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turbinetree

(27,523 posts)
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 10:05 AM 9 hrs ago

Democratic Party slams own Senate candidate as GOP plant after Trump support revealed

By Alexander Willis
Published March 30, 2026 9:42 AM ET

The Nebraska Democratic Party denounced a Democratic candidate for Senate recently that they allege to be a “Republican Party plant,” CNN reported Monday, with the candidate being exposed for having supported President Donald Trump, opposed access to reproductive health care and attended a GOP-sponsored training event.

That candidate is William Forbes, a 79-year-old pastor who filed to run for Senate as a Democrat earlier this month. The Nebraska Democratic Party has backed independent candidate Dan Osborn this election cycle, creating what CNN described as an “unusual dynamic” in which a lone Democratic Senate candidate could siphon votes from Osborn and potentially hand Republicans an easy victory.

Forbes spoke with CNN for its report Monday, in which he admitted that he had voted for Trump “in multiple elections” and had attended a GOP-backed leadership summit as recently as January. Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb also provided CNN with screenshots from a now-deleted Facebook page that she said show Forbes attending anti-abortion events.

https://www.rawstory.com/gop-2676637346/

I guess this "guy" didn't get to the part in the tale about bearing false witness......................

48 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Democratic Party slams own Senate candidate as GOP plant after Trump support revealed (Original Post) turbinetree 9 hrs ago OP
I don't care which party you represent.....79 is too damn old. Your "your best if used by date" has expired. walkingman 9 hrs ago #1
What then should the arbitrary cut-off age be? Torchlight 9 hrs ago #2
IMO, it depends on their role.... walkingman 9 hrs ago #4
Social Security Retirement Age JBTaurus83 9 hrs ago #6
A personal voting preference or as legislation you believe should be passed? Torchlight 8 hrs ago #9
Just a personal preference JBTaurus83 8 hrs ago #10
So you want to pass a law against Jamie Raskin running for re-election? delisen 8 hrs ago #11
I love Jamie Raskin - I think he would make a great Senator. walkingman 7 hrs ago #28
I'm not offended. delisen 1 hr ago #39
I say no one can start a term after age 72 Captain Zero 2 hrs ago #32
I'm fine with that. The age of Congress has gone way up the last 30yrs. Callie1979 2 hrs ago #33
Sounds serious Torchlight 1 hr ago #41
He's not running to actually serve in office, he's just running to siphon Dem votes. nt. SunSeeker 9 hrs ago #3
Understood and sadly many people will fall for it because of his religious background. walkingman 9 hrs ago #5
He's not likely to make it to the general election. pat_k 29 min ago #45
Cindy Burbank will defeat Forbes in the primary and then drop out... pat_k 30 min ago #44
Ageism irks me but I'm not opposed to ... littlemissmartypants 7 hrs ago #22
I wouldn't be surprised to see more folks doing this - TBF 9 hrs ago #7
In the end, he will probably hurt republicans more than he helps Renew Deal 9 hrs ago #8
Particularly since he isn't likely to make it to the general election. pat_k 24 min ago #46
We've got the same thing going on in Fort Bend county, Texas primaries. nt Susan Calvin 8 hrs ago #12
"as GOP plant", you mean as DINO. republianmushroom 8 hrs ago #13
A good example. Blue Full Moon 7 hrs ago #19
Fetterman is a pain in the a** when he goes on Fox and berates Democrats and supports war in Iran Mad_Machine76 1 hr ago #34
I expect him to leave the Demcratic Party GoodRaisin 1 hr ago #37
Vet them all... ultralite001 8 hrs ago #14
The Raw Story article is VERY strange. It sounds to me that the party knew exactly what he was from go... pat_k 20 min ago #47
We're going to see more of this swong19104 8 hrs ago #15
GOP is the party of deceit and lies AllyCat 8 hrs ago #16
Typical Gee Oh Pee dirty trick blue-wave 7 hrs ago #17
It all just proves how important it is that we stay alert. calimary 7 hrs ago #18
Have you heard of Patricia Ann Cotham? littlemissmartypants 7 hrs ago #23
No, I never heard of her blue-wave 7 hrs ago #27
I think what she did should be criminal fraud. GoodRaisin 1 hr ago #38
Something similar happened in TN Farmer-Rick 7 hrs ago #20
It was 2012, Corker won re-election, defeating the RW plant Mark E. Clayton Celerity 6 hrs ago #29
I happened to meet Larry Crim at a restaurant (I think it was before that election) 70sEraVet 5 hrs ago #31
Thanks for fleshing that out Farmer-Rick 1 hr ago #35
Your memory was pretty accurate TBF. Also, there is another strange twist to that election, in the Dem Primary. Celerity 1 hr ago #42
The plight of big money versus many small donors. Festivito 7 hrs ago #21
No, they just get better at cheating Farmer-Rick 7 hrs ago #24
Fetterman might as well be. nt Exp 7 hrs ago #25
A pastor? Jeezus. Joinfortmill 7 hrs ago #26
Almost like not running a candidate was a mistake or something. quakerboy 6 hrs ago #30
Geez Mad_Machine76 1 hr ago #36
Damn...Not good. I guess no other Democrat filed? Or they have already had their primaries etc... LeftInTX 1 hr ago #40
Cindy Burbank filed to 1) defeat forbes, 2) drop out, 3) endorse Osborn pat_k 12 min ago #48
Forbes will face Cindy Burbank in the Democratic primary in May pat_k 1 hr ago #43

