Most people probably remember Graham Platner, the “colorful” Maine Democrat who was running for US Senate until a few weeks ago, when he abruptly dropped out after being accused of rape and physical intimidation. (He denied the allegations.)
The Maine Democratic Party was apparently aware of some of Platner’s “colorful” past but needed a white male to run. This is because their polling shows that they are losing the male vote. Therefore, they overlooked his faults until they couldn’t.
How to replace him? South Carolina lost their incumbent Senator Lindsey Graham due to a sudden illness. They are holding an emergency primary in order to give the voters a say in who should be running on the Republican ticket in that state. Did Maine do this?
Of course not. That would allow the public to have a say. Instead, 600 party insiders will “vote.” But CNN reported that “Troy Jackson is now widely expected to lock up the nomination at this weekend’s nominating convention.” 480+ delegates have committed to him. Democracy in action. This is another Bidenization of the electoral process.
Is Jackson the type of candidate they need? Well, he is white and male. As far as masculinity is concerned, he is a “former logger.” It is not clear how far back that particular occupation existed. Is Jackson someone who is calm, collected and lacking in the kind of behavioral issues that plagued Platner? Well, no one is accusing him of rape.
However, CNN, that far-right media outlet, has reported “Maine Democratic Senate frontrunner faces scrutiny over alleged anger outbursts.” According to the article, Jackson is known in Augusta for pounding on desks, storming out of rooms, and swearing at colleagues. But his pièce de résistance occurred during a private meeting about five years ago.
During one clash with fellow Democrats, Jackson allegedly grew so enraged that he hurled a plastic water bottle. A full one. The female legislator in the targeting radius told colleagues she was deeply frightened and felt he was aiming for her. (It made her quit. She decided not to run for reelection, citing Jackson’s conduct as a factor.)
Jeff Childers notes,
Jackson’s campaign, demonstrating the kind of deft rhetorical maneuvering we’ve come to expect from Democrats, admitted he threw the bottle but disputed the trajectory. “Over 22 years in public office, there have been moments when he let his frustration get the better of him,” the campaign admitted, but added that an eyewitness recalled, “the bottle was thrown away from everyone and struck no one.”
Let’s keep in mind that opposition research into Jackson is just beginning. If CNN is trying to head off bad press by getting the water bottle incident out now, just what else may be lurking in Jackson’s past?
Childers continues:
Let’s review the Democrats’ strategic pivot. They started with Graham Platner: a middle-aged white guy, prone to anger issues, cosplaying as a working-class redneck, and proudly holding a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) membership card. After he imploded, they searched far and wide, consulted their top political strategists, and replaced him with… Troy Jackson: a middle-aged white guy, prone to anger issues, cosplaying as a working-class redneck, and proudly holding a DSA membership card. Bernie Sanders endorsed them both.
Of course, Sanders endorsed both of them. They are both communists like Sanders. Bernie wouldn’t mind a little company in the Senate.
All of this makes it seem like Susan Collins has gotten an edge in this race. Of course, the media will find some way to twist that into a negative for her.
Anyway the name may have changed but the Platner saga continues.