Meet Graham Platner. Here is one white guy who can help save the Democratic Party from itself, imho.

[ariadne0614]

His Daily Beast interview with Joanna Cole was this radical (tongue in cheek) feminist’s introduction, and I’m sold.

If you know very little about Graham Platner, he’s running against the establishment Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator from Maine. If he wins the primary, he’ll take on the very concerned Susan Collins. He’s supported by Bernie, Liz Warren, Chris Murphy and other good guys. I’d love to see him working shoulder-to-shoulder with the aforementioned, plus Sheldon Whitehouse, Tammy Duckworth, Ruben Gallego, Mark Kelly, Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, etc.

The way he handled every question was a wonder to behold. Plainspoken, credible, masculine-in-the-good-way, this ex-Marine (current oyster farmer) who fought in Iraq & Afghanistan deserves all the support we can provide. He would have the Democratic Party return to its FDR New Deal version, and get universal healthcare (i.e. Medicare For All) passed, once and for all.

?si=pbrKB1OroLnD8xxQ

And yes, the interview addresses the “scandals” of his past—in a most satisfactory way, I might add. Oh, and ignore the click-bait, sensationalistic YouTube title.

https://www.grahamforsenate.com/

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Question

Are you okay with Pete Kegsbreath's Nazi / White Supremacist Tattoos?

Platner has some too.

I want to make sure people are being consistent here.

I'm terrified of the Democratic Party Returning to the Raw Deal for Black Americans who had been here since 1619.

It's also a return to the status quo. That's not acceptable. We need public hangings, life imprisonment, life long loss of voting etc. etc.

I'd fear this guy turns out to be another Fetterman - always taking sides with the right.

[ariadne0614]

3. I guess you didn't watch the interview. n/t

Going with my gut on this one.

[berksdem]

6. use your gut

to look up his old reddit posts too - you might change your mind

[ariadne0614]

8. Watch the interview, or not.

The Reddit posts were addressed.

[berksdem]

10. I already watched it thanks.

Now, hold him to accountability like we hold people on the right.

[ariadne0614]

17. I do hold him accountable, and his responses to tough questions impressed me.

It’s interesting that you watched the entire interview. I’d love to know which of his responses were unsatisfactory, and whether his demeanor offended you in any way.

[JustAnotherGen]

144. I HAVE watched the entire interview

This past year we've gotten a lot of lip service from well-meaning white liberals and leftists that their peers should 'listen to Black women'.

But time and again they don't.

And so when we warned about Fetterman - we were poo pooed.
And now - we are warning about Platner and again - we are being poo pooed and shushed.

When he gets elected and shows his true colors - not a rehearsed answer . . .

You heard it from this Black woman first: Told all y'all.

As long as he doesn't suck money away from Candidates who won't be afraid to vote for things like the VRA or CRA . . . god bless him. But that means we need two staunch Black Senators to offset him.

So we all need to get behind Jasmine Crockett who does NOT have white supremacist tattoos on her body.

[ariadne0614]

150. I have often said that only Black women can save us, and consider Jasmine Crockett a national treasure.

Still, after the backlash against Barack, Hillary and Kamala, I fear we’ll be stuck in a white male power structure for the duration. He came across as very progressive in the interview, so I’m still reserving judgement till I know more.

[ariadne0614]

21. His Reddit posts were discussed, but please explain how to look them up with one's guts. n/t

[berksdem]

24. don't get mad

b/c this entire post is folks going against your swooning

[ariadne0614]

32. Autumn is on my side, and you're mistaking enthusiasm for swooning.

BTW, radical feminists don’t swoon, especially over close-minded white men. Are you attempting to bully an elderly woman (and fellow DUer) into sitting down and shutting up? I intend to defend my OP until the bitter end.

[berksdem]

48. JFC

you must be a real treat at parties. nobody is bullying you and how the heck would I know if you are a female or male let alone a radical feminist.

[ariadne0614]

60. Calm down.

I’m not mad at you.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

52. I've never in my life heard any self-described "radical feminist" say that an average white guy had "potent magic" but

every day can bring wonders I guess

[ariadne0614]

108. I am a wonderment, it is true. n/t

[sheshe2]

127. This Magic Moment 🎶

[ariadne0614]

97. I appreciate your terror.

We can agree on your New Deal point. I’m thinking more along the lines of striving toward a more perfect union, and he gave me the strong impression that he feels the same way. Repeating the failings of the New Deal era would be unacceptable, but a solid foundation was laid.

You lost me with the notion of public hangings, etc. That would be a return to the status quo of previous times of horror. Life imprisonment without parole for the worst of the worst works for me, with the caveat that the convicts would be made available as objects of study by historians, sociologists, neuroscientists, psychologists, etc. Their personal privacy would be forfeited in favor of regular reports to the public. Findings would be used to pass laws, and used in (age appropriate, of course) mandatory civics classes in every K-12 public school curriculum.

[Buckeyeblue]

123. I don't trust anyone's judgement who advocates for public hangings or private hangings

We have a long list of people who have been exonerated after being convicted of crimes. Our justice system is economically based. The justice you get is proportional to the justice you pay for. And we all know that cops lie, DAs hide evidence and over charge to get easy plea bargains, judges are biased. We say people are innocent until proven guilty but the second people are arrested they are dehumanized and stripped of their dignity.

So I'm a hard no on the death penalty.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. Nope fuck this guy. His judgment is shit.

[ariadne0614]

7. You do you.

Based on the comments so far, I’m guessing the right wing/oligarch message machine is working overtime to discredit this guy. Since I don’t know you or the other naysayers, I’m going with the judgement of Bernie and Liz Warren, and the vibe I get from him in this interview.

I do hope others will watch the interview and judge for themselves.

[Autumn]

11. I listened to him and I am fine with his explaations. I like him. Young and has gotten his

head on straight.

[ariadne0614]

14. Thank you Autumn.

That’s my assessment as well, after paying close attention to politics and politicians since the Watergate era.