walkingman

(10,850 posts)
1. I don't care which party you represent.....79 is too damn old. Your "your best if used by date" has expired.
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 10:13 AM
9 hrs ago

We can and should do better.

walkingman

(10,850 posts)
4. IMO, it depends on their role....
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 10:25 AM
9 hrs ago

President or Cabinet members - 70

Senators - 75

Representatives - 60

I think those should be the max ages allowed to run. I would prefer younger candidates, but experience is important and that comes with age.

JBTaurus83

(1,374 posts)
6. Social Security Retirement Age
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 10:40 AM
9 hrs ago

Sounds like a good time for people to move out of the way. Become an advisor or something if you want.

JBTaurus83

(1,374 posts)
10. Just a personal preference
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 11:09 AM
8 hrs ago

To get fresh perspectives into congress. We do have a minimum age for elected office written into law and I don’t really agree with that either. I’m sure there could be exceptions and outliers at both ends of the age spectrum, I just think it might be healthy for Democracy to have a regular turnover of the generations.

delisen

(7,363 posts)
11. So you want to pass a law against Jamie Raskin running for re-election?
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 11:17 AM
8 hrs ago

One thing I have to say about Republicans, they rarely age-bash their candidates, office-holders, and voters. Why? They know they will lose voters.

A lot of women spend a disproportionate amount of time on familtly compared to men and enter politics at a later age than men. So you want to arbitrarily tell these women they have missed the boat and cannot serve as long as men no matter what their skillls? Should we have told Nancy Pelosi she had to quit at 60, no matter how effective she was at the time?

You want to break up one of the most effective Democratic movements in history? At the next Indivisable march grab a microphone and tell everyone over 60 that you thank them for their concern and work but don’t dare run for the House of Representatives.

I personally am disgusted by people who want me to vote the way they do but want to tell me I should not have the right to vote run for office, that I can be a follower but not a leader?

I think there are more productive avenues to improving representative democracy.

walkingman

(10,850 posts)
28. I love Jamie Raskin - I think he would make a great Senator.
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 12:40 PM
7 hrs ago

I view the House as a great training ground for advancement like Senator or Governor etc. but I just don't think it should be a lifetime job. Constant reelection leans toward constant fundraising which leans to compromised ideals.

I apologize if I offended you but just giving my opinion. ☮

Callie1979

(1,350 posts)
33. I'm fine with that. The age of Congress has gone way up the last 30yrs.
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 05:41 PM
2 hrs ago

Term limit Amendment NOW

SunSeeker

(58,269 posts)
3. He's not running to actually serve in office, he's just running to siphon Dem votes. nt.
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 10:17 AM
9 hrs ago

pat_k

(13,346 posts)
45. He's not likely to make it to the general election.
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 07:21 PM
29 min ago

Cindy Burbank will defeat Forbes in the primary and then drop out and endorse Osborn.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221135599

littlemissmartypants

(33,518 posts)
22. Ageism irks me but I'm not opposed to ...
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 12:14 PM
7 hrs ago

an age optimal age range LAW (say 25 to 65) with a law that spells out explicitly cognitive and health fitness qualifications with regular assessments and enforcement to back them up in the LAW.

In addition to initial qualifying assessments, to be effective, the LAW should include pre - and post tests at specific time based intervals and as needed for cause assessments. Other ages might be considered with the contingency that the cognitive, neuropsychological, and physical fitness standards are within acceptable limits.


As with any other enterprise and especially when we are talking about the leadership of our government, if we hire decrepit, mentally unfit psychopaths then we get what we deserve.


I'd also prefer that we get the cash/crypto out of politics, too. But without the leadership, we need to make any of this work. I guess we can all wish in one hand, and you know what in the other and see which hand fills up first.

NC (my home) is familiar with posers and turncoats, by the way. Tricia Cotham* comes to mind.


