# 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:** 21
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/403 "2026-05-04T17:38:51Z")
> [@robby](#): > > In other words, some symbols have become more potent over time and less acceptable. Maybe some of this is due to the internet. We can easily look anything up now. Again, I don’t know that many people _today_ who would know what a Totenkopf was, much less twenty years ago. I don’t know why you keep saying this as if _we don’t have plenty of evidence that he knew exactly what a Totenkopf was and did not get it removed_. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/404 "2026-05-04T17:41:59Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > …I won’t even mention the reaction if he was a Republican. Well, if you’re curious, look at the reaction to the Hegseth’s tattoos, which are much more blatant and linked to extremist groups to the point that it got him removed from a security detail in 2021. And he is also defending them, not covering them up or removing them, and doubling down on them, unlike Platner. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/405 "2026-05-04T17:44:29Z")
> [@robby](#): > > But what about the Confederate battle flag? When I was a child in the '70s and early '80s, it could still be displayed as a bumper sticker or a patch or even a tattoo (although tattoos were much less common then) without branding the displayer as necessarily a racist. Heck, there was a popular TV show (The Dukes of Hazzard) that very prominently featured the Confederate flag. > > But today? Not on your life. Pretty much the only people still displaying the Confederate flag are the racists. But it wasn’t always this way. This is the example I was thinking of, and it’s not a direct parallel, but it’s hard to think of a direct parallel. The totenkopf is a pretty rare symbol of Nazism, whereas the Confederate Flag is a major symbol of…whatever people are using it as a symbol of (spoiler:racism). But it’s hard to think of a symbol of White Supremacy in the South that’s rarer than the Confederate Flag and could possibly show up unintentionally. Maybe the Blood Drop Cross of the Klan? > **[Blood Drop Cross](https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/blood-drop-cross)** If someone had this tattoo, I’d be really skeptical of them. Following the link, though, what if they had a really shitty version of it that was unclear, like the drop shown on the hat? Then I’d still be skeptical, but a lot more willing to believe that they were a dumbass who thought it looked cool. In either case, their views and behavior would come in for increased scrutiny, for sure. Platner’s views and behavior are coming in for increased scrutiny. I’m not seeing any views or behaviors as likely to promote fascist acts as Susan Collins’s behaviors have already done. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/406 "2026-05-04T17:45:16Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Well, if you’re curious, look at the reaction to the Hegseth’s tattoos, which are much more blatant and linked to extremist groups to the point that it got him removed from a security detail in 2021. Yes, great example: we all agree he’s a white nationalist christofascist; are you familiar with a _single Democrat_ who bends over backwards to defend him the way you do for Platner? Even Fetterman voted against him. By the way, Susan Collins also voted against the confirmation of Hegseth, so she’s ahead when it comes to standing against lunatics covered in Nazi tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/407 "2026-05-04T17:46:39Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > I don’t know why you keep saying this as if _we don’t have plenty of evidence that he knew exactly what a Totenkopf was and did not get it removed_. Because we don’t have plenty of evidence that he knew exactly what it was _when he got the tattoo_. Yes, you can make the argument that he should have gotten rid of it or covered it up at the exact moment he did become aware, but it is also completely plausible that it was one of those things that he either minimized the significance of to himself, or meant to get around to it, or simply wasn’t a public figure or politician so who cares? ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/408 "2026-05-04T17:49:11Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Because we don’t have plenty of evidence that he knew exactly what it was _when he got the tattoo_. _So what_? The most CHARITABLE read is that he knew about it _years and years_ before he decided to get it removed _only after_ it was politically inconvenient for him. Again, he has _no principled objection_ to adorning his body with Nazi insignia; he _only_ objects to the _political inconvenience_ caused by the tattoo. Maybe you’re not disgusted by that, but I sure am. > [@robby](#): > > or simply wasn’t a public figure or politician so who cares? People who aren’t Nazis, or at least sympathetic to them, would be horrified and disgusted to learn that they had a Nazi tattoo. A reaction of “I am not a politician so who cares” _is disgusting and disqualifies you from holding public office in my view_. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/409 "2026-05-04T17:59:19Z")