[Autumn]

16. As for the tattoo nonsense I have known many young people who have tattoos that

they have gotten with comrades that were supposed to mean one thing but turned out to mean something else. I like the guy.

[ariadne0614]

22. He's got some potent magic. n/t

[EX500rider]

55. Getting a Nazi death head tattoo is bad, leaving it on for over decade is worse IMO

[Autumn]

58. And he explained the tattoo he and his fellow soldiers got. nt

[EX500rider]

62. Again getting a Nazi SS tattoo while drunk on leave is one thing, leaving it there for over a decade is another IMO YMMV

[betsuni]

67. Yah, if all the other soldiers are doing it, it must be okay!

[Autumn]

72. You may not know this but men who serve together have a tight bond. nt

[obamanut2012]

80. No ne in my family in the military ever got a Nazi tat

And, they have served this country since the French and Indian Wars. Including my BIL, who fought in Iraq, and he and his military buddies never felt the need to bond by lauding Nazis on their skin.

[Autumn]

85. When he found out it was a nazi tattoo he had it covered. So AFAIC that's the end of that.

https://apnews.com/article/maine-platner-senate-trump-mills-tattoo-collins-fa8328a3c8aa5d5e0f34adb379e977b8

The first-time political candidate said he got the skull and crossbones tattoo in 2007, when he was in his 20s and in the Marine Corps. It happened during a night of drinking while he was on leave in Croatia, he said, adding he was unaware until recently that the image has been associated with Nazi police.

Platner’s campaign initially said he would remove the tattoo, yet Platner said he later chose to cover it up with another tattoo due to the limited options where he lives in rural Maine.“Going to a tattoo removal place is going to take a while,” he said. “I wanted this thing off my body.”

The initial tattoo image resembled a specific symbol of Hitler’s paramilitary Schutzstaffel, or SS, which was responsible for the systematic murders of millions of Jews and others in Europe during World War II.

A Celtic knot and a dog-like creature
The new tattoo, completed late Tuesday, now is a Celtic knot with a dog-like creature splayed in the middle of it. The animal has four gangly legs and an elongated head with a curly tongue spiraling out. The image is mostly filled in with black ink, but the Celtic knot is green.

[mr715]

81. This is an awfully slippery slope nt

[obamanut2012]

79. So, you know people who got Nazi tats and still have them over a decade later?

Wow.

[obamanut2012]

78. You are doing exactly what the RW does

If someone disagrees with you, you are saying they are brainwashed.

For alerters: I am not saying OP is RW, I am saying they are using some of the same strategies when folks disagree with them.

[ariadne0614]

110. I'm lost on this one.

It would help to know which RW strategies you believe I employed with people who disagreed with me. I enjoy living and learning, and engaging civil discourse. I think it’s considered part of democratic process.

[mucholderthandirt]

124. Bernie has been wrong before. I don't trust anyone with a Nazi tattoo and posts online that reinforce that.

I'm a white, elderly woman who has been a feminist since I was twelve. I've probably been a radical feminist as long as that, and I don't support people like Platner.

You can do what you like. You can support whom you like. But you seem to want us to ignore his past, as we would not do for someone in the opposition. That's not how this works. And no, I'm not watching some clickbait title site to see how the guy defended himself from charges that basically have no defense.

[ariadne0614]

136. I'm sorry if I left the impression that I expect anyone, including myself, to ignore his past.

That is not the case, I promise. You will do what you like, and I will continue to delve deeper. Since you haven’t watched the interview, there’s not much to discuss. I’ll just say it’s discomforting to think about withholding redemption from a sincere repentant. We seem to land on different ends of the radical feminist spectrum.

[Blue_Adept]

133. He discredited himself quite well

[tritsofme]

4. I like Democrats who don't have Nazi problems in their past, personally.

Happy to leave that as the exclusive domain of the Trumpers.

[ariadne0614]

12. If I thought for one minute he was a Nazi, I wouldn't have posted the interview.

However, I have an open mind, and always seek the unvarnished truth. Please cite your sources, which I will consider. In return, it would add to your credibility if you have given him the chance to explain himself.

[MichMan]

25. Plenty of posts about him here

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220739179

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220797994

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220726585

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220753148

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143554527

[ariadne0614]

29. Thanks.

They didn’t show up when I did an advanced search of his name before posting my OP. I’ll check them out after I make lunch and prep vegetables for dinner.

[MichMan]

153. Did you read the other posts by now?

Still think he is wonderful?

[TommyT139]

43. It wasn't just a "past" problem....

...since he went all those years not thinking about what his body communicated to anyone who saw him at the beach (for instance). That completely undercuts his attempts to distance himself from his decisions.

If he's a decent guy, he'll continue to do public good, watch what he posts/emails, and maybe in the future, fine.

A guy who gets Nazi tattoos removed only after getting questioned about them isn't ready to defend a state against fascists.

[awesomerwb1]

5. The "establishment" lol

F this guy

[ariadne0614]

26. Actually, if I lived in Maine, I'd work my heart out for him. n/t

And, if I had money to spare, I’d make regular contributions.

This doesn’t sound like something your average Nazi would do.
https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/local/graham-platner-to-take-campaign-hiatus-to-travel-to-norway-for-ivf-with-wife/97-6efaee11-e76f-41fe-9d3d-6259b56221c0#

[awesomerwb1]

30. Good for you. I'm sure questionable people like this crazy dude need the money

[ariadne0614]

31. It's seriously difficult to imagine watching this interview and concluding he's crazy.

We must be viewing him through radically different lenses.

[awesomerwb1]

33. It's not. Do you like his Nazi tattoo as well?

It's difficult to read his disgraceful posts from not that long ago and conclude he's a good Dem candidate.

[ariadne0614]

36. Is that a serious question?

Are you proud of everything you’ve ever said and done? Have you owned up to your worst mistakes and errors in judgement? It seems to me that he’s done so, in public.

I know, I know. Democratic candidates must be practically perfect, in every way.

What I do know is that the right wing will do whatever it takes to take him down, with the help of quite a few Democrats, it seems.

