Came here to say this exact thing — Platner is not accused of breaking laws or professional ethical standards …. This is a total false equivalency piece that is beneath the bulwark
Yep. You can tell when a democrat gets caught sending steamy texts. Then the “both sides” starts coming out. The other side’s led by a friggin’ sadistic child molester for f##k’s sake.
I am an ex-Republican and I am sick and tired of the partisan sh*t whereby Democrats are held to a higher standard than Republicans.
I am also old enough to remember when Clinton's entire second term was eaten up by Republicans who were quick enough to declare then that "Character matters," and so he was impeached for lying regarding his relations with Monika Lewinsky.
Considering the loathsome allegations against Trump (which make Clinton's infidelities look like a game of "Spin the Bottle" by comparison), I can see that character certainly doesn't matter to the RINO MAGA Trump party now!
> Right now, each party is dealing with a high-profile candidate in a key race who has significant fidelity issues: Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton in Texas and Democratic Senate primary challenger Graham Platner in Maine. I asked lawmakers in both parties if they are second-guessing their respective dudes.
I'm going to stop you right there.
Paxton's issues aren't in any way, shape, or form limited to infidelity. Yes, there is apparently an infidelity angle, but it pales in comparison to the corruption, abuse of power, and bribery that got him impeached. If Paxton's *only* issue was infidelity it wouldn't rate, except insofar as Paxton's claim to moral high ground based on Christian traditional values exposes him as a hypocrite.
There is not a shred of validity to trying to put Platner and Paxton in the same category.
I'm not going to bother reading the rest of this article; I have better things to do with my time. Someone can reply to this with a comment if there's anything of value I miss.
Of course everyone is concerned about character. Of course, in the past, being gay was considered disqualifying for office, so as times change, so do the things that matter.
Platner sexted on his wife. They worked it out through counseling. They even told his campaign about it so they would be forewarned. That is a lot different from someone who cheats on their spouse and never tells them; who allegedly assaults a woman in a hotel room (can't ever remember which rep that was), who allegedly commits the felonies that Paxton did.
Swalwell had to drop out of the governor's race following severe allegations of sexual misconduct and assault made by multiple women, including former associates. That was good that he dropped out and then resigned.
As far as we know - Platner's character flaws do not reach that level AND he worked on it with his wife and revealed it to his campaign team. I'd say those last two things show decent character.
Al Franken shouldn't have had to leave the Senate for the photos he took, tasteless as they were.
Let Maine voters decide. I'm not clutching my pearls over this (even though I have other concerns about Platner, I'll still take him over Collins who has done so much damage to this country with her votes).
Funny about those photos. A photographer was interviewed soon afterwords and gave a cogent description of one photo being “shopped.’ Said he would have liked to see the negative to be certain. Never heard anything after that, but I did wonder who was being truthful.
Can The Bulwark please stop calling it a “Nazi Tattoo”? It was a skull and crossbones. Even the NYTs calls it “a tattoo that resembles a Nazi symbol”. I guarantee 99.9% of us here would not have known this skull and crossbones was anything other than a skull and crossbones unless someone had told us otherwise.
Exactly. Remember--these guys are Republican and aren't all the invested in Democrats winning national office unles they can transform the Democratic Party into the Republican Party they mourn. They are not invested in Democratic Party ideals, in other words. They are invested in ousting Trump. These are very different things.
Yes, I didn't know it was a Nazi symbol. I though it was about pirates, and that seemed a pretty reasonable choice for someone who was in the Marines, grew up in Maine and wanted to seem like a badass.
I wish the dems would heartily endorse Platner. This is a war. We need power to change anything. Collins is bad! I’ve head dems criticizing Platner and it really pisses me off. We have a president who was convicted of sexual assault! Come on dems get it together!
I wish people would shut up about the tattoo already. Most young Marines end up with one or two stupid tattoos and they don't always know what they're getting. It took my friend two days before he realized the artist had misspelled Semper Fi.
I don't know Joe...you write,"In truth, I have a hard time thinking of a dumber policy proposed by a member of any president’s cabinet since I started working in political journalism." Yes, unquestionably dumb, but the dumbest policy proposed?Not by a long shot. I mean,the DHS policy of testing an anti-drone weapon near an airport w/o notifying the FAA, is one the quickly comes to mind.
