Never-Trump former Congressman Joe Walsh unleashed a blistering attack on controversial Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, branding him despicable and a bullsh*tter while declaring there is not a tent big enough in the Democratic Party to include them both.
The broadside came after Maine Governor Janet Mills abandoned her Senate run this week, effectively clearing the field for Platner to become the Democratic challenger to Senator Susan Collins, a veteran Republican lawmaker and frequent target of the left, as reported by Mediaite. Platner has been dogged by uproar over past remarks and a tattoo he insists he did not realize carried Nazi symbolism when he got it, a mark he has since covered but which continues to raise serious questions about his judgment and character.
For conservatives, the episode underscores how far Democrats are willing to stretch their big tent rhetoric to accommodate deeply problematic candidates, so long as they promise to be aggressive partisans against Republicans and President Trumps agenda.
Walsh, a self-described convert to the Democratic Party and a prominent Never-Trump figure, discussed Platner on his podcast with progressive strategist Cliff Schecter of Blue Amp Media, where he startled his guest by refusing to back the Democrat. When I became a Democrat 10 months ago, Cliff, gosh, I said the Democratic Party needs to be a big enough tent for Zoran Mamdani and Joe Walsh, Walsh recalled, emphasizing his belief that ideological diversity should be tolerated on the left.
And I still believe that, he continued, as Schecter agreed.
But There is not a tent big enough for Joe Welsh and Graham Plattner, Walsh declared, drawing a sharp line between policy disagreements and what he sees as moral disqualification.
Walsh acknowledged he is out of step with most Democrats, who appear eager to rally behind Platner despite the controversies.
And by the way, I know our list, Im in the minority on this with our listeners. And probably the vast majority of Democrats. I get that. I want fighters, fighters, fighters, clearly Platners politics are not mine, but Mahmdanis arent mine either. So what? Big deal, he said.
I find him to be an utterly despicable, dishonest and inauthentic guy, Walsh added, prompting a brief Okay from Schecter. But, but Cliff, I think Democratic primary voters right now Dont give a f*ck. Nazi tattoo, I dont give a f*ck, Walsh charged, accusing the party base of shrugging off behavior that would be disqualifying in any serious moral framework.
You lied about the Nazi tattoo. I don t give a f*ck. You said what about blacks and women? I dont t give a f*ck! he said, mimicking what he sees as the attitude of Democratic voters. Thats where Democratic primary voters are now. I get it. I get. And weve all said sh*t in our past. Lord knows I have, Walsh conceded, before stressing that accountability is the key difference.
But you own up to the sh*t youve said, he insisted, a standard many conservatives argue Democrats routinely abandon when the accused is politically useful. Schecter responded, Thats fair. Thats a fair criticism.
Hes done the exact opposite and I think hes lied about his sh*t. I also, Cliff, find him to be an anti-Semite, and thats a real, real red line for me. So I know Im in the minority among Democrats, and I dont know, Walsh said, highlighting concerns that should alarm any party claiming to stand against bigotry. In a year like this, Cliff he probably will beat Susan Collins. I dont know. I dont know Maine. Maines a different kind of animal. But I cant support him because I think hes anti-semitic and I think hes a bullsh*tter completely, he concluded, suggesting Democrats may be willing to overlook anti-Semitism if it helps them gain a Senate seat.
Schecter cautiously agreed that the second part could be true and noted that any of it could be true, while framing Walshs stance as notable for someone who moved from a very conservative position to the Democratic camp and shifted on key issues. For many on the right, however, the real story is not Walshs journey but the Democratic Partys readiness to rally behind a candidate shadowed by Nazi imagery, racial and gender controversies, and allegations of anti-Semitism, all in the pursuit of power and another vote against conservative governance.
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