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I'm not sure in the Platner case why the supposed progressive cause can't find someone without a Nazi tattoo. I'm not sure what the alleged benefits of Platner

by pjc50 5mo ago

I'm not sure in the Platner case why the supposed progressive cause can't find someone without a Nazi tattoo. I'm not sure what the alleged benefits of Platner are either. Mamdani has been amazing, but what is Platner for?

nixon_why69 5mo ago
It's not like it's a swastika, it was a skull and crossbones that turns out to have been used by the SS (I think?). I had no idea that particular image was nazi-related and I don't think most other people would have either. As far as "mistakes made by marines on shore leave" go it's pretty mild. Honestly his more recent scandals are more concerning as far as character. Platner's upside is being a senator that's not from the student senate -> Hill staffer -> party insider pipeline. We're all pretty much sick of that character, he sounds much more authentic by comparison.
- JumpCrisscross 5mo ago
  > no idea that particular image was nazi-related and I don't think most other people would have either He knew what it was [1]. That doesn't mean he's unelectable in 2026. [1] https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/05/politics/graham-platner-cant-explain-why-ex-girlfriend-knew-tattoos-nazi-link-before-he-says-he-did https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/05/politics/graham-platner-cant-...
  - nixon_why69 5mo ago
    I'm sure he figured it out at some point and should have had it covered up sooner, but I doubt he knew what it was when he got it. Honestly, I'd be more concerned with someone who knows too much Nazi minutiae rather than too little. EDIT: reading the CNN story, I'm actually less convinced, this is all coming from a conservative activist ex-girlfriend. Its a really obscure symbol and then there's this quote: "Platner argued that he had the tattoo for 17 years without anyone raising concerns about Nazi symbolism, noting that he received a State Department security clearance, reenlisted in the Army after being screened for gang and hate-related tattoos, and regularly appeared shirtless around family members, including Jewish relatives."
    - JumpCrisscross 5mo ago
      > I doubt he knew what it was when he got it Sure, maybe. I'm doubtful. But that's irrelevant. He knew when he launched his campaign. He chose to keep it. Worse, there's a good chance his family and his staffers knew as well. This is Jill Biden covering up Joe Biden's dementia all over again, except this time for racism. Platner is a rubbish candidate. But! There is a case to be made that he's better for America than Susan Collins.
      - nixon_why69 5mo ago
        Did you recognize that skull as a Nazi symbol without being told? Like, "Oh, that's the Totemkompf"? Personally, like I said, I think the more recent sexting thing is way more damaging to his brand. "Got a dumb tattoo on shore leave and posted dumb reddit comments 10 years ago" are fine for an everyman candidate, recent infidelity is not.
        JumpCrisscross 5mo ago
        > Did you recognize that skull as a Nazi symbol without being told? Nope. But if you're sending your pics out, someone is going to come back to you with that feedback. In this case, we have someone who says they did that. > the more recent sexting thing is way more damaging to his brand Sure, why not. I don't think, at the end of the day, we have any evidence either is electorally relevant anymore.
        nixon_why69 5mo ago
        For the record, and I hope this isn't too forward, I respect your honesty and understand it's gotta be tough being a liberal zionist with everything that's going on. I respect it so much more than just going full Stephen Miller which I've seen some friends do.
        JumpCrisscross 5mo ago
        > it's gotta be tough being a liberal zionist Not sure why you’re being (a) so randomly wrong and (b) randomly irrelevant. EDIT: Ah, a 4-month old single-issue troll account. Lovely.
  - viking123 5mo ago
    I think people are really past the point of caring. The limousine liberals of course make a fuss but sitting on the high horse has not really served democrats that well, just taking L after L. And the sitting president is Epstein-Mossad pedofile and huge number still stand behind him without any shame.
- WickyNilliams 5mo ago
  It's an extremely well known nazi symbol. Probably second behind the swastika itself. There's even that famous "are we the baddies" meme, which uses that symbol as a central pillar of the gag.
  - utdoctor 5mo ago
    Not even just that, the main villain (Amon Göth) in Schindler’s List (which won Best Picture) has it on his uniform throughout the film. It’s not like it’s some obscure icon.
    - nixon_why69 5mo ago
      If the bones are a little longer, it's a Jolly Roger. If the teeth were longer, it would be a punisher skull. If it weren't turned at that particular angle it would just be a generic skull. If it were 2 angular lightning bolts, it would obviously be SS but a skull is really common in a lot of contexts. If you happened to clock this particular skull shape as a symbol from an SS division, then congrats, but 95% of people just would not and that's why it didn't land as a scandal. Everyone said "Huh. I didn't know either." and then accepted "Marine gets dumb skull tattoo while drunk on shore leave" as a fairly normal thing to have happened.
      - utdoctor 5mo ago
        If I had wheels I’d be a bicycle. I don’t see your point? It’s very obvious what it is and just because you can alter an icon to make it look like something else doesn’t change what it is. Ignorance of something doesn’t change what it is. “Oops I accidentally had a Nazi for nearly 20 years and only had it covered up 9 months ago when it became a political liability” isn’t a good look to say the least.
        nixon_why69 5mo ago
        My point is that it's not very obvious what it is unless you are super studied in Nazi symbology. I thought I was clear but there it is in case I wasn't. If this were a swastika, the SS lightning bolts or even the Iron Cross, yeah, that looks pretty Nazi. Instead it's a skull and crossbones just like every other one used all over the place, including the very cool jolly roger, except this one happens to be Nazi. I didn't know, most people didn't know, he can credibly say he didn't know, and we all think the jolly roger's cool. Dog's not gonna hunt.
