When Marine veteran Joslin Joseph returned from Iraq, he found an online community of fellow service members. But he also witnessed a toxic undercurrent: the rise of the “bro-vet” culture, where misogyny, racism, and belittling of others’ trauma became common. Joseph understood the anger and frustration, but he never accepted it as an excuse for vile behavior.
Now, Joseph is turning that same lens on Graham Platner, a fellow Marine and Democrat running for U.S. Senate in Maine. Platner has faced a cascade of controversies—from calling rural white Americans “racist and stupid” to victim-blaming remarks about sexual assault. His defense? PTSD. But Joseph, a recipient of the Military Reporters and Editors award for commentary, isn't buying it.
“Having PTSD doesn’t absolve him of his track record for bad behavior,” Joseph writes. He notes that Platner has commendably sought treatment through the VA, but argues that many of the offensive comments and actions came after that treatment. “It is the equivalent of saying, ‘I have PTSD, and have sought treatment for it, but I am still doing things that I shouldn’t be doing.’”
The list of incidents is long. In 2013, Platner suggested women worried about sexual assault should “take some responsibility for themselves and not get so f—d up they wind up having sex with someone they don’t mean to.” Joseph struggles to see how PTSD explains that. “Calling yourself a communist while running as a Democrat has nothing to do with going to war,” he adds.
Joseph acknowledges the frustration among Democrats who feel pressured to find perfect candidates while running against opponents with criminal records. But he insists that standards still matter. “We still need to have standards and have somewhat of a moral compass,” he writes.
The broader context only deepens the stakes. Some observers have speculated that former President Trump might back Platner to torpedo Senator Susan Collins’ reelection bid. Meanwhile, figures like Rep. Ro Khanna have defended Platner, arguing Maine voters knew of his “dark” past. But others, including Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Tom Suozzi, have condemned Platner and called for higher standards in Congress.
Platner’s behavior, Joseph argues, predates his service and continued after his PTSD treatment. That suggests a pattern, not a symptom. “This means that he has always been a liability and there is a very high likelihood that he will continue to be one if he is elected a U.S. senator.”
The question for Maine Democrats—and the party nationally—is whether they are willing to take that risk. Joseph calls on Platner to come clean about who he really is and to stop using PTSD as a shield. “Accountability matters,” Joseph says. “Just because you have PTSD doesn’t mean you are excused.”
As the race intensifies, Platner faces new allegations of toxic behavior from ex-girlfriends, and his campaign has been rattled by mounting scandals. The path forward may depend on whether voters see a man seeking redemption—or one hiding behind a diagnosis.