[awesomerwb1]

38. lol Of course he's gonna "own up"

He's running for office!

Once a Nazi, always a Nazi.

[ariadne0614]

63. Because Trump has made owning up all the fashion on the Nazi side of the equation.

Yes, he’s a candidate, and he also happens to be a 41-year old human being who did stupid stuff when he was under 30. Funny how that works.

Did you happen to see the reply about his tattoo?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

64. He did plenty of stupid stuff when he was over 30, too.

Walking around with a totenkopf tattoo for YEARS instead of getting rid of it ranks right on up there.

[mr715]

82. He isn't just turning 21!

He's been an adult for a while!

[awesomerwb1]

66. It's cute how you think you're the first one to "introduce"

this dude to DU.

He's a bad candidate with a lot of baggage. Bye.

[Jack Valentino]

120. His opponent, Janet Mills:

Based on her actions as Governor of Maine leading into her 2025-2026 U.S. Senate campaign, Janet Mills has developed a record that has drawn criticism from the progressive wing of the Democratic party. While she is viewed as a moderate and a key opponent of1 Donald Trump, her, use of the veto pen on labor, housing, and tribal issues, along with a fiscally conservative approach, has created friction with the left.
Here are the specific, more conservative actions taken by Governor Mills that have made her less acceptable to the progressive left:

1. Vetoing Key Labor and Worker Rights Bills
Opposed Expanded Collective Bargaining: Mills vetoed legislation in 2024 that would have strengthened collective bargaining rights by banning anti-union intimidation tactics.
Axed Noncompete Agreement Ban: She killed a bill that would have banned restrictive noncompete agreements, which labor advocates argued restricted worker mobility.
Weakened Farmworker Protections: While she eventually signed a version of a bill setting a $14.65 minimum wage for farmworkers, she removed critical enforcement provisions, limiting its impact.
Vetoed "Buy Local" Requirements: She vetoed legislation that would have required state government contracts to prioritize local Maine businesses over multinational corporations.
Opposed Overtime Protections: She vetoed a bill that would have required the state to study the issue of paper mill workers being forced to work excessive overtime.

2. Fiscal and Economic Conservatism
Conservative Budgeting/Surplus Retention: Critics from the left argue that Mills’ administration has been too conservative in forecasting, resulting in unnecessary, large budget surpluses rather than investing in social programs or infrastructure.
Opposed Raising Taxes on the Wealthy: She opposed 2024 tax reform proposals intended to raise taxes on wealthy residents to balance the budget, drawing criticism for prioritizing corporate interests.
Opposed Rent Control/Tenant Protection: In 2019, she blocked tenant protection reforms that would have mandated more notice before rent hikes and evictions, citing burdens on business.

3. Stances on Social and Justice Issues
Vetoed Youth Prison Closure: A significant point of criticism from progressives was her veto of a proposal to close the Long Creek Youth Development Center, a facility critics have described as unsafe and punitive.
"Yellow Flag" Gun Law Defense: Following the 2023 Lewiston mass shooting, she resisted calls for a "Red Flag" law (which allows for the temporary removal of firearms from dangerous individuals), choosing instead to stand by Maine’s existing "Yellow Flag" law, which is seen as a compromise by gun control advocates.
Supported Filibuster: Mills has stated her support for retaining the U.S. Senate filibuster, which many progressive Democrats want to eliminate to pass legislation with a simple majority.
Opposition to Drug Decriminalization: She has expressed opposition to the decriminalization of drug possession, putting her at odds with reformers on the far left.

4. Tribal Relations and Environmental Issues
Vetoed Tribal Sovereignty Bills: Mills has faced intense backlash for vetoing legislation aimed at enhancing tribal sovereignty, including a bill that would have ensured Wabanaki Nations received the same federal rights as other Native American tribes.
Legal Challenges Against Tribes: As governor, her administration has been accused of "environmental racism" by tribal leaders for legal challenges involving water quality standards and fishing rights on the Penobscot River.

5. Environmental Policy
Stance on Clean Energy Jobs: She killed a permitting reform bill designed to accelerate offshore wind projects because it included a mandate for union jobs, a move that drew ire from labor-aligned environmentalists.

6. Opposing Federal Action
Criticized ACA Subsidy Deal: In late 2025, she drew criticism for calling a bipartisan deal to reopen the federal government a "lousy deal," arguing it didn't do enough to immediately address Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) subsidies, a move seen by some as obstructionist rather than constructive.
These actions have caused her support among Democrats to drop in some polls, leading to a competitive primary challenge from progressive candidates in her bid for the Senate, particularly with support from figures like Bernie Sanders for her opponents.


Most of those things 'give me "pause' over Janet Mills--- more than what some say was a 'nazi tattoo' that Platner has since covered up.....
which most likely was not labeled as a 'nazi tattoo' at the tattoo shop where he got it....


It's up to the Democratic primary voters in Maine, I will support whomever they nominate as an out-stater---
but some of the things Mills has actually DONE against progressive policy
concern me a little more than anything Platner had tattooed on his body which he has since covered up...

[ariadne0614]

70. I'm sure they would make me cringe.

Nevertheless, don’t be surprised if it turns out you’ve drawn the wrong conclusions. For my part, I will maintain an open mind and continue to assess the situation. Until then, I like him.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

51. "This doesn't sound like something your average Nazi would do." lol what

[thebigidea]

89. as if he and his mommy aren't the establishment

[Historic NY]

9. Remember when Fetterman was the be all to save all.....

[ariadne0614]

13. My gut told me from the beginning that there was something off about Fetterman.

Platner is no Fetterman.

[W_HAMILTON]

44. So you didn't agree with the judgement of Sanders regarding Fetterman but say we should trust his judgement here?

[Autumn]

23. I never once saw him that way. I saw him clearly for what he is.

[2naSalit]

15. I'm more impressed...

With Governor Mills.

