By Jon Fetherston
There was a time in American politics when character mattered.
Not perfection. Not ideological purity. Not whether someone made mistakes in life. Americans have always believed in redemption. But voters also once believed there were certain lines that could not be crossed by people seeking high office.
Today, apparently, even those lines no longer exist.
Because somehow, unbelievably, Graham Platner is being seriously discussed as a potential United States senator from Maine.
And the question every voter should be asking is simple: How? More importantly…why?
This is not about partisan politics. This is not about Democrats versus Republicans. This is about whether basic standards of decency, honesty, and personal conduct still apply to people asking for power.
Platner has faced scrutiny over a tattoo tied to Nazi imagery, a tattoo he later covered up. Think about how extraordinary that sentence even is. In any other era of American politics, that alone would likely end a campaign instantly.
But in modern progressive politics, there always seems to be an excuse.
Then came the resurfaced online posts involving crude and deeply disturbing “P-Hustle” porta-potty behavior. Again, voters were told to ignore it. To move on. To pretend it was normal.
It is not normal.
Questions have also followed Platner over allegations involving abusive behavior toward former partners and his ex girlfriend. At the same time, many of the same political activists and public figures who lecture Americans endlessly about “believing women” have gone strangely silent.
Apparently, standards only apply selectively now.
Then came the reports surrounding explicit Kik app sexting behavior, yet another layer in a growing public portrait that raises serious concerns about judgment, maturity, and character.
And still, the political machine marches on.
Meanwhile, Platner carefully markets himself as some rugged anti-establishment “oyster farmer” battling “the oligarchy.” But the image increasingly feels less authentic and more manufactured, a political brand crafted for social media and elite progressive donors.
The irony is impossible to ignore.
A man backed by powerful political networks and wealthy ideological allies now claims to be leading a crusade against entrenched power. A man with repeated controversies surrounding his conduct is portrayed as a moral voice for the future.
And perhaps that is the real story here.
Not Graham Platner himself, but what his rise says about modern politics.
Character used to disqualify candidates. Now it is rationalized away if the person has the correct ideology, the right endorsements, or the protection of powerful allies.
Imagine for one second if a Republican candidate had a history involving Nazi imagery, sexually explicit online controversies, allegations of abusive behavior toward women, and bizarre public conduct tied to porta potties.
The national media would never stop talking about it.
There would be wall-to-wall coverage. Endless cable news outrage. Demands for resignation. Public condemnations from every activist group in America.
But because Platner is politically useful to the progressive movement, many suddenly seem willing to look the other way.
That should terrify voters regardless of party.
Because once a society decides character no longer matters, eventually nothing matters except power.
And if voters are willing to ignore pathological lying, alleged abusive behavior, extremist imagery, and deeply troubling conduct simply because they agree with someone politically, then America is entering dangerous territory.
The United States Senate is not supposed to be a rehabilitation program for damaged public figures with carefully crafted branding campaigns.
It is supposed to be one of the highest honors in American public life.
The question facing Maine voters now is whether they still believe that office should mean something.
Or whether we have reached the point where absolutely anything can be excused, defended, or normalized, so long as the candidate belongs to the “right” political tribe.
You said it in the article Mr Fetherston .
For Democrats….and the National Democratic Party Machine …….. “ Nothing Matters Except Power “
In November we will learn just how indoctrinated Maine’s voters have become .
It all changed with Bill Clinton, if the man had any personal integrity, he would’ve resigned the presidency, like Nixon did.
Jack Kennedy did worse in the White House, and he probably wasn’t the only one, but he didn’t violate the primary rule of “don’t get caught.“
When the Democrats stood by Clinton, when the feminists stood by Clinton, it was firmly established, the keratin no longer matters — at least to the left…
You mentioned Graham Platner’s ex-wife. Does Graham Platner have an ex-wife, or was that just libel?
Wow… this is amongst the stupidest articles I’ve ever seen. Do I wish Platner didn’t have the tattoo or sext with other women? Absolutely. I don’t believe the woman because she works for the Heritage Foundation and coached Susan Collins how to lie to herself that Brett Kavanaugh’s history of sexual assault is a-okay. Apparently the other women don’t exist or something because I haven’t heard a single detail about them, just vague gestures.
Meanwhile, the current PRESIDENT admitted to grabbing women (and probably underage contestants) by the vagina because he knew he had social power over them. He had a full public affair on his first wife, and seemed to cheat on his second and third. I could write paragraphs on his corruption, insider trading, and cronyism.
Also, wtf are you on about with the tattoo? It came out a few months ago that a bunch of 30-40 year old Republican staffers were actively calling themselves Nazis in a group chat, and the VICE PRESIDENT said something like “oh they’re just kids”. Apparently it made so little news you didn’t even hear about it. Hell, the biggest influencers for young Republicans are self proclaimed Nazis, like Nick Fuentes.
I honestly don’t understand how you can be so oblivious in writing a piece like this. Does this amount of cognitive dissonance cause migraines?
Don’t choke on your pearls from fake clutching them so hard.
*Note for my first paragraph: I condemn Platner for those things, although he has admitted fault and committed to change, unlike a single soul in the Republican party.
Directly tied to how parents have raised their children. The 55+ children are responsible for setting the tone to accept this behavior.
Well Ted Kennedy left that girl to die, Byrd was a Klan leader, JFK was a lowlife Biden fondled young girls, etc so no character doesn’t matter to democrats
“Porta-Potty Platner” pulls a fast one.
