Jeffrey A. Lipow has been a member of the California State Bar Association since November 1978 and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and numerous federal courts around the country. 

Zealots, be they religious, ideological or cultural, see the world through a black-and-white lens. There are no shades of gray, and no tolerated variance from the dogma. Politically, zealots are more than willing to commit suicide than to compromise their doctrines.

Some zealots in the Democratic Party are more concerned with ideological purity than winning. This curse is rearing its ugly head with Graham Platner, with #MeToo-type purists wanting to shun him from the party.

At this point, Platner faces three allegations involving women: First, that he exchanged sexual texts with multiple adult women while married; second, that he was a “bad” boyfriend and at times made some women feel uneasy; and third, most seriously, that he grabbed a woman by the arm and separately pulled her from a vehicle.

For context, I have been a civil rights attorney for over 47 years with my wife and law partner. We specialize in representing women who were victims of sexual harassment and gender discrimination in employment. I am deeply familiar with the serious abuse many women endure and the lasting emotional harm it can cause. When a woman makes an allegation, I believe her unless there is a substantial reason not to.

Despite her involvement in MAGA politics, I assume the woman who says Platner pulled her from a cab is telling the truth. I also acknowledge her statement that she was not injured, as well as Platner’s denial.

I also understand that misconduct varies in degree. In criminal law, offenses range from infractions to misdemeanors to felonies. In the hundreds of sexual harassment cases I handled on behalf of women, I have seen great variances in the abuse they suffered, from coercion to engage in sexual relations to verbal abuse.

As for Platner’s alleged misconduct, sexting with other women is a marital issue and not a concern beyond that. His wife forgave him, so should you. Platner was not engaging with minors, or subordinate employees or staff.

As for being a “bad boyfriend,” there are an equal number of women who said he was a caring and gentle man. I bet most people have exes who have a bitter taste in their mouth about the relationship.

The pulling a woman out of a cab forcefully during an argument is certainly a serious scenario. If it were a pattern of conduct, that would be concerning. As humans, we all sometimes lose control and do things we regret, often instantly. It does not justify the behavior, but everyone has occasions of acting out of anger and frustration.

Many people, male and female, on isolated occasions in anger have grabbed or pushed or thrown an object at their spouse or partner. Platner’s “crime” of pulling the woman provides no evidence of a violent or abusive character trait toward women. But to ideologues, any mistreatment of a woman, irrespective of the severity, commands shunning from the community.

Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., has effectively judged and condemned Platner. She quickly
declared his conduct “disqualifying.” This raises the essential question: Which matters more — a candidate who meets a purity test, or defeating Susan Collins and winning control of the Senate?

I beg those who oppose Donald Trump to be practical. Platner is the Democratic nominee for the Maine Senate seat and needs the 1,000% support of everyone, including Rep. Dean. Rep. Dean’s zealous craving for purity in the treatment of women blinds her from the real issues — defeating the billionaire class, Project 2025 and Trump’s agenda.

Would you rather have a majority control of the Senate that includes Platner, or a Republican- controlled Senate bowing to Trump for two more years?

Are you going to turn your back on Platner in favor of:

• Unlimited funding for ICE, with the development of Trump concentration camps
  around the country.
• Corruption and the endless transfer of wealth from working families to the billionaire class.
• The continued deconstruction of federal agencies, civil rights laws, environmental laws, women’s rights, the Justice Department and the rule of law.

Project 2025 will set the advancement of women back to the 19th century. Look no further than Pete Hegseth destroying the careers of women serving in the military.

I urge all Democrats — especially women like Rep. Dean — to go to Maine, stand with Platner and encourage women of all ages to support his campaign. Winning Maine is not optional; it is indispensable to the survival of our democracy and the civil rights of all women.