On June 9, Graham Platner received 72% of votes in the Maine Democratic primary, and pundits are wondering if character matters in today’s politics. The votes for Platner prove that it does.

The midterm elections in November will be the most important in the 250-year history of
the United States. The contest will be between enablers of the current administration
(bulldozers trashing the East Wing of the White House couldn’t be more symbolic), and
those with the fortitude to oppose this cruel, corrupt regime.

So, it comes down to who Mainers think can best serve the American people: a power-obsessed narcissistic president who promises to keep us out of forever wars and then blunders into an illegal, unnecessary, costly war in Iran, or a patriot who has witnessed firsthand the ugliness of war while serving four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and who has suffered the consequences? An elitist who admits to not thinking about the financial problems of the 99% and who exploits the powers of his office to further enrich his cronies, himself and his next of kin, or a hard-working small business owner who has convened more than 80 town hall meetings all over Maine and listened to how federal policies are hurting the working class?

Would Mainers prefer an individual who was taught early on never to admit to wrongdoing or failure, or a healing human who is open about his mistakes, trusting that Maine people will forgive a 41-year-old whose insanity was temporary?

Yes, character matters.

Melanie Lanctot
Readfield