Ron Filipkowski's take on the Platner situation

[senseandsensibility]

Maybe the consultants can do a better job vetting the candidates they recruit. Especially ones who came out of nowhere. Otherwise it looks like you either knowingly scammed us for a grift, you're willfully negligent or grossly incompetent. The consultant class sucks. A lot.

I think I agree with his assessment and would place the blame there rather than on the voters of Maine.

[WSHazel]

1. There are a lot of scumbags in this industry

Talk to anyone that has run for a state level or federal office, and they will have some stories.

[senseandsensibility]

2. All I can say is I hope that we learn from this

[3Hotdogs]

6. What did we learn?

What will we do differently in '32?

[calimary]

11. Make damn sure we KNOW our people, especially our potential candidates.

Consider it kind of a political hipster’s homework assignment.

Heaven knows if we’re talking ‘32 (I’m assuming this means 2032), we have TIME. RIGHT NOW. LOTS of it! To start evaluating them. Call it the “Get to Know Your Candidates” project (or game).
- Who’s for real?
- Who sounds/seems too good to be true?
- Who has what possible/potential problems?
- Who has what possible/potential assets?
- Who has the most credible and/or well-known friends/coworkers/colleagues willing to speak for them?
- Who’s bringing in the most money - and from whom?
- Who’s got the most longterm friends and allies, not just a bunch of newbies?

And so forth. You’ve probably got additional questions. Now’s the time. Seems to me. It’s NEVER too early.

[TBF]

3. !00% agree with Ron - as usual. nt

[mcar]

4. All it took was a look at the Nazi tattoo and his Redditt posts

A 5th grader could have handled it.

[Jarqui]

5. People are working extra hours or jobs trying to survive inflation, etc

Their time is more limited.
They do not have as much time to vet candidates.

Those nominating or the consultants who reviewed this have to do better.
We do not have as much quality or reliability in the media to rely on them to do this for us.

[senseandsensibility]

7. Yes exactly

I think that is the point but you made it very clearly.

[Skittles]

8. it didn't take genius thinking to know something was off

I mean, a nazi tattoo? JFC

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. People who vet candidates for U.S. Senate are not trying to survive inflation.

[Jarqui]

14. Well they ought to add a bunch who are trying to survive inflation because

that is what the majority of the voters are confronting

Seems to be a more likely way to find a candidate with broader appeal

This is another symptom of the broken politics compromising the country

For the sake of the country, we have to stop this kind of stuff in a hurry

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. WSJ: The 'Mad Scientist' Behind Graham Platner's Scandal-Plagued Rise

https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/the-mad-scientist-behind-graham-platners-scandal-plagued-rise-96f68810

Rushing to launch Graham Platner’s Senate bid, Dan Moraff, a progressive up-and-comer and Platner’s top strategist, asked a Democratic research firm to vet the political novice.

A thorough background check of a Senate candidate, which has become standard practice in key races, can take several weeks and cost roughly $20,000 or a monthly retainer. Moraff asked for an expedited, cheaper review to be done within days, according to people familiar with the matter.

[WarGamer]

12. Just me... I woulda thought the Nazi tat was a disqualifier lol

[W_HAMILTON]

13. So blame Bernie Sanders and his consultants?