Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, faces backlash from veterans over past remarks. He referred to the Army as ‘full of fat, lazy trash’ and mocked a soldier wounded in combat. These comments emerged from his deleted Reddit posts, threatening his campaign against Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Veterans express their anger. Holland ‘Ricky’ White, a Vietnam War veteran, shared his personal cost of serving. He highlighted congestive heart failure, hearing loss, and PTSD among the conditions he suffered. ‘The 173rd Airborne Brigade faced intense combat in Vietnam,’ White stated. He stressed the insult in Platner’s words.
Steve, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, found Platner’s statements especially offensive. As a Purple Heart recipient, Steve emphasizes the bond among soldiers. Mockery of a wounded colleague reveals a misunderstanding of military values.
Platner’s controversial Reddit comment in 2019 targeted U.S. Army veteran Ted Daniels. Platner harshly criticized the soldier, calling him undeserving of survival despite sustaining multiple battlefield injuries.
Bill Brown, a retired Navy SEAL, noted that a Senator’s duty includes supporting and equipping the military. Platner’s words suggest he lacks the trust needed to fulfill these responsibilities.
Kate Monroe, CEO of VETCOMM, and former Marine highlighted that wearing a military uniform doesn’t automatically confer honor. Actions and respect for fellow service members determine true honor. John Rourke, a retired Army staff sergeant, echoed these thoughts, labeling Platner a disgrace to the uniform.
Some of Platner’s potential Senate colleagues, like Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, condemned his statements. Ernst, a combat veteran with 23 years of service, highlighted the lasting impact of war wounds. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., dismissed Platner as a ‘communist’ linked to controversial symbols.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, criticized Platner for failing the Marine Corps’ ethos of loyalty to fellow service members. Despite Fox News Digital reaching out, Platner’s campaign team and Democratic veterans in the Senate have not commented.