'Disqualifying': Susan Collins scorched over her response to Iraq war question
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) lashed out at her Democratic opponent Graham Platner's military service, in a video posted Thursday night by the right-wing Maine Wire — in particular responding to Platner's remarks that she "sent him" to Iraq.
"First of all, he 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 of service was over," said Collins, during a campaign stop at a fire station in Auburn. "So I respect anyone who steps forward to serve their country, but the fact is that it was Platner's decision to serve. He was not drafted."
This statement did not go over well with political observers on social media, particularly from veterans.
"It was Collins' decision to vote and support the Iraq War," wrote Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a former Marine. "Not understanding the difference between the power of a Senator to send our men and women to war and teenagers signing up to serve their country is disqualifying."
"It was your decision @SenSusanCollins as a Senator to send Americans to fight in a dumb and pointless Iraq War," wrote Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA), a former Navy officer. "You voted for it. Do you tell the kids and widows of the Iraq War dead that it was their fallen hero’s fault for enlisting?"
"We ask our young people to enlist in our all-volunteer military to protect our nation, and in exchange, we promise to never send them into harm's way for stupid reasons," wrote veteran and activist Charlotte Clymer. "Susan Collins did send them into harm's way with only politics in mind. This is an atrocious reply."
"See what happens when she has to face a real opponent?" wrote podcaster Emma Vigeland.
"Susan Collins takes no responsibility for her votes and their terrible consequences," wrote former White House staffer Ben Rhodes.
"It's in the Constitution — the responsibility for war rests with individual soldiers and not Congress," wrote The Nation's Jeet Heer.
"This is a great answer — as long as you ignore that Collins voted for the war, repeatedly voted to keep funding the war & the deployment of soldiers, and then voted against a timetable for ending the war & letting troops come home," wrote editor and former Bernie Sanders political speechwriter David Sirota.
"Susan Collins: I sent undefined groups of Americans to die and kill in Iraq, not YOU specifically," wrote newsletter writer Matt Stoller.
"This is a stunning abdication," wrote actor and political commentator Sam Seder. "If she regrets her support of the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, she should say so instead of pretending the all-volunteer military owns all responsibility."