By Gloria Ogbonna
Rep. Adam Smith sharply criticized former Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Graham Platner during an appearance on MSNBC’s All In on Wednesday, describing him as “a bad guy” and arguing that concerns about his character existed long before recent allegations of assault surfaced.
Smith said the newly reported allegations against Platner are extremely serious but insisted they are only the latest in a series of controversies that have surrounded the former Senate candidate. According to Smith, Platner had already demonstrated troubling behavior through previous actions and public statements that raised questions about his fitness for public office.
“First of all, Platner’s a bad guy, okay,” Smith said during the interview. “Forget the—I’m sorry, don’t forget these allegations, they’re incredibly serious—but the stuff that he’s already admitted, sexting people in the workplace, the Nazi tattoo, the racist comments and other unhinged comments that he made on Reddit back in the day. He’s not a good person.”
The Washington congressman argued that Platner’s past conduct alone should have been enough to disqualify him from being viewed as a credible political figure, even before the latest accusations became public. Smith suggested that the combination of workplace misconduct, offensive comments, and controversial personal history painted a consistent picture of someone unfit for leadership.
Smith also accused Platner of exploiting growing public dissatisfaction with the political establishment for his own personal gain. He claimed Platner attempted to position himself as an outsider by fueling anti-establishment sentiment rather than offering meaningful solutions.
“And he is using the anti-establishment feeling to basically be a demagogue,” Smith said. “That’s what he tried to do.”
While criticizing Platner, Smith acknowledged that the Democratic Party itself faces legitimate challenges and needs to improve in several key areas. He admitted Democrats have struggled in recent election campaigns and said the party has not done enough to address issues such as income inequality.
“There’s no question the Democratic establishment needs to get a lot better,” Smith said. “We have not done as good a job in campaigns as we should have done. We have not done enough to basically deal with income inequality in this country.”
However, Smith argued that dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party should not lead voters to support political figures whom he characterized as opportunists seeking personal power.
“But don’t sign up for any demagogue who comes along,” he said. “And don’t use it as an excuse to trash the group of us who are trying to stop Trump. Make us better.”
Smith went on to accuse Platner of attacking fellow Democrats primarily to elevate his own political profile rather than to advance meaningful reforms within the party. He contended that Platner’s criticism was motivated by personal ambition instead of a genuine desire to improve Democratic policies or leadership.
“People like Platner want to tear down Democrats just to elevate themselves,” Smith said. “And I think the allegations that came out showed the type of person he is, and he’s just trying to demagogue his way into personal power at the expense of a very well-organized movement trying to take down Trump.”
The congressman concluded by arguing that Democrats should focus on strengthening their own message and addressing voters’ concerns while remaining united against President Donald Trump. At the same time, Smith maintained that individuals facing serious allegations and carrying a history of controversial conduct should not be allowed to capitalize on public frustration for political advancement.
His comments add to the growing debate within Democratic circles over party leadership, accountability, and the role of anti-establishment candidates as Democrats continue preparing for future national elections.
Source Breitbart
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