The Democratic Party has a problem...

[kentuck]

The majority vote for a candidate but then it is discovered that he is immoral or criminal or whatever, and he is pressured to step aside.

The people that voted for him have nothing to say about it. Some invisible power within the Party structure forces him to resign.

Perhaps he should be forced to stay on the ballot? But, that would be an automatic win for the Republicans, some would argue.

After the people decided who they wanted in a primary, somebody else decides that he is not really who they wanted? They did not know the truth about him.

It is not an option to let him remain on the ballot and let the people decide how much immorality they are willing to accept? It's a different standard we must live with, even if it means defeat.

The people are being over-ridden. So what, if he loses. If his replacement loses, it is still a loss. But we will have made a statement.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. What's the problem?

[kentuck]

3. The problem is that the people that voted for him are not making the decision.

His accusers are making the decision.

[Boo1]

6. You mean

His victim

[kentuck]

10. In today's world, victims are strewn everywhere..

Let the voters decide the seriousness of the charges. If he loses, the Party wins. You could probably find thousands of victims in the votes of Susan Collins. Just not as direct as this one.

[Boo1]

17. No

Most people dont have rape victims.

You think we should have a vote to see if he should leave? We're going to do that in the next week?

There are rules and laws in place for replacing a candidate. Those will be followed and that's it.

[obamanut2012]

42. Wow

[Orrex]

59. If they're so determined to vote for a rapist, they can write him in

Otherwise, I’m puzzled by your “to hell with his victim” argument,

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. No, Platner is making the decision. He's the candidate, and he's taking stock of the situation. He can best weigh

whether the support he's gotten on the campaign trail is enough to outweigh the loss of endorsements and disapproval of the party.

[kentuck]

12. His decision is not without pressure...

That pressure is what will determine his decision.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

14. Yes, pressure is an integral part of being a politician and it's important to know how to deal with it.

[Grim Chieftain]

25. Perhaps when the people voted for him they did not have all the facts

That is on him, not the voters.

[kentuck]

27. Then, we would assume, they will vote against him in the general?

And Collins will win in a landslide.

But the people will decide by their vote.

[obamanut2012]

41. Victims. not accusers

[31st Street Bridge]

2. And the GOPricks just keep moving forward with their dirtbags

From the child rapist president on down.

[Polly Hennessey]

28. Not a word about this when he was an oyster fisherman.

I suppose timing is everything?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

33. It's not unusual for victims to speak out when they see the perpetrator about to get more influence or power.

[obamanut2012]

43. I am really appalled at teh victim blaming on DU right now

Including this post of yours.

[sop]

52. Questioning the veracity or timing of an accuser ("victim" to you) in this situation is not "victim blaming."

[RoseTrellis]

55. Repubs aren't dumb

If they had dirt on him that was undeniable, of course they would withold it until it is extremely difficult for us to replace him.
Why would they help us pick a candidate in the primary by bringing it to light then?
We would , of course, do the same to them.

[Katinfl]

4. Good point.

[Boo1]

5. The only thing forcing him out

Is himself. He's to blame.

[kentuck]

7. Then, don't vote for him.

He is not forcing himself out. That is not correct.

[2naSalit]

11. I will be investigating...

Later today, about this question. The election was done under ranked choice conditions which, to me means that this pattern of election decision goes to the second ranked candidate, they have already been voted for so it would make sense that this would be the process.

Like I said, I'll be looking into it but I would think that is how it would work since there was a ranked selection process already conducted.

platner making ultimatum to leave is stupid because he has no say in how this process is conducted nor should he defines conditions for himself.

Anyway, when I find out, I'll share that with you.

[Raftergirl]

9. Invisible power? I think you mean Platner - the sex pest and rapist. He's also a moron if he thought his very

dirty past would not come out.

Personally, I don’t want people like him representing my party. If I did, I’d be a Republican.

[kentuck]

16. Exactly!

And if enough voters feel the way you do, he will be rejected. As of today, he was chosen as the candidate they wanted. Who are we to say they did not know what they were doing?

[Johnny2X2X]

13. Vetting

The reality is that Dems are held to a different standard than Republicans. Republicans run rapists and pedos regularly and their voters are fine with it and because they control the media they get away with it. Dems are operating to a different standard and need to have a vetting process for all important candidates that discovers this type of thing well before it gets to this point.

