Why did Democrats ignore Platner's red flags? Tell us. | Opinion

Sometimes we overlook a lot of red flags planted right in front of us because – well, I guess it's because we really think we want that thing just beyond them. So, we walk through the flapping banners, saying to ourselves, "That quicksand won't get me!"

With people whose behavior presents red flags, I think we sometimes look past the warnings because we see them less as individuals and more as symbols of the things we want. This is particularly true of politicians who stoke our hopes and fears and present themselves as the solution.

What we are (re)learning in this century is that when the fears are particularly strong – loss of economic security, dramatic demographic changes, loss of freedoms, etc. – we can look past a whole field of flags, as long as the politician is pushing our buttons in the right way.

Our latest example is Graham Platner, the fiery and eloquent Maine oysterman who spoke to liberals' outrage over President Donald Trump's remaking of the country in his image. Not so ironically, the two share some of the same flags when it comes to the alleged sexual abuse of women. This is something we have long known about Trump and something that has now been clearly raised as a concern about Platner, winner of Maine's June 9 Democratic Senate primary.

What kinds of politicians should parties platform? Tell us below.

So, a question to you, our USA TODAY readers: How does it happen that we elevate politicians with such serious flaws? Flaws that can be on display right in front of us, like Trump's defense of violent White nationalists or Platner's Nazi tattoo? And how do we stop doing it?

Scroll down to submit your answers, or send us an email at forum@usatoday.com using the subject line "Forum Platner red flags." You can also leave us a voicemail at (202) 655-3923. We'll publish a collection of your responses, so we may reach out to you about yours.

Joel Burgess is a Voices editor for USA TODAY Opinion.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why did Democrats ignore Platner's red flags? Tell us. | Opinion

Reporting by Joel Burgess, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 1:45 PM.