Power to control the masses. Isn’t that a Marxist idea? Control, every single part of your life. The elite who “know better than you” what you can and can’t do. Morality means nothing to them. The Democrats want that control. They would vote in a child predator if they thought it would give them control.
Your right to call out platner , hes obviously a liar ,and worse in sure. But so is the OTHER side. Both political party’s are bought and paid for by the billionaire class of this country and OTHER COUNTRYS !! its a fact ! They give money to both sides and get them to do what they want . To keep the people passed off fighting each other instead of who we should be fighting against, our corrupt govt and billionaire class! Blackrock ,statestreet, & vanguard & BANKS run and control ALL ALLL OF OUR POLITICIANS , and US,to keep the money flowing where they want it to go , to their corporations that keep them rich and in power . Well, how do you stop them ? You ,WE ,stop doing business with them! stop using Amazon, buy local products, food, support the small , and i mean real small businesses in your /our local economies, use CASH , CASH ! CASH! stop supporting the corporations that rob us of the fruits of our labor! Stop looking for government handouts. all that does is make them stronger and in more control of you and your money. Our forefathers didn’t depend on government to be able to live . They created the problems and gave us the answers . Than needed More taxes to pay for more stuff for more people. And than IMPORTED more people to keep it going, WAKE UP.
Jon, Absolutely,if not you join them. Jeff Abbott
“Imagine for one second if a Republican candidate had a history involving Nazi imagery, sexually explicit online controversies, allegations of abusive behavior toward women, and bizarre public conduct tied to porta potties. The national media would never stop talking about it.”
Every day, the national media fabricate lies, even more bizarre than these facts about Platner, about conservatives (and they have for decades), and they never stop talking about it. They must be so proud of themselves …
(Reminds me of the Bush II campaign, where MoveOn.org obsessed endlessly about the Vietnam War 40 years before – they obviously didn’t know how to move on.)
This is probably the last real mass of baby boomers to count on to offset the cheaters,make sure you are in their ears and hearts Jon! They need you more than anything,most see right through :Commie town with Graham Platner. He’s a bad dream that is being played with Soros money every 45 minutes…Same broken record. Attack with the truth and consistency. How many boats this cat build for navy at BIW under his watch? Susan Collins? Does Platner even know where bath Iron works is? I know he is trying to play a TV character , then he should be on CBS,no truth be required working there.
Nothing has mattered except power for “Democrats” for four decades. The one-third of Mainers on Mainecare will only vote for Democrats. All union members will be told by their bosses whom to vote for. We have 10 to many counties, 400 to many municipalities, 150 to many police chiefs and 185 to many school districts. All of these unnecessary employees are paid for by Maine taxpayers. ABC and NBC TV stations, both owned out of state, both give free editorial support to scumbag Platner 24-7, and if the election is close, Democrats will determine who wins, just like the other totally corrupt Blue States.
Susan Collins was thinking of her political career when she voted this way, and that should be important to Mainers. Think of the alternative. Do you think the state can handle the added budget expense of a porta potty on every corner ? How will parents feel when they’re children are made to wear Brown Shirts at school, and taught to turn in their parents for being “dissidents” ? This is precisely how it happens……think hard BEFORE you react to a simple headline……
Here Here. Very well said Mr. Fetherston.
I also would like to add Sir, if I may, a quote that I wrote down and have on my icebox to remind of me of the types of Narsis tic, megalomaniacal mental midgets have elbowed their way to the front of the room. Most responsible, reliable people realize the enormous amount of responsibility that comes with “being the boss” so to speak. Here’s the quote that I spoke of:
In an unforgiving arena, do not reward sentiment, theory, or fashionable ideology. Reward discipline, clarity and competence. One that forgets this principle, risks discovering the truth in the harshest possible way.( unknown author) I used this very quote this morning for someone who “claims to be a friend” leaving me squarely in the lurch. Nothing but excuses. That’s UNSAT. This will not and can not be tolerated in any arena. Personal accountability must first be dealt with and it is certainly not a one and done. No blankey apologies. Specificity is the only path to redemption and restoration and recovery.
Thank you for your work and sacrifice to an unseemly ungovernable land of misfit toys.
Gods Speed to you and the Maine Wire.
Sincerely,
Lowell L Morse
Since many voters get ALL their news and views from TicTock and have been groomed by schools that behavior like Platners is acceptable because it is “standing up to fasizm and saving democracy from MaGa “. These are the same people who can’t name the 3 branches of government, don’t know who we gained independence from, cant tell you how many minutes are in a quarter houor and how many states there are. BUT can tell you all the info on the Kardashians….
Concerns about character ended with Bill Clinton, engaging in sexual escapades with a vulnerable intern in the White House itself. Instead of condemning Bill Clinton, for the sexual predator that he is, people celebrated him, like he was some lovable character in that sense, it really went back to Jon Kennedy, another sexual predator. The only difference between him and Clinton was that the establishment in the media conspired to hide his behaviors.
When you elect nothing but narcissists, you are bound to have some problems getting the hard work of running a country done.
Years ago, I remember a popular candidate getting elected, his message of change resonated with the voters in his district.
He told the story about his first trip to Washington; his party leadership sat him down and congratulated him. He was then told to do what he was told or they would see that he was primaried in the next election cycle… and there is the phone, start raising money. He spent half his time in a cubicle calling big donors raising money for the party.
And I am sure that whatever your party, you KNOW that it was the other party that did this, not your party.