[ariadne0614]

19. I'm sure Governor Mills is a fine person.

However, being a septuagenarian myself, it seems folly to choose someone who would be well into her 80s by the end of her first term. We need to make way for dynamic leadership from the generations who will be left with they’re inheriting from us.

[2naSalit]

20. Are you...

A Maine voter?

[ariadne0614]

27. No, I'm just an American who would love to see Democrats take back the Senate. n/t

[Torchlight]

135. Age-baiting is so last generation

Good luck!

[sheshe2]

154. What does her age have to do with it?

Sanders who you have mentioned as having endorsed Platner is 84 years old and will be 90 when his term ends. You also mentioned Warren's endorsement who is 75 and will be 81 when her term ends. You can't have it both ways.

PS. Warren is my Senator, and I like her a lot though I don't necessarily agree with her on this decision.

[questionseverything]

34. Mills is the AIPAC candidate and so whoever the republican nominee will be aipac supported

Last edited Tue Jan 20, 2026, 04:00 PM - Edit history (1)

Adding to my original post, I don’t think AIPAC approved candidates are a good thing, I think the opposite as I don’t support the genocide Israel has unleashed on Gaza or the West Bank

[LetMyPeopleVote]

84. Maine Senate Race Moves To Toss Up With Mills' Entrance

Mills is clearly more electable than any other candidate

Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ entrance into the Senate race on Tuesday marks a significant escalation in political firepower aimed at longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins. We are moving the contest from Lean R -> Toss Up.

— The Cook Political Report (@cookpolitical.com) 2025-10-14T13:38:17.516Z

https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/senate/maine-senate/maine-senate-race-moves-toss-mills-entrance

Maine Gov. Janet Mills’ entrance into the Senate race on Tuesday marks a significant escalation in political firepower aimed at longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins, the only Republican senator representing a state carried by then-Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. For the first time since she was elected in 1996, Collins could face off against a sitting statewide officeholder who, like her, has a proven track record of outperforming the presidential ticket of her party.

Mills, of course, does not have a clear path to the nomination, and there is no guarantee that she will win it. But she is a top-tier recruit in a field that currently lacks a well-known or well-established candidate. And while Collins has defied electoral expectations for decades, the political environment today is more polarized than ever, which makes Collins’ ability to effectively straddle partisan lines more challenging.

As such, we are moving the contest from Lean Republican to Toss Up.

There are several other Democrats in the race, but oyster farmer and first-time political candidate Graham Platner appears to be Mills’ most serious

[leftstreet]

18. He's drawing crowds of elderly people

Which isn't surprising given that Maine has the "oldest" average population of all the states

If he's the nominee, it'll be interesting to see how it translates to election numbers vs Collins (or the GOPer who runs instead)

[ariadne0614]

28. Interesting. I didn't use my gut to find information on endorsements.

Many fine people on both sides.
https://mainemorningstar.com/2025/12/04/national-progressive-group-throws-support-behind-graham-platner/

[TommyT139]

46. "...on both sides..."

Yikes, that's a phrase that brings back memories!

[ariadne0614]

49. Yes!

It works on multiple levels, but you can’t use your gut to grasp the subtleties.

[TommyT139]

92. I was referring

...to Trump's "both-sides"-ing the Nazis in Charlottesville.

[FascismIsDeath]

35. I think its more like, he is the key to ensuring Susan Collins gets another term

This guy has way too much baggage.

[ariadne0614]

59. Perhaps not.

The zeitgeist suggests to me, that the Democrats are Jonesing for fighters. He’s a fighter.

To be fair, my desire to see a female president before I die has taken a back seat to my bitter recognition that our culture is still too consumed by misogyny and sexism to change in time—on both sides. Therefore, my heart and head are open to a white man who has the moral and intellectual integrity to learn and grow into a more evolved definition of “manhood.” If that makes me timid, I’ll cop to it.

Based on the interview, his comments on Susan Collins convinced me that her time is over. He’s talked to a lot of rural Maine voters.

[rzemanfl]

37. Some people say he

went into the oyster business because he thought it might help his wife conceive.

Don’t most Marines have tattoos? When I have a better device I will post
a link to an article about tattoos and the Marine culture,

[betsuni]

39. I don't understand "one white guy who can save the Democratic Party from itself."

What does that mean?

[rzemanfl]

40. In 2007 a Marine Gunnery Sgt. estimated that 92% of about 8,000 Marines

he briefed on the subject of tattoos had at least one.

https://www.miramar-ems.marines.mil/News/News-Article-Display/Article/556982/to-ink-or-not-to-inknew-regulations-answer-the-question/

Maybe a skull and crossbones tattoo would look better with an eye patch or a pegleg, but I don't think it should be disqualifying

[WhiskeyGrinder]

45. You get that it was a very specific skull and crossbones that was a hallmark of the SS, right? Not the Jolly Roger?

[rzemanfl]

54. I have not seen a picture. Have you?

The SS skull is very distinctive. The pirate and poison skull and crossbones are virtually identical, although the position of the bones, either behind or below the skull varies in both. The SS skull has much shorter bones that are behind the skull and appear to be stacked on top of each other.

On edit, there is a picture of the tattoo up thread I hadn't seen when I wrote the above. It sure looks like a Nazi death head to me, although the skull seems tilted.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

57. I'm familiar with the totenkopf, and the video and screenshots that went around a lot last October make it clear that's

what it was.

https://themainemonitor.org/platner-tattoo-nazi-totenkopf/

He called it "my totenkopf" as well, according to a former campaign official.

[EX500rider]

61. This tattoo? Quite plainly the SS-Totenkopf tattoo

Last edited Tue Jan 20, 2026, 09:26 PM - Edit history (2)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS-Totenkopfverb%C3%A4nde

[rzemanfl]

68. Agreed. n/t

[rzemanfl]

73. I agree the tattoo is a Nazi Death Head (totenkopf).

I find it odd that a Croatian tattoo artist would be doing these tattoos. Croatia was a Nazi puppet state during World War II.
Of course, I also find it odd that Americans whose fathers fought the Nazis support Trump's fascism. Go figure.