[yardwork]

24. Republicans don't always get away with it.

We have a liberal Democrat as governor in NC right now because the Republicans nominated a terrible candidate in 2024 with lots of issues in his past. Some of those issues came out right before the GE and the Republican candidate lost, even though Trump won the state.

And as bad as Mark Robinson is, even he was never accused of rape.

The takeaway is that a lot of voters don't pay much attention until a week or so before the GE, so when bad stuff comes out then it often costs the election.

Trump is a weird exception.

[Scubamatt]

51. Truer words . . .

have rarely been said about contemporary US politics.

[betsuni]

15. Invisible Power Establishment Conspiracy!

[kentuck]

18. Yes, the same power that keeps Paxton in the race in Texas...

...even after his own Party impeached him.

[WSHazel]

19. He lied about his past as a rapist

By your logic, as long as a candidate can keep the lie going past some arbitrary deadline, then there are no consequences for lying.

No, he should not get to stay on the ballot as a Democrat. He can run as an independent and voters can decide that way.

Anyone defending rape should consider switching parties. The Republicans have no problem with it, so the pro-rape Democrats should continue going over to that side.

[Stacey Grove]

20. The Democratic Party is made up of people

It is up to the individual person whether they act in good faith and exhibit good character.

[kentuck]

23. I remember Gary Hart forced out because a lady was sitting on his lap...

He was not faithful to his wife, they said. He was forced to quit the race for President, although he was the front-runner at the time.

[kentuck]

21. And after the death of MCConnell and the win by Collins...

The Democrats might be in the minority by one vote in the Senate, then we will all be discussing "what ifs". Then Ted Cruz is nominated to the Supreme Court. That is a reality we will have to accept.

[yardwork]

22. I strongly disagree with this take.

We have a national crisis and must take back the majority in the Senate.

That means that every senate race is a national Democratic priority.

If we had a comfortable majority in the Senate and could afford to lose this seat then it would be a different situation.

This is a crisis. We must win.

[Frasier Balzov]

26. I feel that way about Tennessee.

But it seems there are places which are just too red to bother with.

[RoseTrellis]

61. He's already been cut loose

Senior democratic leadership doesn’t share this opinion.
They realize he will be obliterated, and if we keep him it will hurt every other candidate in the midterm.

Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who chairs the powerful Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, also called on Platner to "immediately withdraw" from the race in a joint statement.

"The DSCC will not invest in the Maine Senate race if Platner remains on the ballot," Schumer and Gillibrand said.

[Doodley]

73. Correct. We do have a crisis. A healthcare crisis, financial crisis, national security crisis, a crisis that means

our democracy hangs in the balance. Every minute the media spend negatively talking about this one candidate is a minute not spent talking about the things that Trump is fucking up or about the plans Democrats have to make lives better.

[EdmondDantes_]

29. I would argue the problem is we aren't clear enough abusers have no place in our party

There's not some number of rapes someone gets a pass on because Republicans suck and don't care about Trump or others. We aren't morally better because Democrat is a prettier word than Republican. We're morally better because we believe in empowering women. In being inclusive of the LGBT+ community. In being inclusive of people with special needs.

I'm not throwing that out because he's got fewer instances than Trump. That's not sufficient.

[kentuck]

30. I do not think anyone is wrong with their opinion on this matter...

The people in Texas will decide if they want Paxton as their Senator after all he has done. The people of Maine should have that same opportunity, in my opinion. It is too bad that the voters did not have the information before the primary, but it is what it is. The reality of politics is not a black and white world. Let the voters decide the matter.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

32. "The reality of politics is not a black and white world." What do you mean by that?

[kentuck]

35. There is more gray area than black or white...

We would like for everything to be more simple and clear. It is not.

[EdmondDantes_]

56. What's the gray area in rape?

Seems like a pretty easy line to draw. I couldn't look in the mirror and respect myself if I felt the need to try to downplay rape for political ends (or any ends because there's never an excuse for rape).

We simply can't pretend we care about women if we throw them under the bus for a guy.

[dalton99a]

31. No Democrat should be forced to drop out or resign unless convicted of a felony.

[demmiblue]

34. Yeah, the problem are the rape apologists.

Boy, a lot of people sure are showing their true colors.

[kentuck]

36. Was he convicted of rape?

I did not know that??

[WhiskeyGrinder]

37. The vast majority of rapists do not have a conviction and in fact are never charged or even reported in the first place.

C'mon now.