Characteristics of Psychopaths

1. Aggressive, callous, and cunning
2. Complete absence of conscience and empathy
3. Very adept at manipulating others
4. Willingness to engage in immoral, criminal conduct
5. Willingness to take what they want and do as they please, regardless of who is hurt or wronged
6. Deceptive ability to appear outwardly benevolent
7. Deceptive ability to behave in superficially charming ways to hide purely selfish motives
8. Willingness to use intimidation and violence to control others in order to satisfy their own needs
9. Willingness to intentionally violate the basic inherent human rights of others
10. Complete absence of any sense of guilt or remorse for the harm their actions have caused to others
11. Rationalization of their own immoral behavior
12. Will attempt to lay blame upon someone else for their own conduct
13. Denial, will deny their own wrongdoing outright
14. Utter contemptuousness toward the feelings and desires of their fellow beings
15. Pathological lying, will say anything without any concern for truth to advance their own hidden agendas
16. Ablity to feign [fake] normal human emotions and empathy
17. Distorted sense of the consequences of their actions
18. Total failure to accept any responsibility for their own socially irresponsible ways
19. Strong bellef that they will never be brought to justice for their criminal behavior


*Tricia Cotham aka Patricia Ann Cotham

[Rumored girlfriend of North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore(R)]

"Cotham represented the 100th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017 as a Democrat. She was elected as a Democrat in 2022 to represent District 112. Cotham formally changed her affiliation to the Republican Party on April 5, 2023, granting the North Carolina House Republicans a supermajority. Prior to her party switch, Cotham had campaigned on a traditional Democratic Party platform and had voted for abortion rights legislation. Shortly after her party switch, Cotham cast the deciding vote for legislation to restrict abortion access in North Carolina.
[2]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricia_Cotham

TBF

(36,643 posts)
7. I wouldn't be surprised to see more folks doing this -
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 10:43 AM
9 hrs ago

as the president's approval rating drops. This has nothing to do with age; it is political expediency.

pat_k

(13,346 posts)
46. Particularly since he isn't likely to make it to the general election.
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 07:26 PM
24 min ago

Cindy Burbank is almost sure to defeat him in the primary. She is only running to beat him and then drop out and endorse Osborn

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221135599

Mad_Machine76

(24,957 posts)
34. Fetterman is a pain in the a** when he goes on Fox and berates Democrats and supports war in Iran
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 05:51 PM
1 hr ago

but, given his position on several other issues, he's not very attractive to Republicans

pat_k

(13,346 posts)
47. The Raw Story article is VERY strange. It sounds to me that the party knew exactly what he was from go...
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 07:30 PM
20 min ago

They pulled themselves together to fight back, and got Cindy Burbank on the ballot for the sole purpose of beating Forbes, then dropping out to endorse Osborn.

The Republican Secretary of State tried to kick Burbank from the primary ballot. The Nebraska Supreme Court reinstated her March 23rd. It is VERY strange that a March 30 Raw Story article has no mention of Burbank.


https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221135599

swong19104

(625 posts)
15. We're going to see more of this
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 11:48 AM
8 hrs ago

as conservatives try either to siphon votes or to clean off the GOP stain. Remember, vet the candidates. Check their education and work histories. Listen carefully to how they frame their positions. It’s not their political party affiliation, but their political ideology and position that matters.

blue-wave

(5,086 posts)
17. Typical Gee Oh Pee dirty trick
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 11:54 AM
7 hrs ago

They've done this locally in my neck of the woods. Put up a candidate who is a right winger in disguise. I'm very careful about who I vote for now. Especially in the primaries.

calimary

(89,980 posts)
18. It all just proves how important it is that we stay alert.
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 12:09 PM
7 hrs ago

Eyes ALWAYS focused on the prize. Ears wide open to catch ANY kind of manipulation or discouragement strategies.

The enemy plays FOR KEEPS. WE should, too. ALWAYS.

blue-wave

(5,086 posts)
27. No, I never heard of her
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 12:35 PM
7 hrs ago

but I just searched her name. She pulled a real dirty trick with the way she voted and how she changed. She gave the republicans a super majority in the legislature and changed her stance on abortion to cast the deciding vote restricting abortion rights. That's beneath contempt.

I'm not in North Carolina, but they've done that where I live. Ran on the Democratic ticket, then switch after the election.

Farmer-Rick

(12,653 posts)
20. Something similar happened in TN
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 12:13 PM
7 hrs ago

It was when Frist decided not to run for the Senate again, if memory serves me. The Dems had a respectable, qualified and well liked candidate. The Repubs snuck a KKK Clan member, former wizard, into our primary. The piece of crap won the primary but of course he lost the general to another piece of crap Repub...I think it was Crooked Corker.

I was so angry with our local Democratic branch. I had gone door to door, I had made calls. Couldn't they see the piece of crap was a plant? They shrugged and said well people voted for him.....

It's an open primary. Republicons came in and voted for him. The local Democratic leadership said there was nothing they could do. They could have NOT allowed him in our primary ballot.