[Cirsium]

88. Seriously?

That doesn't surprise me at all. Neo-Nazi movements and historical revisionism are rampant in the former Warsaw Pact countries. Croatia, Slovakia, Lithuania and Ukraine were full of unapologetic Nazi collaborators and war criminals, many never held to account, supported by the US as "anti-Communists" and their crimes were largely white washed.

Pro-Nazi singer sells out Zagreb arena as Croatia’s collaborationist past sheds its taboo

Croatian Jews say little effort is made to tamp down valorization of the brutal Ustaše collaborationist regime.

Next month marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II as well as the collapse of the Ustaše regime, the Nazi puppet government formally known as the Independent State of Croatia. Its territory — which encompassed much of today’s Croatia as well as neighboring Bosnia and parts of modern-day Serbia — housed around 30 concentration camps including Jasenovac and two camps specifically for children, Jastrebarsko and Sisak.

During its reign of terror, the Ustaše regime persecuted and murdered hundreds of thousands of Serbs, Jews and Roma, as well as Croatians opposed to their rule. The Catholic Church openly collaborated with the Ustaše, whose support came largely from young men with rural, blue-collar, uneducated backgrounds.

In 2016, Croatia’s then-president posed with a Ustaše flag during a trip to Canada, despite having previously expressed regret about the regime during a state trip to Israel. Today, nationalist sympathizers continue to use the prohibited, yet increasingly tolerated, slogan “Za Dom Spremni” (Defend the Homeland) — the Ustaše equivalent of the Nazi “Sieg Heil.”

In a sign of how widespread Nazi sentiments may be, Marko Perkovic, a Croatian singer who goes by Thompson, known for his Nazi sympathies, has sold more than 500,000 tickets for an outdoor concert in July. Tena Banjeglav, program coordinator at Documenta: Center for Dealing With the Past, a Zagreb-based nonprofit group, notes that Nazi signs have potent symbolism for some Croatians.

https://forward.com/news/716692/pro-nazi-singer-sells-out-zagreb-arena-as-croatias-collaborationist-past-sheds-its-taboo/

[rzemanfl]

91. Thank you.

I was not aware of any of this. Now I am wondering if the tattooist enjoyed inking Nazi symbols into the skins of American troops.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

100. Hey, thanks for listening in good faith.

[rzemanfl]

109. Maybe the tattooist

charged the drunken Americans and got another check from the party as well.

[W_HAMILTON]

41. They said the same about John Fetterman.

No thank you.

[leftstreet]

47. I doubt his crowds are "Genocide Joe" people

Looking at feedback, they're older, somewhat conservative, and unhappy with Collins

Unless you're just referring to the online noise

[delisen]

50. Another start at the top political con.

One conman is destroying us because too many Americans yearn for a political savior. The masked man who rides in a white horse and whips everything into shape.

[lostincalifornia]

53. If I recall the same views were expressed how Fetterman was the "great liberal hope" over the "establishment"

Conner Lamb.

That worked out real well.

It took only how many years before he though a nazi tattoo wasn't a good look?

Judgement is everything.

[mountain grammy]

56. I don't live in Maine

I won't trash either Democrat running in the primary.. it's up to Maine voters.

I will be donating to whoever is the Democratic primary choice for Senator.

I'm satisfied that Platner has addressed his problems.. I honestly don't think it's so serious..Right now I just want them to run on policies and the future they want for Maine and America..

We need Collins out!!! That's all we should be focused on. She is our enemy, not Democrat Platner or Democrat Mills..

[chelsea0011]

93. I do live in Maine

You are right to say beating Collins is first on the list Platner was said to be thinking about running for 2nd Congressional District in ME. He should. Le Page is back from his home in FL to run for office again. That lunatic needs to be stopped also. And I believe him about not knowing the tat origin story. I read and watch a lot of WWll history and am unaware of that insignia. He can’t beat Mills so his run will be all for not and we will lose a congressional seat.

[mountain grammy]

95. Thank you for your response. I have a couple of questions.

Is there any democrat running in your second district? If not is the end of the primary too late to run for the office? I don’t know Maine’s rules on how this works, and when someone can file to run for office.
Yes, it would be a shame to give up a house seat that is winnable. The most important thing to be focused on is beating Republicans that is it. So yes, if no Democrat is running in the second district he should run there or maybe Mills should.

Thanks again for your response. I love Maine. Haven’t been there for 50 years but many fond memories Beautiful state. Hopefully will get back one of these days.

[chelsea0011]

155. It's not my district

but, Jared Golden who decided not to run, had his two elections decided by thinnest of margins. There are Democrats running but Northern Maine is very Republican and strong Le Page voters up there. Platner, a vet and solid ME persona being fisherman and resident can get by with the long standing canard up here of being “ from away” as Susan Collins used on her last challenger. Oh, I’m from away even owning a house for 25 years.

[BannonsLiver]

69. All that matters to me right now is winning elections

I don’t care about his tattoos or his purity score on bullshit culture war identity politics issues rammed down our collective throats by special interest groups who care about their own personal wants more than actually winning elections. If he can win, then great. If he can’t then he needs to get out of the way.

[ariadne0614]

71. Judging from only this one interview, I think he would agree with you. n/t

I didn’t get the impression that he was ever interested in running for office.

[mr715]

74. This is why we have primaries. nt

[mr715]

76. He is problematic.

I question his judgement and I think the 'old' v 'young' framing is a bit fallacious - the dude is an adult, and there are standards.

It is good to have electricity, but he needs to earn my support. He can do that by establishing a little more Democratic credibility - run for House and win. Run for Mayor of Portland for that matter. Be a Democrat and market yourself as such: if you want to be a part of this party, you gotta share your "potent magic". Senate is a pretty entitled take.

Yeah, I get it. We get people that can make a strong populist message and cloak themselves in "anti-establishment" mojo, but when you aren't elected and already eliciting scandal, give me the bland Democrat that won statewide.

Covering up the tattoo was the first step on the road to Damascus.

