# 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:** 50
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/983 "2026-06-08T13:48:10Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > > [@Chronos](#): > > > > Having a Nazi symbol literally inscribed on his body is most assuredly evidence. > > It’s evidence of a symbol, not of beliefs. So I shouldn’t make any conclusions about the beliefs of my neighbor who flies a Confederate flag? It’s just evidence of a symbol, not a belief. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/984 "2026-06-08T13:48:39Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The problem is that there are far, far, FAR bigger indicators that America is no longer a serious country than the Platner debate. This is practically a non-issue compared to, well, everything else going on. Yes, like I say this is piling up confirmatory evidence but I honestly can’t believe that after a thousand posts on this board “Are there any reasons to reject a guy with a Nazi tattoo?” is a live issue. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/985 "2026-06-08T13:53:41Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > Yes, like I say this is piling up confirmatory evidence but I honestly can’t believe that after a thousand posts on this board “Are there any reasons to reject a guy with a Nazi tattoo?” is a live issue. I mean, as much as anything else, what it says is “There is a decent argument that the American public don’t find Nazi tattoos immediately disqualifying in their elected officials” which, fucking. _Hell_. ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/986 "2026-06-08T14:10:18Z")
Worth a read… > **[On Platner, and Me](https://dbarkhuff.substack.com/p/on-platner-and-me?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=t59v6%3AuMWPYWAwdnib23gP0vAJ5rxVIlY&triedRedirect=true)** > > I think it is a mistake to bet against Maine showing up for one of its own, and I think, if Graham Platner does not have any worse skeletons in the closet, he will win the primary next week despite his Democratic 78-year-old opponent Janet Mills’... ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/987 "2026-06-08T14:12:15Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > There _is_ evidence he holds Nazi beliefs - _he’s got a Nazi tattoo_! It’s not conclusive evidence but the false positive rate on “Has Nazi beliefs given Nazi tattoo” is not big! And this might be one of those times but… And there really isn’t any evidence against it. If he’d held other elected positions, then we could point to policies he’d voted for or implemented, and maybe if he did a really good job in those positions, successfully implementing non-Nazi or anti-Nazis policies, then we could balance the scales. But he hasn’t, so all we have to base our decisions on is the things we do know. One of which is the Nazi tattoo, and many of which aren’t much better, and even the best things we know about him are all just sort of neutral. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/988 "2026-06-08T14:16:13Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > There _is_ evidence he holds Nazi beliefs - _he’s got a Nazi tattoo_! It’s not conclusive evidence but the false positive rate on “Has Nazi beliefs given Nazi tattoo” is not big! And this might be one of those times but I’m betting that a few years, even a few months ago, your answer to the question “Should we in practice have Senators who have Nazi tattoos?” would have been pretty unequivocal. We’re just “am too!” “are not!” ing at this point. As for the false positives–I am persuaded, given the chain of events, that this is one of those times. Had you asked me the question a few months ago, my answer probably would have been, “Is this a trick question?” and the answer would have been “yes.” I might have said, “Absent persuasive evidence to the contrary…”, and I believe there’s persuasive evidence to the contrary. Again: you’re really concerned with symbols. I’m more concerned with positions. If it comes out that he’s persuasively guilty of domestic violence or worse, that’ll change my answer; but the evidence of that is not, so far, persuasive. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/989 "2026-06-08T14:26:46Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I might have said, “Absent persuasive evidence to the contrary…”, and I believe there’s persuasive evidence to the contrary. What evidence? The fact that he’s said it? Politicians say all sorts of things, and it means nothing if they can’t back it up. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/990 "2026-06-08T14:48:13Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Again: you’re really concerned with symbols. You say that like being really concerned about symbols of totalitarian fascist death squads is somehow superficial. In politics, like it or not, symbols matter. What is the symbolism of the Democrats nominating a guy with a Nazi tattoo? Is it good or. When the Republicans nominate a guy with a swastika tattoo (which doesn’t feel like an implausible hypothetical) will the correct position of “what the fuck” be strengthened or weakened if Platner is there representing Maine? > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Had you asked me the question a few months ago, my answer probably would have been, “Is this a trick question?” and the answer would have been “yes.” How is it a trick question? What’s the trick? If it’s “to get LHOD to say that people with Nazi tattoos have no business in the US Senate” then that sort of feels like the sort of thing that shouldn’t require a trick. Because my point isn’t in fact that Platner does nor does not hold Nazi beliefs. It’s that America has slipped so far that this Nazi-branded clown is the best you’ve got. How much must have gone wrong with your democratic systems that you, a smart and principled guy, are having to closely parse decade old reddit threads to work out if you can support a Democrat Senatorial candidate? ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/991 "2026-06-08T14:56:00Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > You say that like being really concerned about symbols of totalitarian fascist death squads is somehow superficial. At this point I just stand by what I said. Getting more upset about my focus on things other than symbols won’t persuade me to focus on symbols more. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/992 "2026-06-08T15:05:16Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > You just have to believe he’s an attention-seeking or power-seeking guy without any particularly strong principles other than he’d like to hold elected office. Ah. A politician. Seriously. Most politicians want to get elected and re-elected. They will play to what serves that goal. Pretty much all of them. > [@Chronos](#): > > We can do better in Maine. Hope all you want that Mills will somehow win the primary despite no longer running and having been way behind last polled, with huge unfavorable ratings, the choice is going to be Platner or Collins. Do you believe that Collins, with all that comes with her in terms of SCOTUS picks, Trump agenda, and more, is better? > [@Stanislaus](#): > > symbols matter Actions with major real world impacts, like voting for SCOTUS picks that enable current fascism, and fascist policies, the stuff Collins has consistently done, matter. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/993 "2026-06-08T15:06:39Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > You say that like being really concerned about symbols of totalitarian fascist death squads is somehow superficial. You might want to check out the tattoos on the sitting Secretary of ~~Defense~~ War. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/994 "2026-06-08T15:11:32Z")
OK, I’ll dry my eyes Speaking purely of matters of principle and positions, do you feel that Platner’s likely success in the upcoming primary reflects a party and a polity with robust candidate selection systems, and if not how should this affect outsider’s view of America’s chances of fighting off the fascist cancer currently eating its way through its institutions? > [@DSeid](#): > > Actions with major real world impacts, like voting for SCOTUS picks that enable current fascism, and fascist policies, the stuff Collins has consistently done, matter. Yes! America is in a fight for its very soul. This is really serious. Do you feel that selecting an obvious clown like Platner reflects the seriousness of the moment? ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/995 "2026-06-08T15:14:13Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > You might want to check out the tattoos on the sitting Secretary of ~~Defense~~ War. Those symbols seem extremely informative of his beliefs and actions as a government official to me. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/996 "2026-06-08T15:15:19Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > reflects a party and a polity with robust candidate selection systems How do you think the party “selects” candidates? ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/997 "2026-06-08T15:17:04Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > You might want to check out the tattoos on the sitting Secretary of ~~Defense~~ War. Like I said, the evidence that America isn’t a serious country (but still a dangerous one) keeps piling up. ---
**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:** [June 8, 2026, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/998 "2026-06-08T15:18:17Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Hope all you want that Mills will somehow win the primary despite no longer running and having been way behind last polled, with huge unfavorable ratings, the choice is going to be Platner or Collins. Mills also isn’t a great candidate. A lot of folks said that there just wasn’t anyone in a position to run, but that’s just not true: There are around a hundred people who were in a position to run. What should have happened was that folks (including the leadership of the Democratic Party) should have found a few of them who looked like likely prospects, and encouraged them to run, and had a primary between them. As things stand right now, though, it’s either Mills, or we lose Maine. The only practical difference between Platner and Collins is that with Collins, we lose one race, while with Platner, we lose more races. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/999 "2026-06-08T15:18:26Z")
> [@Stanislaus](#): > > America is no longer a serious country. It took you until _this thread_ to figure that out? ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1000 "2026-06-08T15:18:54Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > How do you think the party “selects” candidates? Oooh, general knowledge quizzes about foreign political minutiae are such fun. Let me have a go. I think the Democratic party selects - or “selects” if you like - candidates for the highest office in a haphazard, slapdash and cackhanded way that leaves them woefully unprepared to engage with the serious threat to American democracy, and that this reflects badly on them and America generally. How’d I do? ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1001 "2026-06-08T15:20:06Z")
Did the words “not in terms of changing my mind but more in the way of heaping up further confirmatory evidence” get whited out?! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-reasons-to-reject-graham-platner-in-maine-campaign-suspended-july-8-2026/1028179/1002 "2026-06-08T15:20:07Z")
I feel that not re-electing Collins, who will continue to be a good soldier on the side of fascism, as she has consistently proven herself to be, is a very serious issue. I believe that someone whose actions have resulted in a SCOTUS that has enabled massive evil must be replaced. I believe that reducing the chance of continued GOP Senate control is very serious, critical in the fight at a near existential level. You think a tattoo is a more serious issue than that. That’s your decision to make. [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=49) [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=51)