Celerity

(54,394 posts)
29. It was 2012, Corker won re-election, defeating the RW plant Mark E. Clayton
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 01:03 PM
6 hrs ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_United_States_Senate_election_in_Tennessee#Democratic_primary



The 2012 United States Senate election in Tennessee took place on November 6, 2012, as part of the general election including the 2012 U.S. presidential election, elections to the House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Bob Corker won a second term in a landslide, carrying all but two counties in the state.

Corker narrowly flipped reliably Democratic Davidson County, home to Nashville, which had not voted Republican on the presidential level since 1988. He faced Democratic nominee Mark E. Clayton as well as several third-party candidates and several independents in this election.

Corker easily won the Republican primary with 85% of the vote, and anti-LGBT activist and conspiracy theorist Clayton won the Democratic nomination with 30% of the vote, despite raising no money and having a website that was four years out of date.

The next day Tennessee's Democratic Party disavowed Clayton over his active role in the Public Advocate of the United States, which they described as a "known hate group". They blamed his victory among candidates for whom the TNDP provided little forums to become known on the fact that his name appeared first on the ballot, and said they would do nothing to help his campaign, urging Democrats to vote for "the write-in candidate of their choice" in November. One of the Democratic candidates, Larry Crim, filed a petition seeking to offer the voters a new primary in which to select a Democratic nominee among the remaining candidates the party had affirmed as bona fide and as a preliminary motion sought a temporary restraining order against certification of the results, but after a judge denied the temporary order Crim withdrew his petition.

snip


http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-10-22/politics/35500334_1_yard-sign-tennessee-democrats-senate-race

https://archive.ph/erQkA

70sEraVet

(5,482 posts)
31. I happened to meet Larry Crim at a restaurant (I think it was before that election)
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 02:38 PM
5 hrs ago

We talked briefly of politics, and I was very impressed by him. But he seemed to stay on the fringe, never attracting the people with money.

Farmer-Rick

(12,653 posts)
35. Thanks for fleshing that out
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 05:51 PM
1 hr ago

I'm old, my memory fails me sometimes.

But you got the receipts and posted them!!

Thanks

Celerity

(54,394 posts)
42. Your memory was pretty accurate TBF. Also, there is another strange twist to that election, in the Dem Primary.
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 06:21 PM
1 hr ago

look at the names:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_United_States_Senate_election_in_Tennessee#Democratic_primary



Park Overall

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Overall



Park Overall is an American actress, political activist, and former U.S. Senate candidate, known for her trademark heavy Southern accent. Her best-known role was as nurse Laverne Todd in the sitcom Empty Nest, though she has appeared in the TV show Reba and a number of feature films, including Biloxi Blues, Mississippi Burning, Talk Radio, and In the Family.

Robin Williams, Jonathon Winters, & Park Overall on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (9/19/91)

Festivito

(13,886 posts)
21. The plight of big money versus many small donors.
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 12:13 PM
7 hrs ago

In michigan the republicans have to run as democrats anyway. I know republicans have thrown in a third candidate to keep a particular candidate from winning.

The more times republicans win, the more they feel insecure and need to win even more.

quakerboy

(14,860 posts)
30. Almost like not running a candidate was a mistake or something.
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 01:45 PM
6 hrs ago

If no Democrat is going to bother to even sign up to run, I guess we get what we get.

LeftInTX

(34,249 posts)
40. Damn...Not good. I guess no other Democrat filed? Or they have already had their primaries etc...
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 06:10 PM
1 hr ago

I tend to agree that he's a likely plant as opposed to a DINO

If he was a DINO he would have come clean from the beginning.

He probably filed to throw the race to the GOP!
He knew this would happen.

Here is the Nebraska Democrats statement:
https://nebraskademocrats.org/blog/ndp-press-release-statement-on-u-s-senate-candidate-william-forbes/

pat_k

(13,346 posts)
48. Cindy Burbank filed to 1) defeat forbes, 2) drop out, 3) endorse Osborn
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 07:38 PM
12 min ago

The Republican Secretary of State tried to boot her off the primary ballot. The Nebraska Supreme Court reinstated her March 23rd. It is VERY strange that a March 30 Raw Story article has no mention of Burbank.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221135599

pat_k

(13,346 posts)
43. Forbes will face Cindy Burbank in the Democratic primary in May
Mon Mar 30, 2026, 06:28 PM
1 hr ago

I find it very strange that a March 30 Raw Story article doesn't mention Burbank.

The Republican SOS tried to kick her off the ballot. The Nebraska Supreme Court reinstated her March 23rd.

https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/03/23/nebraska-u-s-senate-candidate-back-on-ballot-state-high-court-rules-sos-acted-too-late/

More here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100221135599

.

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