[obamanut2012]

77. lol no, I want someone without Nazi tats, who doesn't hit women and who didn't work as a mercenary

He also is a bit of a fake populist.

Janet Mills is perfectly fine for now.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

83. MaddowBlog-Maine's Graham Platner faces difficult questions about his record -- and a tattoo

Once a Senate candidate reaches the point at which he has to deny being a secret Nazi, his campaign isn’t quite where it should be.

“Maine’s Graham Platner faces difficult questions about his record — and a tattoo: Once a Senate candidate reaches the point at which he has to deny being a secret Nazi, his campaign isn’t quite where it should be.“ www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— (@halfmarshall.bsky.social) 2025-10-23T01:57:13.441Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/maines-graham-platner-faces-difficult-questions-record-tattoo-rcna239152

Things changed, however, when Platner’s honeymoon period came to a rather sudden end.

The first sign of trouble came to the fore last week, when Politico reported that Platner “once suggested in online posts that violence is a necessary means to achieving social change.” Around the same time, CNN reported on since-deleted comments Platner had made online in which he “once called himself a ‘communist,’ dismissed ‘all’ police as bastards, and said rural White Americans ’actually are’ racist and stupid.”

The candidate disavowed his earlier rhetoric, but other revelations soon followed. Indeed, also last week, The Bangor Daily News reported that Platner also posted messages online in which he asked why Black people “don’t tip” and suggested people concerned about being raped shouldn’t be inebriated around people they don’t feel comfortable with.

After that report reached the public, Platner’s political director resigned.

That was late last week. This week, we learned about the Senate hopeful’s choice in tattoos. Politico reported:

Democratic Maine Senate hopeful Graham Platner expressed regret over getting a tattoo that appears similar to a Nazi symbol nearly two decades ago and plans to have it removed, his latest mea culpa after a week of damning headlines over resurfaced social media posts. ... Platner reiterated that he got the tattoo while out drinking with fellow Marines in Croatia, choosing the skull and crossbones off a wall at the tattoo parlor. He said the similarity to Nazi iconography never came up, including when he underwent physical exams mandated by the U.S. Army, which prohibits tattoos of identified hate symbols.

In other words, Platner’s defense is that he didn’t know he had a tattoo on his chest that resembles a Nazi symbol. What’s more, on Wednesday morning, he and his team said the image has now been covered......

Whether or not that’s true, once a Senate candidate reaches the point at which he has to deny being a secret Nazi, his campaign isn’t quite where it should be.

Democratic officials had already started rallying behind Mills, who has said she’ll only serve one term if elected. In light of the revelations about Platner’s record, it’s likely that party support will intensify. Watch this space.

[ariadne0614]

113. This post, on its own, would give pause to any reasonable voter.

I appreciate the bounty of information being provided in many replies to my OP. Nevertheless, as challenging as his candidacy may be, I like this guy. Call it radical feminist intuition. Complexity doesn’t scare me.

[Americanme]

86. I watched the entire video, I like him.

He's not perfect, but I like him. I like his position on health care, labor unions, and ending politics as usual. The comments on Reddit from 6 years ago and 13 years ago? Most of us have commented things we later had second thoughts about. The nazi tattoo? I believe him that he picked it off the wall, and had no idea that it was a hate symbol. People that don't believe that must not spend much time in tattoo shops. Most flash sheets of designs are grouped by theme, as in, a bunch of skull designs. They are not labeled pirate skull, nazi skull, etc. Just a bunch of skulls, if you think it looks cool, you get it. I never heard the word totenkopf in all my 63 years before now. I believe the guy, and I like what he is saying.

[thebigidea]

87. I don't believe in saviors, I believe in passing legislation that helps my family

"He would have the Democratic Party return to its FDR New Deal version"

As if that's a matter of choice and not FDR having a HUGE FUCKING SUPERMAJORITY. Gosh, if only previous democrats had the brilliant idea to have a huge fucking supermajority too.

[ariadne0614]

105. I don't believe in saviors either.

What I believe in is an informed and engaged electorate clamoring for better messaging from Democratic candidates. They are few and far between. This guy has the communication skills to deliver a message. That makes him a critical component in a unified effort.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

90. Curious

"He would have the Democratic Party return to its FDR New Deal version, and get universal healthcare (i.e. Medicare For All) passed, once and for all."

How would he do that? Bernie, Liz, and Chris haven't.

[ariadne0614]

94. If Democrats win back the Senate, the pressure will come from fed up We the People. n/t

[sheshe2]

104. Do you truly believe that tsf would actually sign it or...

any legislation that Democrats may pass?! Oh, and the Senate is not enough, we need a majority in Congress as well to even get something passed Little Mike's desk.

[ariadne0614]

114. Yup, we need both the House and Senate. n/t

[sheshe2]

118. That's not enough if the president won't sign it.

[ariadne0614]

103. Call me delusional, but if our side regains the Senate and House, then anything is possible if

. . .a traumatized populace awakened from its slumber demands it. The more elected representatives who are willing to buck the insurance industry lobbyists, the better our chances.

[Blasphemer]

121. Sorry. This is the kind of unicorn thinking that turned me off of the Sanders movement.

If we are going to have a serious conversation about this, we cannot live in some fairy and where Platner is going to lead Democrats down the Yellow Brick Road to a place where the Wizard of Oz will wave a wand and fix the impossible.

[mr715]

140. History

Obama couldn't do it.
Pelosi couldn't do it.
Warren couldn't do it.
Sanders couldn't do it.
Wellstone couldn't do it.
Feingold couldn't do it.
Mondale couldn't do it.
Clinton couldn't do it.
Harris couldn't do it.

But the merc with the nazi tattoo that he did the courtesy of covering up (reactively, not proactively) because he got caught will.

He is entitled and he needs to learn to represent people and party. There will be a primary and he has a very real possibility of being the nominee. If he is, I will support him. But he is not yet. And he hasn't displayed anything other than passion. But passion without a track record (or perhaps with only a problematic track record) is a recipe for major buyers remorse.

