WASHINGTON — How did they nazi this coming?
Prime Democrats and outstanding lefties are grappling with credibility issues over their embrace of alleged predator Graham Platner in his Maine Senate bid, regardless of evident warning indicators.
For months, ultra-progressives and Dems who needed to placate the bottom stood by Platner as scandal after scandal broke towards him — downplaying the Nazi tattoo, the offensive Reddit posts, the alleged dishonest on his spouse, and even the abuse accusations that emerged towards him final month.
However on Monday, his supporters lastly breaking level after ex-girlfriend Jenny Racicot went public with rape accusations towards him revolving round an alleged dwelling intrusion roughly 5 years in the past.
Platner denies the claims and is at present debating whether or not the heed the decision of his former supporters and drop out.
Right here’s a have a look at among the most dramatic reversals.
Elizabeth Warren: ‘My type of man’
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) threw her weight behind Platner, praising him throughout a rally in April, proclaiming he was “my type of man.”
She added: “As a result of that could be a man who not solely has the values, however a person who believes in accountability. And we’d like a bit accountability popping out of Washington proper now.”
She continued to again him by means of the top of June and dismiss his scandals, telling WCVB-TV: “He isn’t happy with who he was, and he has taken duty.”
Platner reportedly privately assured her final month that he didn’t have any extra skeletons in his closet. After the rape accusations emerged on Monday, Warren lastly dropped him.
“Now greater than ever, we’d like leaders in Washington who mirror our values. There will be no tolerance for sexual assault,” she mentioned in an announcement calling on him to step apart.
Ro Khanna: ‘Some dumb factor he mentioned’
Maybe Platner’s most infamous backer all through the scandal cascade was Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who publicly admonished the “institution” for being uneasy in regards to the lecherous oyster farmer.
“One of many issues that drives me loopy is our lack of ability to face by progressive Democrats, or Democrats for that matter, due to some dumb factor or inaccurate factor they could have mentioned of their previous,” Khanna informed “Breaking Factors” final month.
Khanna additionally blasted Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer as “very weak” for not desirous to again Platner.
Proper after the bombshell New York Instances piece broke detailing accusations that Platner was abusive in direction of Lyndsey Fifield and poisonous in direction of different previous dates, Khanna stood by him, flying out to Maine the very subsequent day to stump with Platner.
Bafflingly, Khanna insisted that “I do consider these girls” — regardless of standing by Platner’s denials.
Then, on Monday, after the rape accusations dropped, Khanna declared that he “ought to drop out of the race. I’m withdrawing my endorsement.”
Bernie Sanders: ‘No one’s good’
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was one in all Platner’s earliest backers, endorsing him in August of final yr, shortly after the oyster farmer launched his marketing campaign.
After the primary abuse accusations emerged, Sanders stood by Platner and complained to reporters that the billionaires are “spending a lot cash making an attempt to defeat this man” as a result of “he’s going to face as much as the oligarchs.”
Whereas defending Platner, Sanders careworn that “there aren’t any saints in america Senate” and that “no person is ideal.”
On Tuesday, some 21 hours after the rape accusations emerged, Sanders relented and pulled his help for Platner, urging him to step apart.
Ruben Gallego: ‘Genuine man’
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) backed Platner, touting him as “an genuine man.” Gallego was the second senator to endorse the oyster farmer.
“He’s not anti-semitic,” the attainable 2028 presidential contender informed the Bulwark. “And, extra importantly, we have to win elections.”
On Monday, Gallego reversed course, saying: “The allegations towards Graham Platner are troubling and deeply critical. I’m rescinding my endorsement.”
Chris Van Hollen: ‘went by means of a very tough interval’
One other progressive darling who has seen his standing with the far left rise over current years, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), defended Platner over numerous controversies, together with the Nazi tattoo and Reddit feedback. suggesting girls who get raped whereas drunk ought to claiming he “went by means of a very tough interval.”
“We’re going to win Maine and Graham Platner is the candidate in that race who’s combating for working folks,” he mentioned in June.
He additionally defended Platner’s Nazi tattoo, saying in April “he went by means of a very tough interval.”
Van Hollen lastly reversed course on Monday, saying: “These allegations are critical and can’t be ignored. Graham Platner ought to step apart.”
New York Sens. Chuck Schumer & Kirsten Gillibrand: ‘Maine will elect Graham Platner’
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Marketing campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) had each backed Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) within the main, however had been coy about Platner after it grew to become clear he would win the first.
Following his victory, they declared that in “November, Maine voters will elect Graham Platner and we’ll win a Senate majority.”
However on Monday, they known as the rape accusations. towards him “unacceptable” and declared that the “DSCC won’t put money into the Maine Senate race if Platner stays on the poll.”
Cory Booker: ‘My God we’d like the Senate’
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) equally tried to keep away from enthusiastically backing Platner and keep away from alienating the get together’s most liberal voters.
Nonetheless, he appeared to dismissed the allegations towards Maine Dem by claiming the need of profitable in November outweighed all different issues.
“He has quite a lot of points however my God we’d like the Senate,” Booker informed NBC Information’ “Meet the Press” final month.
Booker then known as for Platner to step apart after the rape accusations surfaced.
‘Might’ve sexted my mother’
Lefty YouTuber Kyle Kulinski made waves in late Might, declaring that he’d stand by Platner even when he sexted “my mother.” However even he appeared to have limits.
In a snarky YouTube submit in regards to the rape accusations, Kulinski conceded that Platner was prone to drop out whereas fuming towards Republicans for utilizing the scandal towards Dems.
Naomi Klein: ‘extraordinary political communicator’
Progressive creator Naomi Klein, a Canadian, gushed over Platner in March, hailing him as an “extraordinary political communicator” and saying that she has “not often heard higher.” On Tuesday, she gave a mea culpa.
“I actually f—ed up not doing my due diligence on Platner earlier than providing excessive reward for his communication abilities,” she posted on X.
“Sufficient was on the market on the time that I ought to have been extra cautious. Particularly as a result of I met adventurer dudes like him whereas reporting in Iraq.
“Deep respect to all who received it proper.”
Sunny Hostin: ‘I’d maintain my nostril and vote for Platner’
“The View” host Sunny backed Platner after the primary abuse and infidelity scandals emerged, regardless of claiming that she nonetheless believed morals matter.
“I’m sorry. I’m somebody that believes in character, I’m somebody that believes that morals matter, however due to the state of this nation, if I lived in Maine and I’d maintain my nostril then I’d vote for Platner,” she mentioned on air.
Weeks later, she declared that he “ought to step down” and claimed the nation was in an “existential disaster.”
Mehdi Hasan: ‘bad-faith right-wing smear marketing campaign’
Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan backed the oyster farmer throughout the scandals, claiming there was a “huge unhealthy religion proper wing smear marketing campaign occurring towards Platner.”
Hasan additionally went after alleged Platner sufferer, Lyndsey Fifield, claiming she was a bigot.
After the rape accusations towards Platner dropped, Hasan started reposting X posts attacking President Trump over the historical past of allegations he confronted.
