Collins took more money from the billionaire behind Breitbart than from all of Maine

Yesterday, the Maine People’s Alliance called on Sen. Susan Collins to return thousands of dollars she received from Robert Mercer, the billionaire backer of Breitbart, the racist, misogynist and bigoted website proud to position itself as the “platform of the alt-right.”

Mainers for Accountable Leadership has launched a petition demanding the same.

Breitbart is known for spreading conspiracy theories and inciting xenophobic fear, with constant headlines attacking women, LGBT people and immigrants and a series of articles devoted to cataloguing “black crime.”

With at least 10 million dollars from Mercer funding its operations, the site was instrumental in radicalizing the Republican party and helping President Donald Trump rise to power. Breitbart executive chairman Steve Bannon became Trump’s chief strategist in the White House.

Leaked internal documents have demonstrated Breitbart’s close ties to white supremacists, with notorious neo-Nazis even secretly writing copy for the website as a way of mainstreaming their racist beliefs.

More than 4,000 companies have already pulled their ads from Breitbart in protest of the site’s racism and bigotry.

Robert Mercer and his wife, Diana Mercer, both gave the legal maximum to support Collins’ re-election. Their $10,800 total contribution is more than the $9,200 in itemized contributions she reported receiving from all Maine residents this quarter, combined.

Last year, Collins praised town leaders in Jackman for firing white nationalist town manager Tom Kawczynski, whose social media presence (I don’t recommend seeking it out) is awash in links to Breitbart. She also publicly disavowed state Rep. Larry Lockman (R – Amherst), whom she had previously endorsed and backed financially, over his comments about a “war on whites.” Breitbart uses the exact same language extensively.

Based on her own previous standards, and basic human decency, Collins should have refused Mercer’s money. The fact that he gave it and she took it is another example of her sharp turn to the right, apace with her votes to confirm some of Trump’s most extreme executive and judicial nominees, give new tax breaks to billionaires and cut Mainers’ health care.

Sign the petition: Sen. Collins, give back Breitbart money

(Getty Images photo)