# People defending Graham Platner are pathetic and intellectually bankrupt **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 12, 2026, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839 "2026-06-12T02:58:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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 12, 2026, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/21 "2026-06-12T13:25:00Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > But his personal problems can be overlooked because he’s right when it comes to policy. Oh wait, that’s what a prominent Republican said recently about Ken Paxton. This is correct. We’re in a first past the post system, primarily voting for people to vote on tax/spending bills and presidential appointments. A conservative would be stupid not to vote for Paxton for being corrupt. FPTP is stupid but not participating in it doesn’t make it go away. ---
**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 12, 2026, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/22 "2026-06-12T13:46:52Z")
So he gets a pass for putting a hate symbol on his body because the artist was bad? It was a totenkopf when he got it, it’s still a totenkopf, he admits that it’s a totenkopf. The reasoning of people who are defending Platner is the exact same reasoning that got us Trump: “It’s OK, because he has the correct letter after his name, and nothing else matters besides the letter next to his name”. Letters after names are completely meaningless. What distinguishes one politician from another is their policies. And all we know about his policies is what we can infer from the other things we know about him, and none of it is good. ---
**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 12, 2026, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/23 "2026-06-12T13:51:32Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So he gets a pass for putting a hate symbol on his body because the artist was bad? It was a totenkopf when he got it, it’s still a totenkopf, he admits that it’s a totenkopf. And the evidence that he knew _at the time of getting the tattoo_ that it was a Nazi totenkopf is? ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/24 "2026-06-12T14:05:11Z")
Im not into military symbolism but skull and crossbones ☠ are just for nazii’s now? No? [Example](https://skullandbones.com/) ---
**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:** [June 12, 2026, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/25 "2026-06-12T14:11:32Z")
Not sure if I’m one of the pittees here, but to clarify my position: It’s clear that it was _meant_ to be a totenkopf. It’s not clear that it actually resembled a totenkopf closely enough that a reasonable person, including the person whose body it was on, would recognize it as such. Based on the photos I’ve seen, I don’t think it did, but the photos aren’t great and I acknowledge that it may have been more obvious IRL. As an aside, I think the argument that an ordinary person might not have recognized it, but a “WW2 buff” like Platner certainly would have, is asinine. I wouldn’t claim to be a “buff”, but I have certainly read more about WW2 than most people, and I have had friends who were very into the subject who I’m sure wouldn’t have recognized it. It is possible to find the military strategy and tactics, the politics and diplomacy, and the human drama of the war fascinating without ever once asking yourself “Yes, but what designs did the various sides wear on their hats? That’s _really_ interesting!” ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/26 "2026-06-12T14:13:59Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > “We can all see with our own eyes” doesn’t mean it’s “obvious on sight.” “Well, who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?” ---
**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 12, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/27 "2026-06-12T14:23:48Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > As an aside, I think the argument that an ordinary person might not have recognized it, but a “WW2 buff” like Platner certainly would have, is asinine. It also not being possible for WWII buffery to be limited to the Pacific Theater. Platner’s buffery was almost certainly of the typical Atlantic Theater kind, but without EVIDENCE it’s still an assumption. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/28 "2026-06-12T14:38:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So he gets a pass for putting a hate symbol on his body because the artist was bad? No, because he and his drunk buddies thought it was badass and didn’t know it was used by the Nazis when they got it. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/29 "2026-06-12T14:40:36Z")
I find it more troubling that this is the best that the Democratic establishment in Maine has to offer up. ---
**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 12, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/30 "2026-06-12T14:42:38Z")
No, he just beat the best the Democratic establishment has to offer. ---