How about we stop judging candidates (both Democrats and and Republicans) on "character flaws" that don't rise to the level of criminal conduct and forget about all this stupid moralizing. I care more about what a candidate says about issues I care about, and couldn't care less about anything else.
so first of all a lot of times, it’s not the scandal that’s relevant. It’s how they respond to the scandal. I don’t like how Platner has responded to the scandal. He has lied about it or ant least has been very Clinton like in his comments and his wife suggested that since her husband is trying to do so much good for the people of Maine that no one should even ask questions like this. As for Paxton, his character issues have bled into actual public corruption. That’s an easy line to draw right there. You can cheat on your wife and be a perfectly good public servant. But both these guys suck basically for different reasons
Dem establishment going hard at Platner is just alienating them more. I'm livid about it and really want Schumer gone. The old guard's time is over. Get out of the way.
Yes, actually, they are. Read Dan Pfeiffer's Message Box. Mill's was out today telling people she's still on the ballot. The old folks are a problem. Platner is an honorable vet. Many like him. I will take it over some slimy do gooder who has no idea what war looks like and won't push back on Trump.
Telling someone you are the ballot? You can't be serious. He is having problems because LAST Year he sent gross texts. Mills did not make him do that. That is all him. Same with all the gross stuff in his past. Look, you support him, fine but cut the BS.
Torn. I couldn’t care less about an individual’s fidelity to their partner (it’s between them) and says nothing about how effective they would be as a Senator, but… does unnecessarily bring poor judgment and issues of trust to the forefront. Thanks to Trump we have found out that for all intents and purposes our country runs on an honor system, which is why character matters. If character matters only as a political cudgel, then it will not be long before the Democratic and Republican Parties become indistinguishable. “He who fights monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster.” - Nietzsche
First off, I’m not a Mainer, so my opinion on Platner matters very little. The thing that I can’t let him off the hook for is the reaction: blaming the press and acting like he’s been betrayed.
I am also not personally interested in public figures’ sex lives; marriages can be all sorts of different. But in this country, it is news when a candidate for Senate acts the way he did, especially since it happened more recently than the other controversies. For the lack of a better description, his reaction to the story coming out was immature, and pulled directly out of the MAGA playbook.
Couple that with his inexperience in government, what is there to assure anyone he will stick to principles?
Glad I live in California where it seems the rather boring and staid Xavier Becerra will likely come out on top. For the record, I voted for Becerra and think he would be fine as governor. I know there are plenty of people who want California to elect someone who will enact radical change and be exciting, but is that really all it’s cracked up to be? Maine can keep Platner while the bastion of leftism, California looks to be staying a rather unradical course.
Two core character values, regardless of party, are inescapable, and we voters apply these two tests of character both to the candidates and their supporters (many are also candidates for re-election):
1. In the end, habits create character, and character determines destiny. No escape.
Thank you, but with respect, Eric, I beg to differ. Check Alexander Pope, the principal exponent (note: the quatrain is intact--the fifth line is my comment.
Platner’s not a child molesting thief out to undermine our freedoms. That’s a biggly difference with Republicans.
In this craphole digital age, you’re not going to get perfection. We’re all imperfect human beings. Get over it.
Agreed, this comparison is another example of Democrats being held to a much different standard than Republicans. I expected better from the Bulwark.
Came here to say this exact thing — Platner is not accused of breaking laws or professional ethical standards …. This is a total false equivalency piece that is beneath the bulwark
I could not agree with your comment more vehemently.
Agreed. I’m so tired of this bullshit.
lot of Bulwark people used to be (still are?) Republican.
Yep. You can tell when a democrat gets caught sending steamy texts. Then the “both sides” starts coming out. The other side’s led by a friggin’ sadistic child molester for f##k’s sake.
I don't hold that against them unless they still are.
I am an ex-Republican and I am sick and tired of the partisan sh*t whereby Democrats are held to a higher standard than Republicans.
I am also old enough to remember when Clinton's entire second term was eaten up by Republicans who were quick enough to declare then that "Character matters," and so he was impeached for lying regarding his relations with Monika Lewinsky.
