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QueerDuck

(2,467 posts)

67. Spot on. Charisma is exactly why rigorous and honest vetting is vital.

Reply to Fil1957 (Reply #32)

Wed Jul 8, 2026, 04:32 PM

Wednesday

I think you make an excellent point that often gets overlooked in the fallout of a campaign collapse. Platner is an incredibly effective communicator, and that specific talent is precisely what allowed him to build early momentum and charm national backers.

Political talent and sharp interviewing skills are powerful assets, but this situation proves they can also act as a smoke screen. When a candidate is highly articulate and looks perfect "on paper" or on camera, it is easy for campaigns and organizations to lower their guard and skip the tedious homework of a deep background check.

This is absolutely a text-book cautionary tale for any Democratic candidate. It proves that no matter how dazzling a candidate's oratorical skills are, they cannot substitute for basic character, transparent history, and institutional vetting.

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Highlight:

Platner: Astro-Turfed Authenticity [View all] QueerDuck Wednesday OP

As someone who has contempt for police, would like to see the party move to the left, etc., I want to add that it is WhiskeyGrinder Wednesday #1

Indeed... a bad fit from the beginning. QueerDuck Wednesday #2

I think we need more information. yardwork Wednesday #11

Increasingly, the consultants and activists groups are doing the vetting. Parties don't have the money, time or WhiskeyGrinder Wednesday #16

Well, there's a big problem right there if searches are farmed out to consulting firms. yardwork Wednesday #62

I need some answers. Like who were these the people doing the veting? What's the source of your bio of Platner? flashman13 Wednesday #36

Post removed Post removed Wednesday #41

Do you trust Lawrence O'Donnell mcar Wednesday #68

I do. That was a great segment. QueerDuck Wednesday #72

Yes, they weren't excited about their other options. LisaL Wednesday #3

"Too boring" ... The danger of demanding a political soulmate. QueerDuck Wednesday #7

We haven't dodged a bullet because he has to step down. LisaL Wednesday #8

True. I'm hoping that calmer and rational thought prevails... QueerDuck Wednesday #9

I'm hoping that his wife or someone else he trusts spooky3 Wednesday #29

They just announced on ms now Lifeafter70 20 hrs ago #77

It wasn't just the "vetters" (whoever they are) who were OK with Platner's flaws Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #4

And some of the people still are. LisaL Wednesday #5

It would be difficult to get an indictment without physical evidence Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #10

Her testimony is considered evidence. LisaL Wednesday #13

Since it's a felony, it would have to go to a grand jury to get an indictment Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #15

Grand Jury just indicted a supposed pool vandal. LisaL Wednesday #17

They also indicted Comey and Tish James Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #19

E.Jean Carroll won her case. Her evidence sufficed, and spooky3 Wednesday #30

That was a civil suit, where the burden of proof is far lower Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #33

True, but my point still stands. spooky3 Wednesday #34

And my point still stands Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #42

You are correct Lifeafter70 20 hrs ago #78

In this twisted world, it only depends on the DA in question mdbl Wednesday #27

That's just the thing... it appears to me that their job was not to vet, but to scrub and polish... QueerDuck Wednesday #12

whops. And all the scrub and Cha 20 hrs ago #79

A campaign strategist can make or break you. LeftInTX Wednesday #50

Absolutely Good Work QueerDuck (Thank You) ahnakneemoose Wednesday #6

Isn't it odd that most of we Democrats doubted Platner's honesty and authenticity from the beginning... Escape Wednesday #14

We can't toss him. LisaL Wednesday #18

I hope he doesn't step down. BComplex Wednesday #45

The candidate's own actions tell a different story. QueerDuck Wednesday #65

Yet they keep winning elections and have a devoted cult mdbl Wednesday #28

Populist Them (establishment elites) vs Us (The People, the working class). betsuni Wednesday #20

Only working class white men mcar Wednesday #26

"What you're talking about is identity politics. We are so proud that for the first time we have a judge betsuni Wednesday #53

... mcar Wednesday #56

Platner posted a few years ago that "Black people don't tip" MichMan Wednesday #66

Lawrence was great on Platner on the Last Word LetMyPeopleVote Wednesday #21

Yes... that was excellent. QueerDuck Wednesday #24

Thank you for this information Progressive dog Wednesday #22

Like many, I was leery of him from the beginning, PatSeg Wednesday #23

Yes. There was a lot of bullying and attempts to silence critics. This was coming from his campaign... QueerDuck Wednesday #25

If you spoke out you were deemed a traitor to "the cause." It just wasn't coming from his campaign, it Raftergirl Wednesday #39

Exactly PatSeg Wednesday #40

I think Bernie's endorsement propelled him. boston bean Wednesday #31

You're absolutely correct. QueerDuck Wednesday #35

One thing about Platner that has not been mentioned in this thread -- he's a very talented speaker. He also gives good Fil1957 Wednesday #32

I agree. Nt spooky3 Wednesday #37

That is what caused me to brush aside my misgivings MustLoveBeagles Wednesday #46

Spot on. Charisma is exactly why rigorous and honest vetting is vital. QueerDuck Wednesday #67

You would've hated Abraham Lincoln Sympthsical Wednesday #38

There is a vast difference between standard marketing and material fraud. QueerDuck Wednesday #48

Seriously. So many politicians do this. Sympthsical Wednesday #49

A simple misunderstanding of terms. QueerDuck Wednesday #51

Swalwell had institutional vetting Sympthsical Wednesday #55

I still can't past the Nazi tattoo! And he didn't get rid of it until after it was made public. LeftInTX Wednesday #58

There's so much faux hand-wringing about this Sympthsical Wednesday #61

His strategist could have dumped him early on. It happens. It wasn't his idea to run. LeftInTX Wednesday #64

What a fighter! MorbidButterflyTat Wednesday #69

Lincoln was self taught and grew up poor Kaleva Wednesday #52

Absolutely Sympthsical Wednesday #54

It was his performance at the Lincoln Douglass debates that garnered him national fame Kaleva Yesterday #73

Yes, but we're talking about campaign personas Sympthsical Yesterday #74

Interesting! I've never heard about that Kaleva 21 hrs ago #75

Actually a lot of that information on his background karynnj Wednesday #43

This is the worst dodged bullet since Trump's ear. mr715 Wednesday #44

Agreed MustLoveBeagles Wednesday #47

Note to self... "do not read anything from mr715 with food in my mouth" QueerDuck Wednesday #59

Never gets old! MorbidButterflyTat Wednesday #70

You are correct Keepthesoulalive Wednesday #57

It wasn't a swastika, it was a SS totenkopf. MichMan Wednesday #60

German or Nazi military history I will not get in the weeds with Keepthesoulalive Wednesday #63

Actually it looked like what it was, a Nazi SS Deaths Head tattoo EX500rider Wednesday #71

When they show you who they are, believe them. SheltieLover 21 hrs ago #76