fantastic and so important. I actually think that this requires some profound re-engineering, culturally, beyond Platner. We should find a way to innoculate ourselves against such accusations in the public eye, and then we will be able to come out in force. Not "Trump was worse, so it's fine" but really - WE ARE ALL PEOPLE, we do things in our lives out of ignorance, fear, desperation. If we haven't, then you're right - we're unrelatable. Our entire global society is suffering b/c we have all (normal people with a conscience) tucked away things out of shame and think we're the only ones, when the really shameful people live out their pathologies in clear view. I think you've hit on something here, and I think it needs to be explored. I also ran for office and I also worried about various things the entire time. it's a Very Heavy Load.
yes, and I think finding ways to "pre-bunk" (to use Audrey Tang's awesome term) any pushback, to inoculate people against such criticisms, would be to humanize politics and shift the playing field away from "you have to be a narcissistic sociopath to try at this point"
Yes, I also didn’t run a second time (lost a close one and would have run smarter the second time!) because I didn’t want a problem my son had to be made public.
Totally. That's so understandable and so devastating. And I can completely relate, as so many of us can. How the heck do we get around this? It's an insane thing. Kids struggle.
I liked your comment, but offer this caveat: I think it’s a mistake to generalize. I’m sure there are plenty of men with strong morals and plenty of women without. I offer every female continuing to support Trump as evidence. You know, the ones who say “Boys will be boys.”
Gee, this sounds a lot like"there are bad people on both sides". Those men of whom you speak are raised by women with morals. Men do not come with such morality, it is taught to them. Know because my son was raised by a single mother (me) to respect women.
Mary, I'm a 70 year-old man, and was raised by both a mother and a father who taught me how to/not to treat girls (when I was young) and women later. I've been married to the same woman for 50 years (yes, 50), she is the only woman I've ever been intimate with, and never, ever, did anything more than have inappropriate thoughts about other women, nor did I ever mistreat one in any other way. I consider myself to have high moral standards (and I've been an atheist for most of my life, so it has nothing to do with a religious upbringing). My wife and I raised our 2 sons to be the same way.
Frankly, it really bothers me to hear such generalizations. I agree that males of a species (including our own, but not all species) have an innate darkness -- call it what you will -- and I'll go further and say that I think women should run the world, as we'd be better off. Given the choice of 2 equally-qualified candidates, I go with the woman *every single time*.
Fill in the blanks:
All _______ are lazy.
All _________ are greedy.
All ________ are rapists.
All _______ are smart.
And so on...
What was the first thought that came to mind in each blank? I'll assume you get what I mean. Such thoughts are prejudicial, biased and racist, wouldn't you agree? Because not all of any of those identifiers, not even most, is accurate. Yet a lot of people have no trouble saying all men are the same.
What Platner is alleged to have done disgusts me, as does the examples Jess cited. If I ever did anything even close to those examples, I couldn't live with the shame.
All I ask is that you don't fall into the trap of saying all men are alike, and accusing those of us who counter such statements as
I read Mary’s comment three times just to be sure. Nowhere did she say “all men.” She didn’t even imply it. So, how did you decide that was what she meant? And your fill in the blank exercise is ridiculous. Racists will fill it with a particular race, sexists with a sex (men could just as easily fill the blank with women excluding the last, which could easily be replaced with whore), homophobics with homosexuals, you get the picture. It proves nothing. Your entire comment reads like you’re trying to prove that you’re not one of “those” men. If you weren’t so trying so hard, I would be more likely to believe you. And if you think for one second, that the examples Jess gave of the things that prevented the women she knows from running for office are even close to being in the same category as what Platner is alleged to have done, then you have completely missed the point. Please, tell me that’s not what you meant because I read your comment more than three times and I still don’t see how it can be understood any other way.
It's not just mothers who influence children. Especially in adolescence (which, given current brain science, may extend as far as 25 or 26), peers are also extremely influential.