[ariadne0614]

145. Could be the right messenger at the right time + the cumulative decades of effort.

From 1973-1975 I engaged in a seemingly futile effort to get cigarette smoking out of my workplace. People thought I was crazy, and the smokers got downright threatening, but all around the nation others were working on the same issue. What seemed impossible became accepted practice. There are a few other issues that followed a similar pattern, so I won’t give up hope that the stars are coming into alignment.

[mr715]

146. Could be, but you don't need to be a Senator to lead.

Again, I'd rather see him run for a more local gig first to prove his chops. Talk is cheap. I liked him until his tattoo story broke, and I didn't like how that story panned out. Not ready for a run as important as this.

If he wins the primary, he has my support. I suspect Gov. Mills is a stronger candidate against Sen. Collins.

[ariadne0614]

148. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Maybe he’ll reconsider when he returns from his two week trip to the fertility clinic in Norway.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

96. The DSCC and Janet Mills have formed a joint fundraising committee together.

This makes me smile

Link to tweet

[ariadne0614]

99. Sincere question.

Perhaps I am too sleepy, so would you please share what makes you smile? I’m genuinely curious.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

107. I am Jewish and have an issue with someone with a NAZI tattoo

I believe that Governor Mills is a far superior candidate to someone with a NAZI tattoo.

[ariadne0614]

112. I have deep respect your preference.

I’m curious to learn more about Bernie Sanders’ endorsement.

[marmar]

98. I don't understand the "one white guy" headline. Was that in an article or something?

Could we not figure out that he was white? Why did that need to be said?

[ariadne0614]

101. Fair question.

I admit to having an inherent bias against most white male leadership, so I was expressing my personal surprise that I would feel such enthusiasm for this guy.

[Iggo]

129. Look up stories from last year about his choice of tattoos.

I won’t leave you guessing. He had a nazi deaths head tattoo on his chest for years and just got it covered up last year after getting called out on it.

[OAITW r.2.0]

102. I'll be voting for Janet Mill's in the primary. If your candidate wins, I will vote for him.

[ariadne0614]

106. Makes perfect sense to me. n/t

[OAITW r.2.0]

111. Ranked Choice voting,,,,democracy in action.

I refer it to the Paul LePage antidote.

[ariadne0614]

115. I'm all in favor of ranked choice voting.

Not familiar with the Paul LePage antidote, in case you’d like to elaborate.

[OAITW r.2.0]

116. Gov. MAGA Paul got elected in Maine when 60+% voted for two other candidates.....

he won on simple plurality. We have a better voting solution in place, in Maine now.

[Iggo]

117. Oh boy! Let the rebranding begin!

[Blasphemer]

119. Still? Really? Has Trump taught us nothing. Gimme a break. nt

[betsuni]

122. Running against the Democratic Party: Establishment beholden to corporate interests ignore working class, both sides.

Where's the evidence of this? Saying something strongly worded into a camera a million times makes it true! Self-righteous name-calling makes it true!

Selling both sides in 2026... What's being sold is the myth that Democrats have the same economic policies of deregulation, privatization, defunding the social safety net and government, no taxes for wealthy and corporations as Republicans. Myth that FDR and New Deal were socialist and the only solution is socialism, convincing customers that classic liberal Democratic policies are socialist but abandoned by Democrats long ago because all they think about is money (as we know from coastal elite Nancy Pelosi's large swanky refrigerator full of expensive ice creams). The whole thing is embarrassing.

[Iggo]

128. Dude had a nazi tattoo on his chest for years. Got called out last year and covered it up.

He says he didn’t know it was a nazi tattoo.

Here’s the thing that I’m never going to get over: He’s either lying about being too stupid to know it was a nazi tattoo, or he’s telling the truth about being too stupid to know it was a nazi tattoo.

Either way…it doesn’t matter to me what he says into a camera anymore.

[MichMan]

130. Only got called out because there was a video of him running around shirtless during a wedding reception that surfaced

Who the hell does that?

[Just_Vote_Dem]

125. Looking at his background, I would venture he's a Repub plant

I doubt that someone would do a complete 360 of their beliefs in a short period of time. I would guess that he's trying to split the party to weaken us, or if he's elected, he becomes a Fetterman/Manchin/Sinema. Hard NO.

[whathehell]

126. I'm guessing there's more than one...

strength, character and determination being unrelated to gender or race.

[ariadne0614]

131. You're absolutely right.

This interview was the first time I’ve heard GP speak, and I was bowled over by the way he so effectively handled questions and delivered the Democratic message In a way I’ve been wanting to hear from elected Democrats. I love Jasmine Crockett, AOC and others, but know their audience is limited by the rampant, free-floating misogyny in our culture.

His detractors may take him down before he can break through, but if my intuition is correct that he isn’t the monster he’s being made out to be, GP has something that could appeal to a wider audience. It’s easier for me to trust people who demonstrate that they’ve learned and evolved from past stupid choices, than people like butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-his-mouth, holier-than-thou, goody-two-shoes creeps like Mike Johnson.

At this stage of the mess we’re in, it would be a shame to lose Platner’s fearless, articulate, and yes, masculine communication skills. We need all the help we can get. All hands on deck.

[mr715]

139. I take issue with a repeated point you are making.

You keep referencing "masculine communication skills" -- I am trying to wrap my head around that.

Do you mean able to communicate to men and boys? Do you mean his manner of communication is coded?

I want to submit, first of all, I completely agree that he is a dude and he acts like a dude. But where does this special masculine magic come from? Because he was a merc? Because he's got tattoos?

Personally I was really grossed out when Sen. Sheehy got into a broversation with then nothing Pete Hegseth over how many pushups they can do in the morning and the different types of guns they like.

So, to my issue, I don't know what "masculine" communication is any more than I know what "feminine" communication is, but I do know that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Crockett, and others speak as though they are, to use the ambiguous masculine characterization, have a giant dick in their rhetorical pants.

