Jamelle Bouie: Graham Platner and Why Character Matters

[marmar]

Jul 10, 2026

A few last thoughts on this Graham Platner stuff, mostly on why it is important to look for people with character and integrity.

[QueerDuck]

1. This fellow is brilliant. I love his style, his pace, his demeanor, his calm nature...

... he's not raging. He's not insulting my intelligence. He's methodical and clear. He builds the foundation and "tells a story" and take it to a clear and logical conclusion. He's not shouting. He's not looping back and repeating himself. He's not padding his thoughts and dragging things out.

He's a true GEM!!

[Cha]

2. Thank you, marmar... I like

this guy, Ja,melle Bouie. It's the 2nd time I've seen him.

He's so right about "Character" .. it does matter. Planter is a "cautionary tale" for those who said, "it doesn't matter.".

[peggysue2]

3. Gotta say I agree with what Bouie speaks to here

I'm someone who has been fooled twice in the last few years. First by Fetterman and now by Platner. Bouie is correct that judging candidates across the board can be difficult particularly when they're speaking effectively to issues we care about and/or a candidate has a strong public presence driving home the message. Fetterman and his campaign did it with humor and wit; Platner has been a passionate, gifted storyteller on the stump and in interviews.

In both cases the message was there but the messengers were flawed

Bouie's suggestion is on the mark, IMHO. In a world where nothing appears to matter beyond money and power, a yardstick to measure the men and women asking for our votes is still available: character, integrity and discretion.

Good reminder. And a mea culpa for my foolishness.

[Emile]

4. I would wait to see if Susan Collins wins.