I’m sorry you feel that way. I have raised three boys, now 35 and 31. Two popped out at once, 30 min apart. None of them have ever abused a woman in any way shape or form. They have, however, fought each other hideously and so shockingly with weapons when their father passed away. When you claim boys will be boys, I immediately thought of my 3 yr old twins opening the refrigerator opening the dishwasher next to it and created something they said was yummy with all the condiments. Laugh my ass off. And the mess was horrendous. LoL. Of course they have scars from a dirtbike accident, a go kart accident and falling face first into the bathroom tub but nothing that compares to anything closely resembling the headlines for Mr. Platner and our current president. And you brought up the mentally impaired individuals who are still supporting a pedophile. I have nothing to say to that.
So, your personal experience is the guide by which everyone else is judged? Now, I understand how you so easily popped up with your sexist messaging. Just appalling.
That's about as sexist as you get. Categorizing one gender as having "stronger morals, ethics, and values" insults a lot of us. And the myth that "Women are harder on themselves than men" is ridiculous on its face. I hope you will do the right thing, as I hope Platner will, and delete these sexist claims.
What is it about "ridiculous on its face" that confuses you? The statement is unprovable. It's just nasty pro-female propaganda. And if you break it down, it really doesn't mean anything. By "harder," you mean what? This is just whipping out words to attack some hard-to-define opponent.
Are you familiar with the work of Warren Farrell, Cathy Young or Christina Hoff Sommers? I think each one has done an effective job critiquing gender stereotypes and they have done so with considerable risk and backlash.
I do think women are harder on themselves than men, because the consequences for straying from expected behavior is so much worse for them.
The indulgence of Platner is just one example of it. Can you imagine a female candidate with similar baggage avoiding the term 'slut'? She would be removed immediately from the roster and drummed out of the state in humiliation with the first story. Probably lose her job, too. Did Platner ever lose his job?
Women have good reasons to be careful. Their mistakes are not forgiven as a man's transgressions are--although, of course, Platner was more than one "mistake", and caused far more serious incidents that hurt other people, not just himself.
I have met plenty of women who lack morals, ethics, and values, so I can't agree with that. Unfortunately, the power dynamics being so tipped to men, there are plenty of women who will throw the most vulnerable, including their sisters, under the bus.
However, just like immigrants commit less crime than whites--because again the consequences are so much harsher they cannot afford the luxury of acting out--women will restrain themselves and think twice about doing something stupid. And they would rarely have the gall to pretend it doesn't matter when they hurt other people.
I'd prefer the baked in variety of morality which means you do the right thing even when nobody is looking, to any morality done simply because people are looking. Man or woman, that should be the real standard.
And they take their families into consideration when thinking about running. Paxton doesn't give a single F**k about his family. Or his would be constituents.
Jess Piper....I've followed you for a while now, and agree with the majority of your views, but I wonder at one comment here that seems off-hand wrong. So I ask this....with all due respect.
If, in some time past, you gave in to someone you felt deep affection for, and took or allowed to take a few nude photos, would you still have made the run for office, knowing that there was a high likelyhood that those photos would end up smeared all over social media?
Be honest, especially with yourself...could you really put yourself knowingly in this situation? It seems disingenuous to expect another to, if you would not, and I think you would not.
Morality, self-pride, and reputational survival are high motivators for all of us.
The day that the other accusations came out (last month?) I listened to many angry defenses about why we should still stand by Platner. "Candidates are not your friend" or "You don't have to like them as a person". I am firmly in the character matters camp. It was only a matter of time before this horrible allegation of sexual assault was brought to light.
And yet... Platner was so selfish, so self absorbed and thoughtless. It never crossed his mind that he should've never run in the first place. You Jess were worried about being late with a tax bill! We are so much harder on ourselves.
I wish more men of good character would speak up. Perfect doesn’t exist, but good does. Character counts and we need more of it in the leaders we choose to represent us. One of my favorite candidates is Elaine Luria who has plenty of character, as does her husband. It is our responsibility as citizens to not blindly follow, but to choose wisely.
It breaks my heart that your female friends are afraid to run because they will be shamed for perfectly understandable behavior. They are obviously thoughtful, kind and caring—exactly what we need. My daughter is currently writing her medical school essays and is afraid that she sounds ‘braggy’ when she highlights her accomplishments. Social norms have been all too effective at keeping women down. Thank you Jess for pointing out this aspect of the Platner story. I hope he quickly stands down and that a fantastic woman takes his place.
