SouthernWorldwide.com – A Purple Heart recipient has delivered a sharp rebuke to Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, following a video where Platner refused to apologize for mocking the veteran. The veteran, identified as Daniels, expressed his strong disapproval of Platner’s stance.
“There’s zero-to-no respect for a self-proclaimed communist,” Daniels stated. He highlighted the stark contrast between those who face danger directly and those who engage from a distance, suggesting Platner falls into the latter category.
The controversy stems from a Reddit post made in June 2019 by Platner, under the username “P-Hustle.” In this post, which has since been deleted, Platner commented on a helmet-cam video showing Daniels being shot four times during a 2012 engagement with Taliban fighters. Platner wrote that Daniels “didn’t deserve to live,” and attributed his survival to “poor marksmanship” by the Taliban.
This deleted post, acknowledged by Platner as originating from his account, is still accessible in a database maintained by the Maine Monitor. The database also contains other resurfaced posts where Platner identified himself as a “communist” and “socialist,” used derogatory language, and expressed admiration for Hamas military tactics.
Furthermore, an older interview revealed Platner suggesting that “American Sniper” Chris Kyle may have fabricated civilian killings to inflate his kill count.
Daniels, a former Republican candidate for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor, speculated that Platner’s comments about Chris Kyle might stem from envy. He emphasized that Platner’s statements were premeditated, made during an interview without any immediate provocation. Daniels believes this stems from Platner’s perceived inadequacy compared to Kyle’s stature.
Daniels asserted that any apology should be directed not to him, but to his children and the children and widow of Chris Kyle. He stated plainly that Platner owes them a direct apology.
Platner has previously attempted to explain his controversial remarks by citing his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, Daniels dismissed this explanation outright.
“I think Graham Platner is using his PTSD as a crutch, as a means to avoid accountability for his actions,” Daniels declared. He shared his own experience with PTSD following his military service and subsequent surgeries, acknowledging that PTSD can, in rare instances, lead to uncharacteristic behavior.
However, Daniels distinguished his experience from Platner’s pattern of behavior. He suggested that Platner’s actions appear to be a consistent pattern, and that blaming PTSD is insulting to all service members and individuals who genuinely suffer from the condition. Daniels stressed that taking responsibility for one’s words and actions is a fundamental aspect of maturity, a quality he feels Platner is currently lacking.
Some supporters of Platner have attempted to frame his controversial statements as typical “locker room talk” or as a manifestation of a dark sense of humor used by soldiers to cope with difficult situations. Daniels strongly disagreed with this characterization.
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“Graham Platner and his privileged background wouldn’t know the first thing about locker room talk,” Daniels retorted. He acknowledged that service members can sometimes be crude or engage in rivalries, but insisted that Platner’s public statements go far beyond that, describing them as “vile and disgusting.”