Considering the loathsome allegations against Trump (which make Clinton's infidelities look like a game of "Spin the Bottle" by comparison), I can see that character certainly doesn't matter to the RINO MAGA Trump party now!
> Right now, each party is dealing with a high-profile candidate in a key race who has significant fidelity issues: Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton in Texas and Democratic Senate primary challenger Graham Platner in Maine. I asked lawmakers in both parties if they are second-guessing their respective dudes.
I'm going to stop you right there.
Paxton's issues aren't in any way, shape, or form limited to infidelity. Yes, there is apparently an infidelity angle, but it pales in comparison to the corruption, abuse of power, and bribery that got him impeached. If Paxton's *only* issue was infidelity it wouldn't rate, except insofar as Paxton's claim to moral high ground based on Christian traditional values exposes him as a hypocrite.
There is not a shred of validity to trying to put Platner and Paxton in the same category.
I'm not going to bother reading the rest of this article; I have better things to do with my time. Someone can reply to this with a comment if there's anything of value I miss.
Also, one candidate claims Christian values that prohibit infidelity and divorce. So he should be judged by the standard he judges others.
No. But you missed a laugh when author located San Fran and San Jose in SOUTHERN California.
Of course everyone is concerned about character. Of course, in the past, being gay was considered disqualifying for office, so as times change, so do the things that matter.
Platner sexted on his wife. They worked it out through counseling. They even told his campaign about it so they would be forewarned. That is a lot different from someone who cheats on their spouse and never tells them; who allegedly assaults a woman in a hotel room (can't ever remember which rep that was), who allegedly commits the felonies that Paxton did.
Swalwell had to drop out of the governor's race following severe allegations of sexual misconduct and assault made by multiple women, including former associates. That was good that he dropped out and then resigned.
As far as we know - Platner's character flaws do not reach that level AND he worked on it with his wife and revealed it to his campaign team. I'd say those last two things show decent character.
Al Franken shouldn't have had to leave the Senate for the photos he took, tasteless as they were.
Let Maine voters decide. I'm not clutching my pearls over this (even though I have other concerns about Platner, I'll still take him over Collins who has done so much damage to this country with her votes).
The worst oppo won't be dropped until the primary is over. The GOP most likely aren't morons in that regard.
Someone should ask something like why Platner was expelled from Hotchkiss.
Funny about those photos. A photographer was interviewed soon afterwords and gave a cogent description of one photo being “shopped.’ Said he would have liked to see the negative to be certain. Never heard anything after that, but I did wonder who was being truthful.
Can The Bulwark please stop calling it a “Nazi Tattoo”? It was a skull and crossbones. Even the NYTs calls it “a tattoo that resembles a Nazi symbol”. I guarantee 99.9% of us here would not have known this skull and crossbones was anything other than a skull and crossbones unless someone had told us otherwise.
Didn’t that picture fly in all the pirate movies I saw as a kid?
Exactly. Remember--these guys are Republican and aren't all the invested in Democrats winning national office unles they can transform the Democratic Party into the Republican Party they mourn. They are not invested in Democratic Party ideals, in other words. They are invested in ousting Trump. These are very different things.
It's a Totenkopf and Platner called it that.
Most people probably has no idea it's a SS tattoo but Platner certainly did.
Yes, I didn't know it was a Nazi symbol. I though it was about pirates, and that seemed a pretty reasonable choice for someone who was in the Marines, grew up in Maine and wanted to seem like a badass.
I wish the dems would heartily endorse Platner. This is a war. We need power to change anything. Collins is bad! I’ve head dems criticizing Platner and it really pisses me off. We have a president who was convicted of sexual assault! Come on dems get it together!
I wish people would shut up about the tattoo already. Most young Marines end up with one or two stupid tattoos and they don't always know what they're getting. It took my friend two days before he realized the artist had misspelled Semper Fi.
Just look who they all support as the leader of this country - need I say more..
Just wanted to say I appreciated all of the Lonely Island references
I don't know Joe...you write,"In truth, I have a hard time thinking of a dumber policy proposed by a member of any president’s cabinet since I started working in political journalism." Yes, unquestionably dumb, but the dumbest policy proposed?Not by a long shot. I mean,the DHS policy of testing an anti-drone weapon near an airport w/o notifying the FAA, is one the quickly comes to mind.