I’m 71 and SO FRICKING OVER the hypocrisy of a nation who has an accused rapist/pedophile in the highest office in the land.
I was triggered by #metoo as memories long ignored reemerged of incidents I’d just as soon have not recalled. I stupidly hoped that the possible millions of guilty mostly male abusers around the world would finally be held accountable. Disgusted THAT did NOT happen. Add the total BS of the Epstein related guilty still free. The near daily news of a respected official getting arrested finally because the victim was brave enough to bear public scrutiny.
Then the glaring bright light examining everyone that runs for office. While I condemn Platner’s egregious behaviors, we are presented with the conundrum of WE MUST PUT ASSES IN DEMOCRAT SEATS. If some of those asses are true asses, so be it. We’ll deal with it.
I just can’t imagine that Platner was the only candidate who had the winning message. I also know we can’t stoop to the level of Republicans who look past SA allegations. Thinking of you and your health.
Platner was recruited to run by Dan Moraff, who goes around looking for "working class" candidates to run on a progressive message. In some ways, Platner the candidate was created by Moraff. (See reporting in NYT, WSJ.) Moraff skipped paying for a deep vetting of the candidate. We need to be wary of political operatives.
I suspect that after Mills declared, other, younger, not-establishment, candidates stepped back. The DSCC wanted Mills, and everyone knew it. Why fight the machine that's not gonna support you?
Agreed. But, the other egregious even worsening thing (thanks to our corrupt supreme court) is the seemingly bottomless pit of $$$ involved now with elections. Add to the mix the SHOULD HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL redistricting. We keep checking that our mail in ballots are still going to happen. Fortunately our county elections supervisor’s office is not far (but no one would answer my questions as to why there were all kinds of law enforcement- federal, state, and local) standing around behind the counter last time I stopped by.
I’m so sick of pedophiles, abusers, rapists, and the Epstein Class, I could puke.we can and must do better than this. Putting obscene wealth, celebrity, and charisma above competence and dedication to reimagining a civil society is a recipe for disaster.
So true. I remember working at a Fortune 100 company. A new division manager was coming on board. He said "My big advantage is that I am coming 'with a clean slate'". After the meeting I pondered his statement. Then I realized he knew NOTHING about our departments, had no direct experience. A woman WOULD BE APOLOGIZING from here to Sunday. When will woman learn this male talent of moxie?
Not every "male" trait is something I want to emulate. Moxie in the right circumstances, maybe but not everyday. I'm sure that's something you might aggree with, or not.
I'm retired with a genuinely small pension and social security. So I keep working part time at a job that I love. One of my coworkers once said to me, "Oh you're great at this, you have a mother's heart." I spend my days in our community with adults that have various disabilities. I'm glad I have my mother's heart instead of moxie. Different priorities during all our different stages of life.
I would like someone to address the fact, that this popped up right before the deadline to remove himself if he is/was deciding. I'd like for democrats to look at themselves as they gang up on Platner. Their donors are most likely involved in their decision to demand him to step aside so a prefered democrat can step in? Democrats will start losing by standing with their aipac donors.
I definitely think there should be some research and to why folks let it go on this long. I know I’ve been hearing rumblings of Reddit posts and tattoos, and women for months. It looks like someone could’ve stopped it before it got to this point — he has great policies, but I don’t think he should’ve thrown his hat in the ring at this time. And I don’t know that he’s guilty. I just know there are a lot of accusations that would have made most people decide drop before this point.
I agree. Actually, I’m getting fed up with a lot of this. There is too much on the line to get derailed. That simple plays into the seemingly amoral GOP’s hands. A big part of me wants to yell, STOP IT!”
I regarded it as good news the Republicans were disappointed the news came out before the deadline. I'm sure the poor woman who had to step up and tell her story, a brave move, had been watching that deadline with terror. I thank her for deciding to place country above her personal safety and security, giving Maine a chance to correct the problem.