[demmiblue]

39. They know this, it's just excuse-making. n/t

[demmiblue]

38. And there it is. n/t

[obamanut2012]

45. The accusations are very credible, esp the newest one, and DU s not a court of law

Unike some, I think rapists, bigots, Nazis, and women abusers have zero place in our party.

The question is why do YOU think it's okay? Because you ahve stated all through this thread you do.

[kentuck]

49. No, I do not think it is OK...

I just don't think you should be the one to decide, with the evidence we have.

[chowder66]

57. Is this really the message you want to send to victims? You do know children are victims of these types of

crimes as well and they don't always have the words or understanding of what was done to them until much later. So let's just give the abuser a path to Congress because he wasn't convicted!
The President is an adjudicated rapist. What kind of message does that send to brave women or men who come forward?

[kentuck]

62. Are you 100% sure he is guilty?

Are you skeptical at all at the timing of these charges? As I stated earlier, the Party should not endorse this candidate. They should publicly non-endorse him and leave it to the people of Maine to decide if he is fit to be their Senator. I do not think it should be up to you or I, or the Party.

[chowder66]

75. A whiff of this type of accusation would have destroyed previous candidates once upon a time.

No, I'm not 100% sure he's guilty but he has a history that doesn't bode well for him.

[obamanut2012]

44. Seriously

[Firestorm49]

40. Regrettably I see too much Fetterman in him.

[BannonsLiver]

46. The dominance of special interest groups representing tiny slivers of the population as a majority is a bigger problem.

[QueerDuck]

47. Put the "blame" were it belongs: squarely in the lap of the candidate who disqualified himself...

Put the "blame" where it belongs: squarely in the lap of the candidate who disqualified himself, and not on the party or the voters for refusing to tolerate it.

The primary voters are the ones who were shortchanged here, not overridden. They voted based on the information they had at the time. Finding out later that a candidate hid serious moral or legal flaws means the initial choice was made under false pretenses. We now have a chance to make a necessary correction.

Forcing a candidate out for misconduct is NOT a subversion of democracy... it is a defense of it. Considering the massive wave of endorsements that have already dropped him, it is clear that voters and party leaders alike share that same sense of regret. It is quite a stretch to claim that voters are being "overridden" when the party moves to field a viable candidate who can actually win in November.

Insisting that a compromised candidate stay on the ballot just to "make a statement" for the sake of a purist defeat, is something that treats politics like an abstract game rather than something with massive, real-world consequences.

[Quiet Em]

48. Trivializing an allegation of rape is a problem

Rape is a serious crime because it is a dehumanizing crime. It violates the victim's personhood. It strips the victim of their humanity. The victim is seen as having no worth or value to the perpetrator. It's a form of torture. It causes long term psychological issues. It causes shame, fear, trust issues, an inability to form healthy bonds. While an allegation is not a rendered verdict of guilt, it is a warning sign that there is potentially a very disturbing character flaw in the accused. It needs to be taken seriously.

[markie]

58. yes

1 of every 3 women have been raped, over three quarters sexually assaulted in some form (as well as almost half of men).... we have a problem here

[littlemissmartypants]

60. What happens when men and children are added to that number?

[markie]

63. I included men

and data on children under 18.... 1 for every 4 girls and 1 for every 20 boys.... we have a problem that isn't democratic or republican... just a very serious problem

[littlemissmartypants]

64. I understand it's a problem. Having been a member of the statistical count myself. ...

Does that ~30% go up?

That's what I'm trying to get at.

I believe it's much more prevalent than we report as a general rule.

[kentuck]

50. I think the Democratic Party should make a public statement of non-endorsement...

....but leave it to the voters to decide whether or not he is fit to serve, or better than his opponent, to serve the people of Maine.

Charges of rape are a very serious matter and the Party, in no way, should support anyone with those charges against them.

Although the Democrats may lose the election, they have taken a moral stand. They should leave the final decision up to the voters of Maine, in my opinion.

[WinningAgain]

53. If The TENT is so BIG to include nazis and sexual abusers.

Just maybe trim it down a bit.... maybe.

[kentuck]

54. Are you referring to the Republican Party?

Because that seems to be their norm?

[kentuck]

65. Does anyone remember Al Franken?

Do you think it was the right decision to force him out of the Senate?

Sometimes I think we can be a little quick on the trigger? If he is guilty, let him do what Swalwell did, and if he is not guilty... The Party does not have to endorse him. Will his supporters vote for his replacement?