Or firing live ammunition over a freeway, and not closing the road or informing the governor as early as possible.
In fairness these were incidents not policies . Stupidity and disregard for safety - that was the policy
How about we stop judging candidates (both Democrats and and Republicans) on "character flaws" that don't rise to the level of criminal conduct and forget about all this stupid moralizing. I care more about what a candidate says about issues I care about, and couldn't care less about anything else.
bad character brings bad judgement for U&Me.
Meh. Bill Clinton certainly didn't have stellar character but he was a decent POTUS.
Just as with intelligence, there are many kinds of character. This is painting with an overbroad brush.
Kinds. Why can't I correct...
so first of all a lot of times, it’s not the scandal that’s relevant. It’s how they respond to the scandal. I don’t like how Platner has responded to the scandal. He has lied about it or ant least has been very Clinton like in his comments and his wife suggested that since her husband is trying to do so much good for the people of Maine that no one should even ask questions like this. As for Paxton, his character issues have bled into actual public corruption. That’s an easy line to draw right there. You can cheat on your wife and be a perfectly good public servant. But both these guys suck basically for different reasons
Politicians and sports: I know first hand Sherrod Brown knows more about the Cleveland Guardians than any living person.
If he's like my native Clevelander wife, he probably regrets knowing so much!
Dem establishment going hard at Platner is just alienating them more. I'm livid about it and really want Schumer gone. The old guard's time is over. Get out of the way.
Dem establishment is doing nothing to him. His problems are caused by his behavior. This constant deflection is really off putting.
Dude is creep. Even so, because of where we are, he is a creep we have to support. That is all that need be said.
Yes, actually, they are. Read Dan Pfeiffer's Message Box. Mill's was out today telling people she's still on the ballot. The old folks are a problem. Platner is an honorable vet. Many like him. I will take it over some slimy do gooder who has no idea what war looks like and won't push back on Trump.
Telling someone you are the ballot? You can't be serious. He is having problems because LAST Year he sent gross texts. Mills did not make him do that. That is all him. Same with all the gross stuff in his past. Look, you support him, fine but cut the BS.
Torn. I couldn’t care less about an individual’s fidelity to their partner (it’s between them) and says nothing about how effective they would be as a Senator, but… does unnecessarily bring poor judgment and issues of trust to the forefront. Thanks to Trump we have found out that for all intents and purposes our country runs on an honor system, which is why character matters. If character matters only as a political cudgel, then it will not be long before the Democratic and Republican Parties become indistinguishable. “He who fights monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster.” - Nietzsche
First off, I’m not a Mainer, so my opinion on Platner matters very little. The thing that I can’t let him off the hook for is the reaction: blaming the press and acting like he’s been betrayed.
I am also not personally interested in public figures’ sex lives; marriages can be all sorts of different. But in this country, it is news when a candidate for Senate acts the way he did, especially since it happened more recently than the other controversies. For the lack of a better description, his reaction to the story coming out was immature, and pulled directly out of the MAGA playbook.
Couple that with his inexperience in government, what is there to assure anyone he will stick to principles?
Glad I live in California where it seems the rather boring and staid Xavier Becerra will likely come out on top. For the record, I voted for Becerra and think he would be fine as governor. I know there are plenty of people who want California to elect someone who will enact radical change and be exciting, but is that really all it’s cracked up to be? Maine can keep Platner while the bastion of leftism, California looks to be staying a rather unradical course.
Two core character values, regardless of party, are inescapable, and we voters apply these two tests of character both to the candidates and their supporters (many are also candidates for re-election):
1. In the end, habits create character, and character determines destiny. No escape.
2. In historical iambic pentameter:
Integrity's the inmost core of life.
There is no substitute that you can find.
Without it, all must end in sullen strife.
And if you fool yourself, then you are blind.
Think, and vote accordingly.
Only one of those lines is iambic pentameter!
Thank you, but with respect, Eric, I beg to differ. Check Alexander Pope, the principal exponent (note: the quatrain is intact--the fifth line is my comment.