Hopefully Platner won't turn out to be the type of ego who refuses to step aside.
His big name supporters are asking him to step down and his response is to make demands? That's entitlement on steroids. As for ganging up, I can only wish Republicans would gang up on Trump after his sexual assault and fraud convictions. Platner may well be trying to stop drinking and womanizing, but working in DC doesn't seem like the best spot for it given the pressure and opportunities.
As someone who has photos from my past and a past bankruptcy due to a failed business; I told myself that I would never run for office. Because I was also a little, brown girl from nowhere Missouri. I supported others. My fiancee decided to run and he was a great candidate, but he didn'twin. And when I was asked to run, I had to put that fear aside. Because I knew NO ONE else would run if I didn't. So I did, I didn't win, but my opponent had to campaign for the first time in his 3 terms. He called me a girl, and questioned my motives, but my past was never brought up.
Never make yourself less for society. Because let me tell ya, Republicans aren't doing that!
The guy had a NAZI tattoo, and his excuse was, "I was drunk at the time." Seriously. --Yes, 'progressives' should be vetted better; and we should hold ourselves to a higher standard--men included. But the real question is, at a time when the President of the United States is credibly acknowledged to be a felon and a fraud, an adjudicated rapist, and a thief--why don't Republicans care about any of that?
If I was so drunk I got a nazi tatoo, I probably would have died from alcohol poisoning before the ink was dry. Oddly, I've been drunk before and never got any tatoo, let alone a nazi one.
I think all rational citizens agree with your position. But, I guess that means the Extreme Right Wing (an estimated 70% of Republicans) are NOT rational. That should answer your question.
Good information, Jess. I wondered why Platner didn't consider his past actions before jumping into the race. It seems like men tend to downplay bad behavior (again, he is innocent until proven guilty, but still, multiple allegations should have given him and those supporting him, pause) while women pre-judge and are harsher on themselves. May have something to do with embarrassment/shame. Men don't typically seem to care as much what others think of them. A generalization, sure, but just speaking from decades of life experience. At any rate, oppo research will always find things. We need to understand the consequences before jumping in.
Women downplay the behaviors of men, too. How many times have we heard, "Well, s/he was drunk, so..."? Just no. From my experience, alcohol enhances baseline personality and character traits, by reducing inhibitions. The victim did ask him next morning if he remembered what he did, and he said no. How he managed to "forget" that tidbit when asked if there was anything else going to come out about his prior behavior, is on him.
When the current mayor of Chicago was running for office (a black man), the republicans dug up late payments on his utility bills. He was not a wealthy individual…he was a teacher in Chicago public schools. The republicans blasted this “irresponsibility”! But it didn’t work and in fact probably got him a little more support. Most people experience late payments at some point in life, and they were sympathetic to this, not angry. And this was a very, very close election! Haha…thanks republicans!
Women think of others all. the. time. and seem less inclined to value their impact and input for the greater good in the same breath. We have been ingrained to think our lapses in judgment are somehow worse because we are women and should somehow know better. This was a perfect summary of how that plays out.
Platner, along with Sinema, Fetterman, Manchin, Gabbard, and Schumer, is a great example of why the “vote blue no matter who” little rhyme needs to die NOW. It short circuits critical thinking and leads to disaster.
fantastic and so important. I actually think that this requires some profound re-engineering, culturally, beyond Platner. We should find a way to innoculate ourselves against such accusations in the public eye, and then we will be able to come out in force. Not "Trump was worse, so it's fine" but really - WE ARE ALL PEOPLE, we do things in our lives out of ignorance, fear, desperation. If we haven't, then you're right - we're unrelatable. Our entire global society is suffering b/c we have all (normal people with a conscience) tucked away things out of shame and think we're the only ones, when the really shameful people live out their pathologies in clear view. I think you've hit on something here, and I think it needs to be explored. I also ran for office and I also worried about various things the entire time. it's a Very Heavy Load.
So heavy
yes, and I think finding ways to "pre-bunk" (to use Audrey Tang's awesome term) any pushback, to inoculate people against such criticisms, would be to humanize politics and shift the playing field away from "you have to be a narcissistic sociopath to try at this point"
Yes, I also didn’t run a second time (lost a close one and would have run smarter the second time!) because I didn’t want a problem my son had to be made public.
