Much of the discussion surrounding Graham Platner and his candidacy has focused on his Nazi tattoo, past controversial comments, fake blue-collar political outsider persona, and other personal controversies, allowing his truly radical left-wing platform to fade into the background.
[RELATED: Platner’s “Average Man” Image Faces New Scrutiny as Campaign Finances Draw Attention…]
Platner, running for a seat historically held by the moderate Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), has portrayed himself as a candidate who can reach across the aisle in an attempt to present himself as a viable option for Trump voters dissatisfied with his second term.
The candidate’s upcoming campaign event with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and past event with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) hint at the true radical leftism barely hidden behind his rugged working man persona and outreach to Republican voters.
Platner has publicly opposed stricter voter ID requirements, suggesting that they are intended to “steal” the American democracy.
It’s difficult to maintain an everyday man persona while parroting the established left-wing talking points against increased election integrity measures that—according to a March poll from CBS—80 percent of voters, including the majority of Democrats, support.
[RELATED: Poll Shows Broad Support for Voter ID as Senate Weighs SAVE Act…]
Platner has advocated for fundamentally altering the Supreme Court, including through court packing (adding additional seats) and imposing term limits, and has suggested that he would support the impeachment of conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
In his “Defend Democracy Agenda” document, Platner advocates for enshrining a series of additional “rights” into the Constitution modeled after a 1944 proposal from Franklin D. Roosevelt.
That policy would enshrine things like the “right to a useful job that earns a living wage.” It is not clear how a constitutionally mandated living-wage “useful” job could possibly be implemented in practice. He has come out in support of an increase to the federal minimum wage; that perhaps is a step towards his utopian vision of a constitutional right to living-wage-level employment.
As is the case with most socialist-leaning candidates, Platner advocates for universal Medicaid. He focuses on the real failings of the existing U.S. system while ignoring the extensive downsides of universal taxpayer-funded healthcare as exemplified in nations like Canada, where thousands die while waiting for a chance to see physicians.
He opposes ICE law enforcement and previously urged Mainers to rise up to protect their neighbors from law enforcement “however we can.”
“Our government is kidnapping people off the streets and imprisoning them in hellish conditions. This is unconscionable,” says his campaign website.
He advocates for a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country while claiming to want to keep the border secure.
He further elaborates that he believes the country cannot have a strong border without also giving illegals a path to citizenship.
Platner wants to strengthen climate change-related regulations nationwide, despite the devastating impact rising energy costs caused by a green energy push have had on Maine businesses and homeowners.
He is intent on keeping public schools going and vowed to oppose any federal-level private school vouchers, which would allow parents greater control over how their children are educated.
Platner also supports a federal-level action to enshrine abortion protections nationally, has downplayed concerns about biological males in girls’ sports and spaces, and wants federal LGBTQ anti-discrimination laws.
It is not clear from his website what those laws would do, since sexual orientation is already protected under existing anti-discrimination law.
It remains to be seen whether Platner’s affected persona will be able to draw moderate voters away from Collins, whom they have supported for decades.
Platner’s full policy platform is available on his website here.
In reality, Platner has no plans. He’s only parroting liberal Democrat talking points.