[Quiet Em]

68. Do you not understand the difference between allegations of inappropriate work behavior and allegations of rape?

Al Franken does not belong in this conversation. It is completely unfair to compare Al Franken to men who have been credibly accused of rape. Rape, not flirtation or being a friendly huggy type of person, rape.

[kentuck]

69. Yes, I understand the difference...

But, I also understand that if we are willing to throw a Senator out of office for an allegation of "inappropriate work behavior", then we would not hesitate to throw out a would-be Senator for allegations of rape. It is the haste in which we act that I question.

If Bernie Sanders has asked him to withdraw, then he will probably withdraw. He will have lost a large source of support.

[markie]

70. I believe the issue

is the common understanding that the new information will certainly change the vote..... not for me to question but the reality... never mind that while Platner is accused of rape, Collins willingly put a rapist on the Supreme Court, (and supports a sexual abuser in the White House) and no one seems to care

Yes, I understand the seriousness, as a victim, as someone who worked with abused women, as someone who has worked with people with PTSD / alcoholism, etc., etc.... I would vote to confirm Platner... I strongly believe that we cannot afford to let our Country, our Democracy, continue to be run by republicans

edit to say, it is not my vote to give though, just my thoughts (I do have family in Maine)

[kentuck]

71. Your courage is admirable...

...to be able to see this horrible allegation and still be able to see a bigger picture of a million children killed with the end of the USAID program by these Republicans now in charge. These are the people we are dealing with. Sometimes there are no good choices.

[markie]

72. "the bigger picture"

we all need to see this.... "don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good".... no easy choices here, but I would sacrifice for the wellbeing of my Country and republicans are much worse right now

I will do everything in my power to help Democrats take over the House and Senate.... I truly hope Maine finds someone very dynamic and charismatic to take Platner's place!!

[ChicagoTeamster]

66. Platner is an "accused" rapist. MAGA voted for an adjudicated rapist. They'll lie about a Dem but still vote for someone

who actually did what they falsely accused someone else of doing.

How sure is the party of the allegations?
If it's true, why wasn't this vetted earlier?

Can the party switch candidates now? or let Platner run and after he wins have him resign and the gov can appoint a Democratic replacement?

What are the most realistic options for the Democrats to win that senate seat in Maine?

[Arthur_Frain]

67. I was contemplating this today.

In the news this morning locally was a story about the orange anus pardoning a local guy on the Kenai peninsula who got caught removing emissions devices on twenty or so diesel vehicles, and selling conversion kits for others to do so. For his crime he was eventually sentenced to a few years of probation.

Of course our governor is crowing about the decision like a spavined rooster, playing to the very large maggot contingent up here. I noted that he was essentially supporting not following the laws of the land when he disagrees with them.

And i had already heard a story about the new Plattner allegations, and had been thinking our side doesn’t presume innocence very well, while their side seems to be just fine with it, and maybe nationally it would be nice if we could shut up and let Maine decide, but I don’t live in Maine, so my two cents isn’t worth anything here.

But I don’t wonder if the day that both sides of the aisle stop caring about the rule of law, is the day that the slide downhill becomes irreversible. How to keep faith when the other side doesn’t feel it necessary to play by the rules? How do the guys on the soccer field not lose their cool when every time they pass an opposing player they get grabbed, bumped, tripped, pulled, pushed, and yet the ref never seems to see?

More importantly, how to find a path to victory, when all it’s going to take is an accusation of impropriety to derail any campaign? What if someone comes forward to accuse Talrico of fathering a child out of wedlock, does he get the big shitcan too? You think Paxton isn’t already researching girls?

I don’t know how we can win when we’re all flawed individuals but we’re going to demand perfection. It seems we’re awfully good at giving away the farm to the other side and getting nothing in return when dealing with conservatives, but when it comes to our side compromise is out of the question, so we never agree on shit.

[31j20b3]

74. Unfortunately the timing of the woman's charge leaves too little time

There is now a bit less than a week to get a replacement on the ballot.

A serious charge must be taken seriously. Unfortunately there is NO TIME to do an investigation.

Sadly this part of the primary season seems weak. He should have been vetted BEFORE the primary, so that he and the party could have a fair chance to investigate.

But she picked the time to come forward in a manner that forced a serious charge to be considered without the time to seriously investigate it.

Now, fire control is all that Dems can do to ensure a candidate is on the ticket who isn't going to immolate his/herself