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Cheryl Robertson is a resident of Orono, an independent voter, and a part-time instructor with the Office of International Programs at the University of Maine.
I am an independent voter. I have voted, in the past, for Sen. Susan Collins. In the past, I believe Collins looked out for Mainers. In the past, she called herself a Mainer, came from a small, northern town and understood what it meant to live here. Now Collins is a Washington insider.
She points out she has voted 10,000 consecutive times to show her “responsible” decision making, but what she has voted for, whom she has supported, her “concern” for us losing our healthcare shows to me that she doesn’t understand the financial constraints on families who can’t afford childcare, or college educations. Her confirmation of Supreme Court judges and cabinet members who uphold loyalty to President Donald Trump and not to the people, does not, I feel, represent Mainers. I think she represents the wealthy, super PACs that support her, and is doing her donors’ business so she can stay in power. I’m not impressed with this.
I take my vote seriously and I do my homework. I have been to three Graham Platner rallies. First, I wanted to hear what he had to say, but I withheld any judgment or support. I was interested in Platner’s understanding of Maine and why he was running. I attended a second rally, closer to my hometown. Standing-room only, I stood for two hours and asked him my question: What makes you incorruptible? The room went silent as he answered as honestly as he could. It seems he knows he’s vulnerable, he’s human.
He and his wife are suspending their lives for a moment to be accessible to the people of Maine, and he knows how hard it is to trust anyone or believe any politician these days. As a Marine he’s fought for us; he believes in service. He’s likely going to be outspent by Republicans, and he’s going to the people as his campaign. He’s held over 80 town halls, and counting. The work he’s putting in, reaching out, answering questions and understanding where we are coming from, will be his guardrail. I believe him.
The last rally with Bernie Sanders and his endorsement means he also believes in Platner. Bernie’s a seasoned, no-nonsense politician whose message has largely been ignored by this two-party system. He sees something in Platner that I think we all should understand as trustworthy.
Platner is not perfect. I challenge anyone to stand up and defend the actions and/or dumb decisions they made in their teens and their 20s. Platner came home from four tours of duty to deal with PTSD. He recognized his own struggles and found his way out of them. He admitted that he needed help. As a man from Maine, admitting need is a challenge in and of itself. His wife showing forgiveness and love after what might have been a broken marriage, is a strength as formidable as any tour of duty.
I think Collins’ level of concern is mediocre at best, dismissive of her constituents and indeed the people of this country, at worst. I believe she does not learn from mistakes and she votes with Democrats only when it’s convenient. This is not vulnerability, this is uncaring disregard.
I do not believe she deserves a sixth term. The ads from super PACs supporting her are vile. They attack character not policy. So far, backers of Collins are outspending Platner’s; yet, she can’t even meet the people of Maine face-to-face. I believe she’s had her time. We don’t need loyalty to one man, we’re tired of it.
Graham Platner saw literal bullets in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the figurative bullets that are being thrown at him now are, I think, cruel, mean and misleading on purpose. I believe he can withstand them. His strength is his ability to recognize challenges, to be willing to stand in front of thousands of people and say out loud what so many are saying. We need change, we need authentic representation. I believe he has learned from his life’s service to this country; Susan Collins has not.