**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:** [June 12, 2026, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/31 "2026-06-12T14:49:06Z")
Isn’t the whole point that Graham Platner _isn’t_ part of the Democratic establishment? The argument across the country seems to be that “Progressives” want progressive candidates, and the Democratic Party keeps trying to be a centrist party. That’s allowing outsiders, some of who may be… less than ideal… to win primaries. If the Party started catering to more progressive candidates, candidates that it could actually vet and support as they move through the ranks, we wouldn’t need to worry about the Platners. * * * The arguments against Graham Platner don’t seem to have evolved in the last couple of months. It’s basically – **He’s got a Nazi tattoo!** Except nobody knows about the totenkompf (I know I didn’t), it’s just not common knowledge, and as soon as it became politically significant Platner did the right thing and covered it up. **But he was a WWII buff, he knew what it was!** Except there’s no evidence that he’s got any kind of bona fides in symbolism of the Third Reich, just a few posts on WWII message boards that are mostly filled with Call of Duty fans. **But he praises white supremacist podcasters!** Except there’s no evidence that the (single) podcast in question is an “anti-semitic” podcast, other than the host is critical of Israel’s treatment of Palestineans. **What about the person that he retweeted?!?** It doesn’t matter how high you pile unconvincing evidence, it doesn’t become convincing. * * * Graham Platner being a gross old man texting younger girls should be much more concerning, but I guess we don’t care about that as much as a bad tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/32 "2026-06-12T14:52:58Z")
The process is so weird, how terrible candidates somehow bubble to the top. Look at the some of the Democratic mayors in NY: Dinkins, De Blasio, Adams, all terrible. Dukakis, Mondale, terrible. Dukakis wasn’t the best Democrat in the US. Obviously, the Republicans have the same problem, and other countries, too – Farage in the UK? I don’t know how to fix it, but man, the process is broken and has been forever. ---
**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 12, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/33 "2026-06-12T14:55:31Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > the process is broken and has been forever. The Democratic Party “smoke filled rooms”, where candidates were selected, got us Nixon. ---
**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 12, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/34 "2026-06-12T14:59:43Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I don’t know how to fix it, but man, the process is broken and has been forever. Anything other that fptp. If Platner, Mills, Collins (and who knows an actual Trumper) were in 4 different parties this would be so much simpler, whether its ranked choice or a jungle primary. Leaving out proportional representation since idk how to work that with the senate. California genuinely picks much better candidates with its jungle primary. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/35 "2026-06-12T14:59:50Z")
I’m not saying that’s better. I don’t know how to solve this. Look at some of the presidents we’ve had. Not the actively bad or good ones, just the blah ones – were they the best that the US had to offer? So weird. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/36 "2026-06-12T15:00:01Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > Graham Platner being a gross old man texting younger girls should be much more concerning, but I guess we don’t care about that as much as a bad tattoo. Part of the issue is that the Nazi symbol is what the right is pushing. I did a Google search for Graham Platner yesterday on the web, and one of the first search results was a Fox News story (yes, I clicked it, ugh) talking about how his Nazi tattoo is typical of the left and Democrats in general who are all antisemitic, blah blah blah. Give how uncomfortable the Epstein files and other allegations are about Trump, I don’t think the texting scandal is what they want to lean on. Because that is the narrative, it’s what keeps coming up a lot in the public consciousness, and I think it’s influencing folks here as well. ---
**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 12, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/37 "2026-06-12T15:02:14Z")
Yup, as I predicted, now that the primary is over, the Republican smear machine is now starting up, and they’re using this to smear all Democrats, not just Platner. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/38 "2026-06-12T15:02:45Z")
Whoa, who could have predicted that?? ---
**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:** [June 12, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/39 "2026-06-12T15:03:38Z")
Interesting; I guess with the hugely unpopular war in Iran, they need to keep trying to shore up the pro-Israel wing to keep voters on board. I do wish leftists would stop caring about what the right says, since none of it is offered in good faith. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2026, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839/40 "2026-06-12T15:04:06Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Sometimes you have to make unpleasant choices. I personally am more troubled about the sexual allegations than by a tattoo that a drunken serviceman got overseas. I’m infinitely more troubled by a president that is the evillest person in US history, mind-numbingly stupid, cruel, incompetent, and corrupt than I am about 1% of the Senate having an objectionable tattoo. If voting for Platner is the difference between having a Republican-controlled Senate aiding and abetting the destruction of democracy and having a Democratic-controlled Senate resisting the end of the American experiment, then I would hold my nose and vote for Platner. He’s far from perfect, but he would do more than furrow his brow at the abuses of the criminal-in-chief. That assumes he doesn’t pull a Benedict Arnold and switch affiliations like several “Dems” have done in recent years, such as Kyrsten Sinema. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-defending-graham-platner-are-pathetic-and-intellectually-bankrupt/1030839.md?page=3)