Dealbreaking Bad
Dear Leading Ladies,
Here’s what we know about Graham Platner.
He’s a come-from-behind Democratic candidate for senator from Maine, looking to unseat Republican Susan Collins, and hoping to help flip the Senate.
His rallies and town meetings have consistently drawn standing room only crowds to hear the soldier turned oyster farmer turned politician.
His platform begins with a ban on “billionaires buying elections” and includes passing term limits, calling for “decisive action in the housing crisis” and an end to “pointless wars.” (Read it all at greahamforsenate.com)
He had a now-removed tattoo on his chest that he got while inebriated one night when he was serving overseas in the military. It bore a strong resemblance to a Nazi symbol. Whether Platner knew that at the time is undetermined.
Most recently, Platner has been accused of sexting several women, while married to his wife.
His wife stands by him, conceding a rocky period they have worked through in their marriage.
Other past girlfriends have come forward, some speaking in glowing terms of their ex, others recounting a volatile man prone to drinking too much and disrespecting women.
Some Democrats are worried about Platner’s ability to unseat Collins, given these revelations. Some, like Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, stand by the candidate, stating that Platner is the only one who will confront the housing, health and economic crises head-on.
Platner admits to struggling with PTSD and excessive alcohol use after his three combat tours as a Marine in Iraq and one In Afghanistan with the Army National Guard.
So, there you have it. A flawed man with an impressive plan for his possible tenure in the Senate. Should his transgressions keep him out? Should we have higher standards for our leaders? Do we believe in second chances, in rehabilitation, in forgiveness, in change?
We now have a president with a long history of misogyny and abuse towards women with no accountability or atonement. We have a former president who committed adultery with a young intern in the Oval Office. And perhaps the most charismatic president of our time, JFK, carried on with Marilyn Monroe in front of the whole world.
Credit: Shutterstock
So, our question is this. When is a politician’s personal misbehavior a deal breaker?
Are we okay having a leader who behaves in ways that seeks to undermine the rights of women, gay people, and people of color? What if they have changed that behavior, either for expediency or because they have really changed? How do we tell the difference?
Are we okay having a leader who has abused alcohol or drugs but has been sober or drug-free for a notable amount of time?
Are we okay having a leader who has been violent in interactions with partners or strangers in the past but can demonstrate a change in behavior and attitude?
Should we expect higher standards for our politicians? We’d like to think so, but where is the line for acceptable behavior? And who makes it? We find rape intolerable, but making adultery a dealbreaker would leave us with close to no candidates. Using power and coercion to break the law and financially benefit oneself should definitely be unacceptable.
All the rest? Perhaps distasteful, but dealbreakers? What do you think?
By the way, in last night’s primary election in Maine, Graham Platner won the Democratic nomination with lah blah percent of the vote. We will have to wait to see how he fares against Republican sitting Senator Susan Collins in November.
Therese (she/her/hers)
Judy (she/her/hers)
Didi (she/her/hers)
Leading Ladies Executive Team