Is Rep. Raskin a feminine speaker? Does Sen. Mullin threatening to fight on the Senate floor give him street cred?

Ariadne -- I am not from Maine so do not have a vote, but my support is to the person that paid their dues. Despite being debased, Senator is still a pretty high rank to run for de novo. If he is a revolutionary, generational talent nothing is stopping this dude from building a career from the ground up.

His ambition makes me question his commitment to ideology. His judgement is questionable. His background is highly suspect (he quite wealthy). He has no track record to speak of other than what he disavows.

So run for the House. Run for dog catcher. Win. Then move up in the world.

This is an election we have to win and Sen. Collins will not be without her supporters. If you think he is uh the 'great white [male] hope' then cool, but opinions will differ.

BTW - is my communication style masculine or feminine?

[ariadne0614]

147. Thanks for the opportunity to clarify.

Anyone who knows me would be sore amused at the idea of me being impressed by typical pathetic displays of insecure masculinity, such as push-up contests, gun fetishes, and threats of violence on the Senate floor. Here’s the thing. Way back in 1994 I was in the library doing research for an assigned paper for a college course. A book sort of dropped into my hands, and I found myself scanning its chapter headings. Each one had a quote that drew me in. One was from Paul Fussell, “If we do not redefine manhood, war is inevitable.” That quote set me to wondering, and I’ve been fascinated with the male/female conundrum ever since.

In a nutshell (so to speak), here’s my take. Our reality is shaped by language. Without language we would still be just one of many primates. By its nature, language is coded. Over time, cultural influencers (predominantly male) have segregated certain behaviors/attitudes/preferences/etc. as either “masculine” or “feminine.” Popular culture buys into the Master Narrative, and here we are. Until we evolve a bit further, we’re mired in the world of opposites and stuck with the absurdity of gendered categories for this or that trait.

I recognize that each individual falls somewhere on the spectrum between the extremes on each end of the prevailing masculine/feminine scale. Women generally don’t have to prove we’re women, and fluidly express ourselves within the non-extreme ends of the spectrum. We can express as “masculine” or “feminine” without having to prove that we are still female. Unfortunately, due to the misogyny imbedded in our culture, women who go too far into the territory designated as “masculine” are punished, ignored, and/or not taken seriously within the patriarchal parameters of public life.

Sadly, too many men remain self-confined in the man box, constantly trying to prove their so-called manhood. Hegseth and Trump are notable current examples. Many men, thank goodness, have managed to escape their confinement and expand their bandwidth, like Jamie Raskin, Barack Obama, Sheldon Whitehouse, Robert Reich, and too many others to name.

As for GP, your assessment seems reasonable, and may be entirely accurate. In normal times I would fully agree that he should pay his dues and come up through the ranks. The fierce urgency of now suggests otherwise. Call me a silly female, but my intuition tells me he might be very useful in this current crisis. His communication skills are needed. He certainly isn’t the second coming, but he may be the right person for the moment we’re in. The dude factor would free many men to shift away from the Frankenstein monster version of manhood displayed by Trump’s goons, and be willing to align with Democratic values and ideals, leading to a more perfect union. I almost said, “. . .willing to embrace,” but found another word to avoid using potentially emasculating language. See how that works?

Your communication skills seem like a nice balance on the spectrum, and that’s a very good thing.

[mr715]

149. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

There is a lot of fascinating scholarship on how our language shapes our civic behavior. Not just gender-coded language, but color coding. Heck, I'm a lefty and it is much better to be "dexterous" than "sinister".

I was strongly in support of Mr. Platner before the scandals, and that is what gives me pause. I agree with you entirely that command of the narrative, passion, and authenticity will deliver us votes. There is something enticing about a bold agenda, and you are not wrong that it has the capacity to mobilize young men in particular.

Thank you for the clarification. We will see how it turns out. Primaries are good.

I'm willing to be wrong.


~MR

[ariadne0614]

152. You're welcome, and I share your willingness to be wrong. n/t

[Iggo]

141. Is this a trial balloon or is this the actual roll-out?

Are you guys actually leaning into, and trying to sell, his whiteness and his masculinity? If so, that ain’t gonna fly. He’s been toast since the tattoo. For all I know, he may actually be too stupid to know he was sporting a nazi tattoo all those years. But that’s not a selling point.

[ariadne0614]

142. It would surprise me if you thought he was intellectually deficient if you listened to the interview.

Also, I’m not trying to sell anything. This is DU, and I assumed it was okay to engage in discourse because democracy, y’know? As for his whiteness and masculinity, we live in a society obsessed with race and gender. It seems silly not to consider the impact of those variables.

[betsuni]

143. Belief that working class are white men (who Democrats are accused of ignoring in favor of "identity politics"):

The leader explains (interviewed by Trevor Noah on his podcast last year, October 9th):

"What you're talking about is identity politics. ... The issue is that Democrats have retreated from class issues, from economic issues, from the desire to take on big money to 'Oh, isn't it wonderful that we have a woman here or have a gay person here and we have a black person here and a Latino person over there."

Of course it's absurd.

[waddirum]

132. nazi tattoo + Blackwater employment nope

U.S. Senator is not an entry level job.

[ariadne0614]

134. I appreciate your input.

Source?

[EX500rider]

137. it's on his wiki page

In 2018, Platner returned to Kabul, Afghanistan, for about six months as a State Department security contractor with Constellis, the private military company formerly known as Blackwater, where he provided diplomatic security to the US ambassador to Afghanistan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Platner#Military

[ariadne0614]

138. Thank you very much.

I’ll delve into this further. Now I want to know what led him to this position, and what prompted him to leave after six months.

[RandySF]

151. The guy with the Nazi tattoo and racial slurs?

Sorry, nope. I see another Fetterman.

[ariadne0614]

156. If you are correct, rhen another Fetterman would be very bad.

If not, then it would be a shame to lose his singular attributes. He communicates progressive Democratic policies in a way I’ve seen too few Democrats able to muster. As I remember, an awful lot of Bernie voters switched to Trump after he was eliminated.