{"id":2608134,"date":"2026-05-28T23:35:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-29T03:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/platner-and-collins-feud-over-his-decision-to-serve-in-iraq-war\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T23:36:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T03:36:23","slug":"platner-and-collins-feud-over-his-decision-to-serve-in-iraq-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/platner-and-collins-feud-over-his-decision-to-serve-in-iraq-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Platner and Collins feud over his &#8216;decision to serve&#8217; in Iraq war"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fplatner-and-collins-feud-over-his-decision-to-serve-in-iraq-war%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2608134&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Graham Platner, the leading Democratic contender in Maine\u2019s Senate race, criticized Sen. susan Collins after she said it was his choice to serve in the Iraq War. Collins argued that he was not drafted and that his service was his decision, pointing to his past votes and enlistment.<\/p>\n<p>Platner responded that Collins helped send him to war through her support for the Iraq War-citing her votes to begin the conflict, oppose <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-urge-biden-admin-to-reevaluate-withdrawal-of-u-s-troops\/\" title=\"Republicans urge Biden admin. to reevaluate withdrawal of U.S. troops\">withdrawing troops<\/a>, and fund the war-and said her comments were disrespectful to military families.He also noted that there hasn\u2019t been a draft in decades, arguing that thousands of service members-including the soldiers Collins sent-enlisted voluntarily.<\/p>\n<p>The dispute comes as Platner builds momentum ahead of the June 9 Democratic primary following Gov. Janet Mills\u2019 withdrawal. A recent University of New Hampshire poll shows Platner leading Collins by 9 points and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/everyone-over-there-is-a-terrorist-israeli-woman-abducted-by-hamas-held-hostage-by-family-in-gaza-opens-up-about-weeks-long-captivity\/\" title=\"Israeli woman abducted by Hamas, held hostage in Gaza, shares ordeal of weeks-long captivity\">enjoying strong support<\/a> among likely Democratic voters, setting up a potential general-election challenge against Collins in November.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/graham-platner\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"22643\">Graham Platner<\/a>, the leading Democrat for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8765\">Senate<\/a> race in Maine, fired back at Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1302\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-ME) on Thursday after she said it was solely his decision to serve in the Iraq War.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Platner said Collins sent him to fight in the war through her past votes, and she denied the implication.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4586575\/aipac-antisemitism-focal-point-michigan-democratic-primary-debate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>AIPAC spending and antisemitism emerge as focal point in Michigan Democratic primary debate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4585486\/talarico-talafreako-taunt-merch-paxton\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Talarico embraces Paxton\u2019s \u2018Talafreako\u2019 taunt with new merch line<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4585362\/trump-kingmaker-career-ender-joe-concha\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump proves he\u2019s a \u2018kingmaker\u2019 and \u2018career ender\u2019: Joe Concha<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe not only enlisted twice after the war was started, but he also went to work for a security company, a controversial one named Blackwater, after his term in the service was over,\u201d Collins <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheMaineWire\/status\/2060030001542561999\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/TheMaineWire\/status\/2060030001542561999\">told<\/a> the <em>Maine Wire<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI respect anyone who steps forward to serve their country, but the fact is that was Platner\u2019s decision to serve,\u201d she said. \u201cHe was not drafted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In response, Platner called her statement a \u201cslap in the face\u201d to the families of U.S. service members.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere hasn\u2019t been a draft in over 50 years. Every single one of the 7,000 young men and women Susan Collins sent to die in Iraq and Afghanistan enlisted,\u201d the Marine Corps veteran <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/2060155703122088110\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/2060155703122088110\">posted<\/a> on X. \u201cWhat a disgusting slap in the face to their families and a callous disregard for their sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/2060096715496071593\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/grahamformaine\/status\/2060096715496071593\">video message<\/a> hours earlier, Platner explained Collins voted to support starting the Iraq War that began in 2003 and later voted against withdrawing troops three different times. He also said she voted twice to fund the war.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNow all these years later, instead of acknowledging that she was wrong, she\u2019s decided that she\u2019s going to blame all of us who \u2014 in our late teens and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >early twenties \u2014 signed<\/a> up to serve our country,\u201d the progressive candidate said. \u201cThat somehow it\u2019s our fault that she and establishment politicians like her, wanted to abuse our willingness to serve, to go send us off to fight in stupid wars that did nothing but make some people very, very rich at the expense of American taxpayer dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4584311\/graham-platner-lead-susan-collins-9-points-maine-senate-poll\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4584311\/graham-platner-lead-susan-collins-9-points-maine-senate-poll\/\">GRAHAM PLATNER LEADS SUSAN COLLINS BY 9 POINTS IN MAINE SENATE RACE: POLL<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The back-and-forth comments come as Platner gains momentum ahead of the June 9 primary after Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME) dropped out of the Senate race. Should he win the Democratic primary, the military veteran and oyster farmer will challenge Collins in November.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/scholars.unh.edu\/survey_center_polls\/960\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/scholars.unh.edu\/survey_center_polls\/960\/\">latest poll<\/a> from the University of New Hampshire shows Platner leading Collins by 9 points at this point in the race. He also has the support of 76% likely Democratic primary voters, signaling he will go head-to-head with the GOP incumbent in the general election.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Platner hits back at Collins over Iraq War voting comments (55 chars)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2608135,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-d18lci8qf-1780023351358-e1780023413203.jpg?1780009001&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[9762,57366,37484,65502],"class_list":["post-2608134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-collins","tag-iraq-war","tag-military-service","tag-platner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-d18lci8qf-1780023351358-e1780023413203.jpg?1780009001&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2608134"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2608138,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608134\/revisions\/2608138"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2608134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2608134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2608134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}