Totally. That's so understandable and so devastating. And I can completely relate, as so many of us can. How the heck do we get around this? It's an insane thing. Kids struggle.
Well said. Thank you!
Women are harder on themselves than men. I think it is because women have stronger morals, ethics, and values.
Women are harder on themselves because women are held to a higher standard.
That's why there's no 'girls will be girls' excuse.
This!
I liked your comment, but offer this caveat: I think it’s a mistake to generalize. I’m sure there are plenty of men with strong morals and plenty of women without. I offer every female continuing to support Trump as evidence. You know, the ones who say “Boys will be boys.”
Gee, this sounds a lot like"there are bad people on both sides". Those men of whom you speak are raised by women with morals. Men do not come with such morality, it is taught to them. Know because my son was raised by a single mother (me) to respect women.
Mary, I'm a 70 year-old man, and was raised by both a mother and a father who taught me how to/not to treat girls (when I was young) and women later. I've been married to the same woman for 50 years (yes, 50), she is the only woman I've ever been intimate with, and never, ever, did anything more than have inappropriate thoughts about other women, nor did I ever mistreat one in any other way. I consider myself to have high moral standards (and I've been an atheist for most of my life, so it has nothing to do with a religious upbringing). My wife and I raised our 2 sons to be the same way.
Frankly, it really bothers me to hear such generalizations. I agree that males of a species (including our own, but not all species) have an innate darkness -- call it what you will -- and I'll go further and say that I think women should run the world, as we'd be better off. Given the choice of 2 equally-qualified candidates, I go with the woman *every single time*.
Fill in the blanks:
All _______ are lazy.
All _________ are greedy.
All ________ are rapists.
All _______ are smart.
And so on...
What was the first thought that came to mind in each blank? I'll assume you get what I mean. Such thoughts are prejudicial, biased and racist, wouldn't you agree? Because not all of any of those identifiers, not even most, is accurate. Yet a lot of people have no trouble saying all men are the same.
What Platner is alleged to have done disgusts me, as does the examples Jess cited. If I ever did anything even close to those examples, I couldn't live with the shame.
All I ask is that you don't fall into the trap of saying all men are alike, and accusing those of us who counter such statements as
I read Mary’s comment three times just to be sure. Nowhere did she say “all men.” She didn’t even imply it. So, how did you decide that was what she meant? And your fill in the blank exercise is ridiculous. Racists will fill it with a particular race, sexists with a sex (men could just as easily fill the blank with women excluding the last, which could easily be replaced with whore), homophobics with homosexuals, you get the picture. It proves nothing. Your entire comment reads like you’re trying to prove that you’re not one of “those” men. If you weren’t so trying so hard, I would be more likely to believe you. And if you think for one second, that the examples Jess gave of the things that prevented the women she knows from running for office are even close to being in the same category as what Platner is alleged to have done, then you have completely missed the point. Please, tell me that’s not what you meant because I read your comment more than three times and I still don’t see how it can be understood any other way.
Thanks from one man to another. Generalizations get in the way of understanding each other. Jess has given much food for thought.
I agree.
It's not just mothers who influence children. Especially in adolescence (which, given current brain science, may extend as far as 25 or 26), peers are also extremely influential.
I’m sorry you feel that way. I have raised three boys, now 35 and 31. Two popped out at once, 30 min apart. None of them have ever abused a woman in any way shape or form. They have, however, fought each other hideously and so shockingly with weapons when their father passed away. When you claim boys will be boys, I immediately thought of my 3 yr old twins opening the refrigerator opening the dishwasher next to it and created something they said was yummy with all the condiments. Laugh my ass off. And the mess was horrendous. LoL. Of course they have scars from a dirtbike accident, a go kart accident and falling face first into the bathroom tub but nothing that compares to anything closely resembling the headlines for Mr. Platner and our current president. And you brought up the mentally impaired individuals who are still supporting a pedophile. I have nothing to say to that.