@Babale, you are perfectly within your rights to be as principled as you like, but I prefer to look at the totality of a person. He doesn’t talk like a Nazi, nor did an analysis of his online posts over the span of years show any evidence of this. And also tempered by the fact that this guy is the all-but-certain Democratic nominee and only chance to defeat Collins and possibly end Republican control of the Senate—control of which empowers this despicable administration. And you can apply purity tests and swift-boat him all you want while you look for your perfect candidate—who likely doesn’t exist, at least not in Maine this year. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/410 "2026-05-04T18:03:52Z")
> [@robby](#): > > KKK Speaking of, and thank the gods that the Democrats would never allow a man that started his own branch of said organization to have anything to do with their fine party that has no racial skeletons in it’s closet. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Robert_Byrd_official_portrait.jpg/960px-Robert_Byrd_official_portrait.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Robert_Byrd_official_portrait.jpg/960px-Robert_Byrd_official_portrait.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/411 "2026-05-04T18:12:27Z")
@Babale, could you list out maybe the top 3 policy proposals that “blue MAGA” illiberal Democrats are advocating for that concern you? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/412 "2026-05-04T18:14:49Z")
That are not wildly popular with voters under 30 or 40. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/413 "2026-05-04T18:16:34Z")
Missed your edit. I don’t even mind if they are wildly popular, I’m just trying to figure out what we should be watching out for. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/414 "2026-05-04T18:38:49Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > People who aren’t Nazis, or at least sympathetic to them, would be horrified and disgusted to learn that they had a Nazi tattoo. A reaction of “I am not a politician so who cares” _is disgusting and disqualifies you from holding public office in my view_. That’s not what Platner has said about this tattoo. He has said that he didn’t think it was a Nazi tattoo. And when he was told it was, he thought that was outrageous, then decided to cover it up. > [@](#): > > Who told you what it means? > > Even last week, a few weeks ago, somebody asked me if I had a white supremacist tattoo, and I laughed at them. I thought that was the dumbest thing I’d ever heard. > > When you say someone—someone from the media? Someone from your campaign? > > Someone—[it] would’ve been a question if I had a white supremacist tattoo. And I said, of course not. That’s insane, because I’m not now, nor ever have been, anyone that—in fact, I’ve lived a life dedicated against antisemitism. This is a core of who I am as a person, which, I will say, makes all of this, essentially, doubly insulting. But then late last week, someone reached out to the campaign—I forget from what news outlet—saying there was this story that I have some kind of white-supremacist–slash–hate tattoo. I want to make this clear: I joined the United States Army with this tattoo. I went to MEPS [Military Entrance Processing Stations]. When you join the service, you get checked for gang and hate tattoos. I went to work for the State Department as a contractor with a full physical, which does the exact same thing. I have had this tattoo for 18 years. My sister-in-law is Jewish, and so is my extended family. > > **Your sister-in-law whom you are singing to in the video?** > > That is correct. And I take my shirt off all the time, because I work on a boat. I’ve been going through life with this thing, and it has literally never come up. So I don’t mean to get defensive—but there’s an absurdity here. If I thought that I had a Nazi tattoo, I would not have just been taking my shirt off in front of everybody. I just had a skull and crossbones that I got when I was in the Marine Corps. > > **Would you have removed it if someone had said something to you—** > > Already? Of course. It’s already gone. > > **How is it gone?** > > It’s been covered up. > **[Graham Platner Tells VF He’s Already Gotten Rid of His Nazi Tattoo](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/graham-platner-nazi-tattoo-interview?srsltid=AfmBOoqgDn6Auy51jcmAadVPm8QOCLgxPrONhOtxrrxlPb5cL1yqGqqq)** > > “It’s been covered up with some kind of Celtic knot with a dog on it, because that’s far more in line with my opinions,” the embattled Democrat tells Vanity Fair in a wide-ranging interview. I know you’ll give this no credence, but he is saying that he didn’t know it was a Nazi symbol until he was running for office. Not years ago. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/415 "2026-05-04T18:40:14Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Well, if you’re curious, look at the reaction to the Hegseth’s tattoos, which are much more blatant and linked to extremist groups to the point that it got him removed from a security detail in 2021. Unanimous condemnation by all Democrats, including Fetterman and even some Republicans. Not sure what you think this proves, other than my point. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/416 "2026-05-04T18:42:38Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > I know you’ll give this no credence, but he is saying that he didn’t know it was a Nazi symbol until he was running for office. Not years ago. Why would ANYONE give credence to such a blatant obvious lie? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/417 "2026-05-04T18:49:08Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Unanimous condemnation by all Democrats, including Fetterman and even some Republicans. Not sure what you think this proves, other than my point. Right–_because they’re in keeping with his professed beliefs and actions._ If Hegseth was like, “Oh shit, I had no idea that these tattoos were related to Christian Nationalism, Ima cover them up right now,” and if he had no history of promoting Christian Nationalism and explicitly disavowed the idea, and if he were jockeying for his position based on proposals that ran specifically counter to Christian Nationalism, it’d be a different conversation. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/418 "2026-05-04T18:49:34Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > That’s not what Platner has said about this tattoo. > > He has said that he didn’t think it was a Nazi tattoo. And when he was told it was, he thought that was outrageous, then decided to cover it up. But he is _lying about that_ because he told his friends it was “my Totenkopf” for years and references footage of soldiers with a Totenkopf on Reddit. So the idea that he didn’t know what it was and as soon as he found out he decided “this is outrageous, I need to cover it up ASAP” is a straight up lie. > [@Moriarty](#): > > I know you’ll give this no credence, but he is saying that he didn’t know it was a Nazi symbol until he was running for office. Not years ago. Then how did he identify a soldier in video footage as wearing a Totenkopf six years ago? ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/419 "2026-05-04T18:51:37Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Unanimous condemnation by all Democrats, including Fetterman and even some Republicans. Not sure what you think this proves, other than my point. Exactly. If the reaction among Democrats to Platner’s tattoo was the same as the reaction Hegseth’s tattoo, I’d consider that entirely appropriate and would not be complaining. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/420 "2026-05-04T19:05:06Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > > [@robby](#): > > > > Well, if you’re curious, look at the reaction to the Hegseth’s tattoos, which are much more blatant and linked to extremist groups to the point that it got him removed from a security detail in 2021. > > Unanimous condemnation by all Democrats, including Fetterman and even some Republicans. Not sure what you think this proves, other than my point. Well, the difference is that—unlike Platner—Hegseth got all of his tattoos much more recently, much more extensively to where they cover most of his torso, got them as a commissioned officer (from which we expect better judgement), is unapologetic about them, and more to the point, _talks and acts like a fucking Nazi_. > [@Babale](#): > > By the way, Susan Collins also voted against the confirmation of Hegseth, so she’s ahead when it comes to standing against lunatics covered in Nazi tattoos. Right, Collins often takes principled stands when they won’t make any difference. Take her recent vote regarding enforcement of the War Powers Act: she changed her vote at the last minute only when sure that the measure would fail regardless of her vote. > **[Susan Collins changes her vote curbing Trump’s War Powers](https://themainemonitor.org/collins-iran-war-powers-vote-reversal/)** > > The vulnerable incumbent’s shift could be the first sign of fracturing Republican support. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/421 "2026-05-04T19:06:49Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > But he is _lying about that_ because he told his friends it was “my Totenkopf” for years and references footage of soldiers with a Totenkopf on Reddit. Is there a cite for this? ---
**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:** [May 4, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/422 "2026-05-04T19:07:47Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Is there a cite for this?. Here’s the reddit post: > **[Unddit](https://undelete.pullpush.io/r/CombatFootage/comments/auy0bi/_/ehbh3n6/?context=4)** [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=20) [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=22)