Far-left journalist Joy Reid unloaded on the Democratic Party after Graham Platner suspended his Maine Senate campaign on Wednesday, telling voters they have her “permission to not vote” if leadership opts to replace the progressive candidate with a more moderate option.
On “The Joy Reid Show,” the former MSNBC host warned key figures in the party that if they do not replace Platner with an “ideologically similar candidate,” voters may stay home on Election Day.
“You need to replace him with somebody who is ideologically the same because that is what was decided. The people of Maine, the Democratic voters of Maine said, ‘We want a progressive.’ They did not say they want an AIPAC [American Israel Public Affairs Committee] moderate,” Reid said. “So, the Democratic Party in Maine ought to pick someone who is ideologically the same or ideologically similar as Platner.”
Reid went on to give Maine voters her blessing not to cast their ballot if the Democrats do not select a candidate whose policies are in line with Platner’s campaign promises.
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“If you don’t and the DNC shoves an AIPAC candidate down your throat, you have my permission to not vote for them because the Democratic Party needs to learn that it is not, ‘Vote blue no matter who.’ It matters who,” Reid continued.
The podcast host suggested the Democrats would have to reckon with an inevitable election loss if party leaders do not take voters’ preferences into account.
“They sometimes need to lose in order to learn,” Reid said. “Sometimes when you lose, you learn.”
Reid concluded with words of warning for the party that if it selects another “sellout moderate” to fill Platner’s seat, the decision could cost them the election.
“If they put another AIPAC sellout moderate in place of Graham Platner, and they do not put somebody in who is his same ideology, you have my permission to stay your a– home. Then they will learn when Susan Collins gets six more years,” Reid said. “At this point, we have to teach Democrats. We need to instruct them and teach them how to treat us.
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“It’s like being in a relationship,” Reid added. “We gotta teach you how to treat your wife.”
Reid’s comments come on the heels of Platner’s announcement that he was dropping out of the race just five days before a crucial 5 p.m. deadline on Monday, allowing the Maine Democratic Party to replace him on the general election ballot.
The party has until July 27 to select a new nominee.
Platner’s suspension of his campaign was announced just days after Maine resident Jenny Racicot told CNN’s Jake Tapper that “by dictionary definition” Platner “raped” her while the pair were in a relationship, allegations that Platner has vehemently denied.
In a statement to Politico, Platner said, “These allegations are troubling, serious and false. Any accusation of non-consensual behavior is categorically untrue.”
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Platner was the subject of a second bombshell allegation published on Tuesday by The Washington Post, in which ex-girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield accused him of removing condoms during sex and engaging in physical misconduct.
In a statement to the Post, the Platner campaign said Fifield’s latest allegations were “categorically false and politically motivated.”
In a video posted to X Wednesday night, Platner insisted he was not suspending his campaign “because of allegations” but was “doing it because of structures that are being taken away from us by those in power.”