I agree. I’m tired of having abusive men held up as examples of male strength.
So, your personal experience is the guide by which everyone else is judged? Now, I understand how you so easily popped up with your sexist messaging. Just appalling.
You nailed it.🙏
girls are taught to feel shame. boys mostly are not.
Boys are encouraged to live without shame especially these days. Look at their atrocious “role models” in the Guardians of Pedophiles (GOP).
What a great play on words of the of the GOP.
That's about as sexist as you get. Categorizing one gender as having "stronger morals, ethics, and values" insults a lot of us. And the myth that "Women are harder on themselves than men" is ridiculous on its face. I hope you will do the right thing, as I hope Platner will, and delete these sexist claims.
People are fallible creatures and no one sex has a corner on good behavior.
Thank you Mr. Stone. Well put.
Care to explain "ridiculous on its face"?
What is it about "ridiculous on its face" that confuses you? The statement is unprovable. It's just nasty pro-female propaganda. And if you break it down, it really doesn't mean anything. By "harder," you mean what? This is just whipping out words to attack some hard-to-define opponent.
You seem nice.
Thank you.
Are you familiar with the work of Warren Farrell, Cathy Young or Christina Hoff Sommers? I think each one has done an effective job critiquing gender stereotypes and they have done so with considerable risk and backlash.
I do think women are harder on themselves than men, because the consequences for straying from expected behavior is so much worse for them.
The indulgence of Platner is just one example of it. Can you imagine a female candidate with similar baggage avoiding the term 'slut'? She would be removed immediately from the roster and drummed out of the state in humiliation with the first story. Probably lose her job, too. Did Platner ever lose his job?
Women have good reasons to be careful. Their mistakes are not forgiven as a man's transgressions are--although, of course, Platner was more than one "mistake", and caused far more serious incidents that hurt other people, not just himself.
I have met plenty of women who lack morals, ethics, and values, so I can't agree with that. Unfortunately, the power dynamics being so tipped to men, there are plenty of women who will throw the most vulnerable, including their sisters, under the bus.
However, just like immigrants commit less crime than whites--because again the consequences are so much harsher they cannot afford the luxury of acting out--women will restrain themselves and think twice about doing something stupid. And they would rarely have the gall to pretend it doesn't matter when they hurt other people.
I'd prefer the baked in variety of morality which means you do the right thing even when nobody is looking, to any morality done simply because people are looking. Man or woman, that should be the real standard.
And they take their families into consideration when thinking about running. Paxton doesn't give a single F**k about his family. Or his would be constituents.
Jess Piper....I've followed you for a while now, and agree with the majority of your views, but I wonder at one comment here that seems off-hand wrong. So I ask this....with all due respect.
If, in some time past, you gave in to someone you felt deep affection for, and took or allowed to take a few nude photos, would you still have made the run for office, knowing that there was a high likelyhood that those photos would end up smeared all over social media?
Be honest, especially with yourself...could you really put yourself knowingly in this situation? It seems disingenuous to expect another to, if you would not, and I think you would not.
Morality, self-pride, and reputational survival are high motivators for all of us.
Thanks for this, Jess. Very well written and eloquent.
The day that the other accusations came out (last month?) I listened to many angry defenses about why we should still stand by Platner. "Candidates are not your friend" or "You don't have to like them as a person". I am firmly in the character matters camp. It was only a matter of time before this horrible allegation of sexual assault was brought to light.
And yet... Platner was so selfish, so self absorbed and thoughtless. It never crossed his mind that he should've never run in the first place. You Jess were worried about being late with a tax bill! We are so much harder on ourselves.
I wish more men of good character would speak up. Perfect doesn’t exist, but good does. Character counts and we need more of it in the leaders we choose to represent us. One of my favorite candidates is Elaine Luria who has plenty of character, as does her husband. It is our responsibility as citizens to not blindly follow, but to choose wisely.
Agreed. An informed electorate would be so good. 😊
It breaks my heart that your female friends are afraid to run because they will be shamed for perfectly understandable behavior. They are obviously thoughtful, kind and caring—exactly what we need. My daughter is currently writing her medical school essays and is afraid that she sounds ‘braggy’ when she highlights her accomplishments. Social norms have been all too effective at keeping women down. Thank you Jess for pointing out this aspect of the Platner story. I hope he quickly stands down and that a fantastic woman takes his place.
