Dem Senate candidate embraced "antifa supersoldier" label

Graham Platner, the Maine Democratic Senate candidate backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), wrote in 2020 that he had an "antifa supersoldier" label on his "armor," according to an archived post reviewed by Axios. Why it matters: Progressives have elevated Platner as one of their top candidates in next year's midterm elections, but his old Reddit posts have thrown his campaign into turmoil.Platner is running to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, Senate Democrats' top Republican target next year. The contest for the Democratic nomination between Platner and Maine Gov. Janet Mills — who's preferred by Democratic Party leaders — already has become a proxy battle in the national fight over the party's future.Driving the news: In an October 2020 post on Reddit, Platner complimented a business and noted the "antifa supersoldier" label on his armor — likely a reference to tactical gear like he used in the military.He added, "Keep up the good fight."Between the lines: Republicans could use Platner's comments about antifa — shorthand on the left for "anti-fascist" — to attack him in a general election.After the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, President Trump signed an executive order designating antifa as a "domestic terrorist organization."Civil rights advocates and progressives argue that antifa is a decentralized, leaderless, and ill-defined movement, not a distinct group — and that Trump doesn't have the legal authority to designate such domestic organizations as terror groups.Zoom in: Posting in a Reddit politics channel in July 2020, Platner also shared a link to the left-wing Socialist Rifle Association website and encouraged a user to join the group."We love new folks, and you've likely got an active chapter in your area," he wrote.In another forum in August 2020, Platner talked about his local SRA chapter's various gun courses for new members and experts and suggested he participated in the group."Helps we have a significant amount of combat veterans and firearms instructors who have put together a solid curriculum to build proficiency amongst our membership," he wrote.What they're saying: In a statement, Platner said, "I'm not a socialist. I own a small business. I'm a Marine Corps veteran."On his comments about "antifa supersoldier," Platner said in a statement: "This was a dumb joke, like most of my old Reddit posts." Asked if Platner ever attended any antifa events, his campaign didn't answer.Last week, Platner characterized his past Reddit posts as "me f***ing around the internet" and being a "sh*tposter" at a difficult time in his life.But his comments about the SRA indicate that he took real-life action at the time too.Zoom in: The SRA was incorporated during President Trump's first term to "advance an inclusive, safe, and healthy firearms culture in America to combat the toxic, right-wing, and exclusionary firearm culture in place today," according to the group's bylaws."Opposing fascism and reactionary ideologies is a multifront struggle, and we fulfill the education portion of that struggle," according to the group's website.The SRA is not affiliated with some of the SRA-related forums Platner posted to on Reddit.In another post from 2018, Platner wrote that if people "expect to fight fascism without a good semi-automatic rifle, they ought to do some reading of history," as Politico first reported.He posted that "an armed working class is a requirement for economic justice."Zoom out: Platner also made several crude remarks about police officers, rural white people, sexual assault victims and Black diners on Reddit.On Friday, Platner issued a five-minute apology video on X: "For those of you who have read these things and been offended, have read these things and seen someone that you don't recognize, I am deeply sorry."Reports of those comments by CNN, the Bangor Daily News and others led Platner's political director, a former Maine state representative, to resign from his campaign.Progressive Democrats have rallied around Platner and praised his apology, in which he talked about how he struggled with depression and PTSD after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and wrote things on the internet of which he's not proud.Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said he stood by his endorsement and accused the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee of engaging in the "politics of personal destruction" to help a more establishment-friendly candidate win.The DSCC and Mills' campaign have formed a joint fundraising committee.Other Democrats have argued that Platner's past comments mean that Mills, who entered the race last week, is a better candidate.The liberal group EMILYs List, which supports women candidates and backs Mills, said in a statement from its president Jessica Mackler that "Graham Platner's comments blaming victims of sexual assault are unacceptable and disqualifying."

Comments

World news

Hughes nets hat trick, Devils top Maple Leafs

Global News

Arizona sues to force House Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in new rep - and likely trigger the release of the Epstein files

about 4 hours ago

Trump administration’s strikes against Venezuela amount to ‘extrajudicial executions’, UN experts say

Independent

Comments

Similar News

Scoop: Dems plot Fetterman ouster

Senate Dems tease hardball defense spending strategy

Trump and Republicans are being blamed more than Dems for government shutdown, early polling finds

Mamdani fuels top Dems' turbulence as N.Y. vote nears

Trump’s ‘Project 2025’ firings loom as Senate leader Thune says Dems ‘playing with fire’ on Day 3 of government shutdown: Live updates

‘It’s funny!’ JD Vance just doesn’t get why vulgar AI video Trump posted of Dem leader Jeffries in sombrero is racist

Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell dies aged 84

Ed Davey’s triple-front Lib Dem fightback

Lib Dems the last block against ‘forces of darkness’ led by Farage, says Ed Davey

Don’t let Farage turn UK into Trump’s America, Davey tells Lib Dems

Ed Davey to attack ‘cruelty and stupidity’ of Trump administration in speech to Lib Dem conference – UK politics live

Why a weak Starmer spells trouble for the Lib Dems

World news

Hughes nets hat trick, Devils top Maple Leafs

View Royal mayor tears into B.C. government’s ‘one-size-fits-all approach’

While they smear ‘No Kings’ rallies, Trump and his GOP can’t escape their own ‘Nazi’ problem

Trump Office of Special Counsel nominee accused of admitting ‘Nazi streak’ withdraws amid GOP backlash

Trump administration claims it will blow past deportation records with 500,000 already removed from US

North Korea has fired a ballistic missile toward the east, Seoul says

Trump treats Bill Ackman, Steve Wynn and other big donors to White House dinner

Musk rages at Trump's Transportation head on X: He "is trying to kill NASA!"

Reviving California’s Kelp Forests, One Dive at a Time

Helping to Save the Bees With Plants in Kansas

Roundabouts in Keene Help Cut Emissions and Air Pollution

On the Menu in New York: One Repair, Coming Right Up

PQ insists Quebec needs another referendum, despite lack of public support

Charities hit hard as Canada Post labour dispute disrupts donations

Jeromy Farkas wins neck-and-neck race over Sonya Sharp to be Calgary's next mayor

Communities First Calgary mayoral candidate Sonya Sharp requests ballot recount

Surrey councillor says entertainment district plan should be on election ballot

Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Nic Demski expected to miss 2nd straight game

Saskatchewan groups step up to help the homeless this fall

Diwali fireworks safety stressed after 2 Edmonton townhomes heavily damaged

Police praise family for turning over suspect accused of plotting mass shooting at Atlanta airport: ‘They saved lives’

Arizona sues to force House Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in new rep - and likely trigger the release of the Epstein files

Trump administration’s strikes against Venezuela amount to ‘extrajudicial executions’, UN experts say

‘This is sick’: Conservative pundit faces backlash after posting cartoon about Mamdani riffing on 9/11 tragedy

City gives iPads to 911 supercallers to prevent them from bombarding emergency services

Reeves to overhaul workplace pensions in bid to boost economy

Ukraine says Storm Shadow missiles used to strike Russian chemical plant

Violent protests erupt outside Dublin hotel housing asylum seekers

Democratic primary war escalates over Graham Platner

Washington furious over Trump's East Wing demo

House GOP refers Obama's CIA chief Brennan to DOJ for allegedly lying to Congress

Health care, safety among Saskatchewan premier’s top priorities this fall

University of Regina Students’ Union to dissolve after online vote

Family of Manitoba crash victim to speak to parliamentary committee on bail reform

Vancouver council considers plan for new city-owned for-profit housing

Quebec security minister lifts all bans on open fires

Amber Alert issued for 1-year-old girl last seen in Brampton

2,400 STM maintenance workers to launch strike on Nov. 1

Former B.C. fugitive pleads guilty to conspiracy to murder Bacon brothers

Raptors pick up options on Dick, Walter contracts

Undercover officer expected to testify at murder trial for Toronto rapper, jury hears

Activist investor group that includes Travis Kelce aims to revive struggling Six Flags

Trump’s plan to improve Coca-Cola by making it more Mexican hits an immediate snag

Family of Texas congressional aide who lit herself on fire speaks out after claims of an affair with Republican

‘It’s pathetic’: Trump’s ICE recruitment drive is stalling as new hires can’t pass basic fitness test, report says

Trump says he’d be glad to talk to Schumer and Democrats — but only after they agree to key shutdown demand

Bernie Sanders stands by Maine oysterman taking on Susan Collins despite ‘racist’ posts and ‘troubling’ tattoo

A guy with a “Nazi streak” was Trump’s loyalty enforcer at DOJ

Trump’s $230 million cash grab, briefly explained

EU must cut red tape, urge European leaders

Ukraine uses British Storm Shadow cruise missiles to strike Russia

This could change the way we browse the web forever

OpenAI has a new web browser ready for launch

Trump sought $230M from Justice Dept. to settle past investigations of him

After leaks, Hegseth limits Pentagon staff's interaction with Congress

"I am not a secret Nazi": Maine Senate candidate responds to tattoo accusations

Scoop: Infuriated Democrats ramp up battle with Mike Johnson over seating Grijalva

With Israel-Hamas Cease-Fire, Some Pro-Palestinian Protesters Look Back at Their Movement, Ruefully

China, Xi and the S-word

‘Significant gaps’ in government’s cybersecurity services: auditor general