Senator Warren (the best at making understandable daunting economic and legal complications). On the stump, Platner delivers his values and agenda with an Obama-like appeal (however different their styles). With all of one year of college, Platner offers fluent and forceful performances rare in today’s “poll-vetted” politics, conveying clear principles, task lists and high comfort in front of a mic. For a real treat, see Platner’s brilliant, funny response to being called the “worst human being ever to run for office” by undeniably the worst human ever to run for office.
These visible campaign strengths follow years of personal redemption, surviving, more or less, three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Marine and in Army National Guard between 2003 and 2011. War traumas triggered PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) plus alcohol usage that sent his life in a tailspin. He openly describes his struggles, and, most decisively, shoulders full responsibility for behavior he now regrets. Platner declares everyday is an opportunity for him to be a better person. Compare that with the never-apologize Donald Bone Spurs. For dicey religious types who spout redemption talk, here’s the returning GI who faced his demons, overcame them, and presents himself for his next “tour of duty.”
Positive proofs of focused stability are his solid marriage, state popularity, uplifting leadership and disarmingly high quality speeches. Like other Sanders-style democratic socialists, Platner challenges oligarchs, systemic income inequality, shredded job opportunities, major shortfalls in health care and housing – plus rails against “pointless” wars that wound US soldiers, the economy, and targeted victims (including domestic ICE crimes against ordinary folks). Track correlations between the Iran fiasco (most egregious, quickest lost war in our history) and global inflation (worsening Trump tariff delusions) that undercut job growth and industrial activity. Check out his fearless, ambitious platform.
Perfection not on the ballot
Ideally, one wants squeaky clean champions without past embarrassments. Forget perfection. Give Platner immeasurable credit for owning up to miscues (again, compare the immoral, real-world convicted Trump) and for forcefully defying bad faith PR mudslinging. The 72% of Maine primary voters who awarded Platner his nomination, including writer Stephen King, have no qualms. Not only does the tainted Collins face an uphill fight, but against an authentic, unassuming, charismatic new face representing both Maine’s majority and the nation’s growing, anti-MAGA brigade.
His stunning speeches, urls below, stand on their own. But now the Thief-in-chief boosts Platner with rants on par with his most unhinged, flush with wacko, senility-drenched irony. The most thuggish president, undisputed in and out of court, has the gall and immoral connivance (if not hypocritical stupidity) to call out Platner in terms that best fit Trump’s sleazy, shady career: “He’s a thug, and they’re trying to make excuses for him. I mean, he’s worse than any human being that’s run for office, probably. Nobody has ever had a record like that.” Trump then falls over himself (and his pedophile past) by invoking, of all things and without context, Schumer going “crazy over ‘Epstein, Epstein, Epstein.’” No kettle has ever so blackened his own pot – without motivation (other than malice) and with blatant gifts to a formidable GOP foe.
Making a mockery of political savvy, the Party Destroyer-in-chief went on, “Can you imagine if the Republicans had him? There’s never been a guy like that that’s ever run for office, and at any level. The guy is a loser.” A “loser” who just decisively won his first election battle? If Republicans (?) “had him”? They bow the knee daily to the “worst.” Hard to separate this brew from insanity and senility and idiocy. I love the “probably,” qualifying “worse than any human being that’s run for office.” So now a mistaken tattoo and indiscrete texting equate with epic wickedness, “worse than” anyone else ever? Hard to imagine Trump topping this bottomless absurdity. Fact: Platner the honorable veteran (and mensch) has never been indicted, tried, nor convicted by a jury of his peers as multiple felon for anything, let alone sexual harassment and tax fraud. Nor has he been impeached even once.
Enough laughable folly. Listen to Platner’s succinct, on point speeches. Then tell me this guy isn’t the brightest star in the political firmament and won’t do just fine, elevating the quality of the Senate:
Equally enlightened but a better stump speaker than Sanders, Platner has the powerful life story, professional successes, and progressive values to be a leader for years. He morphed from a scarred ex-Marine veteran to an amazing campaigner – with courage and thick-enough skin to seek membership in the second most backward sludge of moral knuckle draggers after the Supreme Court – the US Senate.
The knowledgeable and law-abiding Platner may struggle with hack senators, but will be infinitely superior to a sixth term for the disgraced Collins, unfortunately running in a year that will, especially in bluish states, devastate Republicans. Cheer when the Senate flips, adding to potential wins in NC, OH, TX, IA, GA, MI, and maybe, just maybe in FL. Maybe that ain’t enough to fix the world, but a decent sweep will do for now. Who knew a year ago that a scintillating Maine campaign could be a national spark plug to a new progressive movement?
COMMENTS