The example of your daughter is perfect. We have to stand up for ourselves with pride. This has not been encouraged in women.
I’m 71 and SO FRICKING OVER the hypocrisy of a nation who has an accused rapist/pedophile in the highest office in the land.
I was triggered by #metoo as memories long ignored reemerged of incidents I’d just as soon have not recalled. I stupidly hoped that the possible millions of guilty mostly male abusers around the world would finally be held accountable. Disgusted THAT did NOT happen. Add the total BS of the Epstein related guilty still free. The near daily news of a respected official getting arrested finally because the victim was brave enough to bear public scrutiny.
Then the glaring bright light examining everyone that runs for office. While I condemn Platner’s egregious behaviors, we are presented with the conundrum of WE MUST PUT ASSES IN DEMOCRAT SEATS. If some of those asses are true asses, so be it. We’ll deal with it.
I WISH I could run, but my health prevents it.
I just can’t imagine that Platner was the only candidate who had the winning message. I also know we can’t stoop to the level of Republicans who look past SA allegations. Thinking of you and your health.
Platner was recruited to run by Dan Moraff, who goes around looking for "working class" candidates to run on a progressive message. In some ways, Platner the candidate was created by Moraff. (See reporting in NYT, WSJ.) Moraff skipped paying for a deep vetting of the candidate. We need to be wary of political operatives.
I suspect that after Mills declared, other, younger, not-establishment, candidates stepped back. The DSCC wanted Mills, and everyone knew it. Why fight the machine that's not gonna support you?
Agreed. But, the other egregious even worsening thing (thanks to our corrupt supreme court) is the seemingly bottomless pit of $$$ involved now with elections. Add to the mix the SHOULD HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL redistricting. We keep checking that our mail in ballots are still going to happen. Fortunately our county elections supervisor’s office is not far (but no one would answer my questions as to why there were all kinds of law enforcement- federal, state, and local) standing around behind the counter last time I stopped by.
Oh no!
I’m so sick of pedophiles, abusers, rapists, and the Epstein Class, I could puke.we can and must do better than this. Putting obscene wealth, celebrity, and charisma above competence and dedication to reimagining a civil society is a recipe for disaster.
So true. I remember working at a Fortune 100 company. A new division manager was coming on board. He said "My big advantage is that I am coming 'with a clean slate'". After the meeting I pondered his statement. Then I realized he knew NOTHING about our departments, had no direct experience. A woman WOULD BE APOLOGIZING from here to Sunday. When will woman learn this male talent of moxie?
Not every "male" trait is something I want to emulate. Moxie in the right circumstances, maybe but not everyday. I'm sure that's something you might aggree with, or not.
Agreed. BUT I'd like the Moxie that gets me $175,000 annual salary.
I'm retired with a genuinely small pension and social security. So I keep working part time at a job that I love. One of my coworkers once said to me, "Oh you're great at this, you have a mother's heart." I spend my days in our community with adults that have various disabilities. I'm glad I have my mother's heart instead of moxie. Different priorities during all our different stages of life.
I would like someone to address the fact, that this popped up right before the deadline to remove himself if he is/was deciding. I'd like for democrats to look at themselves as they gang up on Platner. Their donors are most likely involved in their decision to demand him to step aside so a prefered democrat can step in? Democrats will start losing by standing with their aipac donors.
I definitely think there should be some research and to why folks let it go on this long. I know I’ve been hearing rumblings of Reddit posts and tattoos, and women for months. It looks like someone could’ve stopped it before it got to this point — he has great policies, but I don’t think he should’ve thrown his hat in the ring at this time. And I don’t know that he’s guilty. I just know there are a lot of accusations that would have made most people decide drop before this point.
I agree. Actually, I’m getting fed up with a lot of this. There is too much on the line to get derailed. That simple plays into the seemingly amoral GOP’s hands. A big part of me wants to yell, STOP IT!”
