Should Platner Have Dropped Out Earlier?

Democratic Senate candidate for Maine Graham Platner dropped out of the race on Wednesday following accusations of sexual assault. Many are asking how it took this long.

Ends-Justify-The-Means Thinking: Opinion writer Zeeshan Aleem (Left bias) said in an MS Now (Left) article that although "there were red flags about Platner's character and questions as to his true ideological commitments" in October, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) according to the article "explained that he continued to enthusiastically support Platner." Aleem said, however, following the sexual assault accusations, Sanders was "among the many Democrats who withdrew their support," adding that "Platner's nonsaintly activities had crossed a red line." Aleem asserted that "This crisis is unfortunate — but it was not unforeseeable," explaining that "some on the left blinded themselves with ends-justify-the-means thinking."

True Colors: Miranda Devine (Right), writing opinion for The New York Post (Right) said "The Democratic Party's defense of Platner to the bitter end against an avalanche of rape and sexual abuse allegations, not to mention his Nazi tattoo, has left them exposed as hypocrites." According to Devine, "Conservatives always knew the left's effort to assert moral superiority on matters of sex, race and ideology were play-acting," but said it's now "undeniable for even their most blinkered supporters." Devine explained that Democrats "weaponize moral outrage against the right while rationalizing far worse on their own side," adding that the "slimy Dems" have "show[n] their true colors in Graham Platner scandal."

Muzzled And Muted Politicians: In an article featured by The Hill (Center), opinion writer Max Burns (Lean Left) said the Graham Platner crisis is of the "Democrats' own making." According to Burns, "Establishment Democrats can barely contain their excitement at having yet another opportunity to scorn Platner," explaining, however, "the fact that Platner had few friends in the Democratic establishment was one of the reasons his campaign caught fire with Maine voters in the first place." Burns further explained that "state Democrats voiced frustration with national Democrats for attempting to deny them a real choice in the primary by front-loading [Maine Gov. Janet] Mills as the only viable candidate." One of the "uncomfortable truths about our current politics," according to Burns, "is that Democrats don't seem to trust their voters to know their own interests" and "Democratic leaders have attempted to marginalize their voters' moves to the left over the past decade, and in doing so they have muzzled and muted politicians who could have been the party's next leading luminaries."

A Democratic Accuser: Nicole Russell (Lean Right), an opinion writer for USA Today (Lean Left) said "Democrats are finally calling on the Maine Senate candidate to step down after new rape allegations surfaced." According to Russell, Platner may be out, "but it's too little too late," explaining that "the damage is done, and it's serious." Russell called a statement by Platner made during his video denying the allegations against him "an arrogant, tone-deaf statement." Russell said, "it's bizarre" to hear the former Senate candidate say that "he didn't suspend his campaign because of accusations of sexual misconduct," adding however, that it is "on brand for him — and for the Democratic Party." Russell also highlighted that "it took a Democratic accuser — and months of ignoring a Republican one — to get here."

Related: Graham Platner Controversies: Concerning or Overblown?

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