# Are there any reasons to reject Graham Platner in Maine (campaign suspended July 8, 2026) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179 "2026-03-04T03:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/21 "2026-03-05T23:42:51Z")
Has anyone actually seen a picture of this tattoo, so that we could judge how obviously totenkopfy it is? The only one I’ve been able to find online is a shot of him shirtless at a BBQ, and in that picture it just looks like a black smear on his chest, not recognizable as a skull, much less a particular skull. It does seem like there is enough other stuff coming out that this is kind of beside the point now, though. But the idea that getting a tattoo while drunk in your twenties is intrinsically such a terrible decision that it should disqualify you from political office for the rest of your life is just bizarre. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/22 "2026-03-05T23:51:11Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Has anyone actually seen a picture of this tattoo, so that we could judge how obviously totenkopfy it is? [![](https://i0.wp.com/boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/totenkopf.jpg) ](https://i0.wp.com/boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/totenkopf.jpg) Definitely a totenkopf. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/23 "2026-03-05T23:51:12Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > But the idea that getting a tattoo while drunk in your twenties is intrinsically such a terrible decision that it should disqualify you from political office for the rest of your life is just bizarre. If his story about “I didn’t know what it was” held water, then, yeah, it, by itself, shouldn’t necessarily be disqualifying, IMO. However, it appears that he _did_ know what it was, years ago: > [@](#): > > But according to a person who socialized with Platner when he was living in Washington, D.C., more than a decade ago, Platner had specifically acknowledged that the tattoo was a [Totenkopf](https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/totenkopf), the “death’s head” symbol adopted by an infamous Nazi SS unit that guarded concentration camps in World War II. > > “He said, ‘Oh, this is my Totenkopf,’” the former acquaintance told _Jewish Insider_ recently, speaking on the condition of anonymity to address a sensitive issue. “He said it in a cutesy little way.” > > The exchange occurred in 2012 at Tune Inn, a popular dive on Capitol Hill where Platner later worked as a bartender and was a frequent patron while he attended The George Washington University on the G.I. bill, according to the former acquaintance. He would often take his shirt off drinking with friends late at night at the bar, and on at least one occasion had stated he knew what the tattoo represented, the former acquaintance recalled. It was only once he started running for office that he was suddenly moved to do something about it. > **[Graham Platner says ‘I am not a secret Nazi’ after photos of his tattoo emerge](https://jewishinsider.com/2025/10/graham-platner-ss-tattoo-maine-senate/)** > > A former acquaintance of the Maine Senate candidate said he called the tattoo ‘my Totenkopf,’ referring to a symbol adopted by a Nazi SS unit ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/24 "2026-03-05T23:55:20Z")
Yes, I was just talking about tattoos in general, not Nazi ones. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2026, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/25 "2026-03-05T23:56:48Z")
First: There’s a difference between young and stupid, and young and evil. Second: He might have decided to get it while young and drunk. But he decided to keep it while full-grown and sober. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/26 "2026-03-06T00:00:21Z")
Yes, that’s the one picture that seems easily findable. I’m not seeing it. I seriously doubt it would ever occur to me that that’s a skull if the idea hadn’t already been in my head. It just looks like a black lump with three white dots in it and some little protrusions like the fins of a rocket ship. But again, there now seem ample other reasons to reject him, so it’s not a crucial point. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/27 "2026-03-06T00:09:53Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > I’m not seeing it. I seriously doubt it would ever occur to me that that’s a skull if the idea hadn’t already been in my head. It just looks like a black lump with three white dots in it and some little protrusions like the fins of a rocket ship. I think if you’d seen one before, you’d have recognized it. [![](https://i.imgur.com/FSpxmat.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/FSpxmat.jpeg) [![](https://i.imgur.com/loeH5WJ.png) ](https://i.imgur.com/loeH5WJ.png) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/28 "2026-03-06T00:25:43Z")
> [@](#): > > I am not a secret Nazi Technically the truth. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/29 "2026-03-06T01:06:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > First: There’s a difference between young and stupid, and young and evil. > > Second: He might have decided to get it while young and drunk. But he decided to keep it while full-grown and sober. Good points. But he did get rid of it- later. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/30 "2026-03-06T01:09:22Z")
This is a case of: When somebody shows you who they are, believe them the first time. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/31 "2026-03-06T01:09:22Z")
Yeah, once people started saying “We’re not voting for you because you’re a Nazi”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/32 "2026-03-06T01:10:29Z")
I’d rather have him than Collins. Sadly, it is either him or a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/33 "2026-03-06T01:37:47Z")
I don’t know anything about Maine politics. What’s wrong with Janet Mills and why does Platner have a better chance of unseating Susan Concerned Collins? ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/34 "2026-03-06T01:41:03Z")
Was Mr. Magoo his tattoo “artist”? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/35 "2026-03-06T01:42:55Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > What’s wrong with Janet Mills Absolutely nothing. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/36 "2026-03-06T01:46:50Z")
About the tattoo, it’s clear that the public photos are all at a low enough resolution to allow a degree of doubt. Considering Platner has _acknowledged_ it was apparently a Nazi tattoo seems sufficient to confirm it on a factual basis, though if you want to defend his intent, well, that’s up to you. As others have said, I think the circumstantial evidence is enough for me to question his intent strongly. Yes, the testimonials from witnesses who claim to have seen and spoken with him about it _may_ be based on efforts to cast doubt (giving an abundance of generosity), but combined with the _rest_ of the circumstantial evidence, I find it fairly damning. But I’m not demanding a level of evidence needed for a court. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/37 "2026-03-06T01:47:06Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > What’s wrong with Janet Mills and why does Platner have a better chance of unseating Susan Concerned Collins? She’s a 78 year old Boomer who’s claimed that she’ll only serve one term assuming she doesn’t die in office. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/38 "2026-03-06T02:21:30Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > What’s wrong with Janet Mills and why does Platner have a better chance of unseating Susan Concerned Collins? It seemed like the Primary was over, in some articles, but yeah Platner is somehow ahead of Mills in polls- Mills would be a much better choice. But, weird as he is, Platner leads Collins in the polls. Maine is kinda weird,. I mean it is kinda a small miracle to see any Dems leading Collins. If Mills wins the primary, and can beat Collins- great. If it is Platner or Collins- Platner. Hell, if it is a Democratic Lobster roll over Collin… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/39 "2026-03-06T02:33:07Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sadly, it is either him or a Republican. What makes you think he’s not himself a Republican? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/40 "2026-03-06T22:39:40Z")
According to this, Platner knew it was a Nazi tattoo because his attempt to reenlist into the Marines in '09 was blocked by the “no hate/extremist tattoos” policy: > **[capitolhunters (@capitolhunters.bsky.social)](https://bsky.app/profile/capitolhunters.bsky.social/post/3mgfjffz7os2a)** > > Let’s talk about Graham Platner’s Big Lie, finally. In 2009, at the height of the Gulf War, the Marines barred him from active duty. Platner claims it was his forearm tattoos. But his one forbidden tattoo was the Nazi symbol on his chest. He knew -... So he’s a liar, and was probably at the very least Nazi-sympathetic back in '09. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179.md?page=3)