Absolutely.
The accusations against Platner have been going on for months.
I regarded it as good news the Republicans were disappointed the news came out before the deadline. I'm sure the poor woman who had to step up and tell her story, a brave move, had been watching that deadline with terror. I thank her for deciding to place country above her personal safety and security, giving Maine a chance to correct the problem.
Hopefully Platner won't turn out to be the type of ego who refuses to step aside.
His big name supporters are asking him to step down and his response is to make demands? That's entitlement on steroids. As for ganging up, I can only wish Republicans would gang up on Trump after his sexual assault and fraud convictions. Platner may well be trying to stop drinking and womanizing, but working in DC doesn't seem like the best spot for it given the pressure and opportunities.
As someone who has photos from my past and a past bankruptcy due to a failed business; I told myself that I would never run for office. Because I was also a little, brown girl from nowhere Missouri. I supported others. My fiancee decided to run and he was a great candidate, but he didn'twin. And when I was asked to run, I had to put that fear aside. Because I knew NO ONE else would run if I didn't. So I did, I didn't win, but my opponent had to campaign for the first time in his 3 terms. He called me a girl, and questioned my motives, but my past was never brought up.
Never make yourself less for society. Because let me tell ya, Republicans aren't doing that!
If you can do something, DO IT!!
Thank you!!!
Brava!!
The guy had a NAZI tattoo, and his excuse was, "I was drunk at the time." Seriously. --Yes, 'progressives' should be vetted better; and we should hold ourselves to a higher standard--men included. But the real question is, at a time when the President of the United States is credibly acknowledged to be a felon and a fraud, an adjudicated rapist, and a thief--why don't Republicans care about any of that?
The Republicans do not care at all about that. And I’m not sure they ever will. But we do and I’m glad we hold ourselves to a higher standard.
If I was so drunk I got a nazi tatoo, I probably would have died from alcohol poisoning before the ink was dry. Oddly, I've been drunk before and never got any tatoo, let alone a nazi one.
I think all rational citizens agree with your position. But, I guess that means the Extreme Right Wing (an estimated 70% of Republicans) are NOT rational. That should answer your question.
I hope that more women will have the courage to step up and run for elective office. Thanks for this post, Jess.
Good information, Jess. I wondered why Platner didn't consider his past actions before jumping into the race. It seems like men tend to downplay bad behavior (again, he is innocent until proven guilty, but still, multiple allegations should have given him and those supporting him, pause) while women pre-judge and are harsher on themselves. May have something to do with embarrassment/shame. Men don't typically seem to care as much what others think of them. A generalization, sure, but just speaking from decades of life experience. At any rate, oppo research will always find things. We need to understand the consequences before jumping in.
Women downplay the behaviors of men, too. How many times have we heard, "Well, s/he was drunk, so..."? Just no. From my experience, alcohol enhances baseline personality and character traits, by reducing inhibitions. The victim did ask him next morning if he remembered what he did, and he said no. How he managed to "forget" that tidbit when asked if there was anything else going to come out about his prior behavior, is on him.
This is all good. I agree.
What blows my mind is how a couple of equally twisted men got on the Supreme Court, while Plattner twists in the wind.
THIS!!!!
When the current mayor of Chicago was running for office (a black man), the republicans dug up late payments on his utility bills. He was not a wealthy individual…he was a teacher in Chicago public schools. The republicans blasted this “irresponsibility”! But it didn’t work and in fact probably got him a little more support. Most people experience late payments at some point in life, and they were sympathetic to this, not angry. And this was a very, very close election! Haha…thanks republicans!
Late payments sound very American to me. They shouldn’t be used to rule somebody out. They should be instead used to rule somebody in.
Women think of others all. the. time. and seem less inclined to value their impact and input for the greater good in the same breath. We have been ingrained to think our lapses in judgment are somehow worse because we are women and should somehow know better. This was a perfect summary of how that plays out.
Platner, along with Sinema, Fetterman, Manchin, Gabbard, and Schumer, is a great example of why the “vote blue no matter who” little rhyme needs to die NOW. It short circuits critical thinking and leads to disaster.