- throawayonthe 5mo ago
  > I had no idea that particular image was nazi-related and I don't think most other people would have either for context it's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totenkopf#Nazi_Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totenkopf#Nazi_Germany , i'm surprised so many people didn't know the nazi use if platner really didn't know, i guess it just spoke to him as a (future?) blackwater mercenary
  - nielsbot 5mo ago
    > if platner really didn't know, i guess it just spoke to him as a (future?) blackwater mercenary Yes, correct. Despite that, if I lived in Maine, I'd wholeheartedly vote for him. Not sure why I shouldn't?
- woodruffw 5mo ago
  I would expect anybody who graduated with a 4 year degree in the US to be able to recognize a totenkopf. It's probably the third most well-known Nazi symbol, and is almost certainly present in any textbook or museum about WWII (besides being a symbol is fictional media about Nazi Germany). However, I think this is beside the point. The more relevant questions are (1) whether Platner knew what it was, and (2) whether an informed voter should want someone who doesn't know the meaning of the things they get tattooed on their body. Authentic or not, (2) demonstrates a lack of good judgement to me. (Separately, having been to that part of part of Slavic southern Europe, it is inconceivable that any tattoo parlor that would give you a totenkopf tattoo is not plastered in other Nazi and far-right iconography. You would need to actively look past all of the other Nazi stuff and assume that the skull is the one thing that doesn't have some additional meaning.)
JumpCrisscross 5mo ago
> what is Platner for? Not being MAGA. I have some respect for Susan Collins. But this nonsense where a tattoo and infidelity should be disqualifying on one side while the President, popularly elected this time, sleeps with porn stars and endorses anti-Semites and KKK adjacents, is unsustainable. If we need a dude with a Nazi tattoo to win Maine, I guess I prefer to be pissed off and winning.
- Arodex 5mo ago
  I have the fear that Platner will just be another Fetterman, and you will have brought this unto ourselves...
  - JumpCrisscross 5mo ago
    > Platner will just be another Fetterman This reminds me of the folks who had conniptions over Sinema and Manchin. You know what we'd have if we had four of those right now? A majority.
    - ngcazz 5mo ago
      As if that has ever overcome the American media and political classes' fixation with bipartisanship (which is how the American system inoculates itself against left-wing policy)
    - afavour 5mo ago
      A majority that does what exactly, though? Manchin was against Build Back Better, expanding voting rights legislation and codifying abortion rights. Yes, he was better than a Republican. But he was a big reason why Democrats are seen as the do-nothing party who never achieve things. Because he stood in the way of it. Not to mention, Fetterman isn’t Manchin. Manchin at least voted to impeach Trump, Fetterman is skeptical of even doing that.
      - Ylpertnodi 5mo ago
        >"Democrats are seen as the do nothing party". Quite a few people I know [eu based] used to consider themselves 'democrats' ie not republicans. But, more and more are co.ing to the conclusion that the dems are pretty darn useless.
throwawayqqq11 5mo ago
Plathner is authentic and able to see and correct his mistakes (tattoo), two important properties that candidates from the una-party lack. He is certainly not perfect, but apparently better than the rest.
bijowo1676 5mo ago
What is the alleged downside of Platner as a politician? All I see discussed is tatto which is irrelevant and does not reflect his policy Just pure hysteria from neurotic people
nielsbot 5mo ago
Platner is to help win the Senate for Dems. He has progressive policies and he's anti-Israel. I believe him that he didn't know it was a Nazi tattoo. There's no other evidence that he holds Nazi views and he has covered it up. Stop hand wringing, vote Platner.
saturn8601 5mo ago
Mamdani and AOC were appealing because they grew up in those communities and had a history of fighting for their communities. (AOC with her organizing efforts while she was a bartender and Mamdani as Assemblymember and him doing things like going on a hunger strike for the Taxi protests). AOC took on a congress member that was placed into his seat, served 10 terms (and was known as the Dem party's money link to wall street) and didn't even live in the district. Mamdani was a clean slate from the messes of the prior administrations. Platner has many of these qualities and is also taking on candidates (both in his party and the opposition) that have repeatedly failed his community. An oyster farmer that grew up in his state, he talks a lot about his upbringing in the state. It seems like so many of his speeches incorporate how deeply ingrained he is within Maine. The community organizing that convinced him to run is probably a lot to do with his success. I remember when AOC was just starting. There were multiple community organizing groups that knew all the tricks of the Queens machine. They were able to help AOC avoid early traps laid by the establishment.
subpixel 5mo ago
He didn’t have a nazi tattoo, full stop.
licebmi__at__ 5mo ago
If the main objection against a blackwater mercenary that talks fondly of the time where he made a living by being a murderer, is was that has a Nazi tattoo, then yes, it's quite likely that America can't find anything better.

by pjc50 5mo ago

nixon_why69 5mo ago

It's not like it's a swastika, it was a skull and crossbones that turns out to have been used by the SS (I think?). I had no idea that particular image was nazi-related and I don't think most other people would have either. As far as "mistakes made by marines on shore leave" go it's pretty mild. Honestly his more recent scandals are more concerning as far as character. Platner's upside is being a senator that's not from the student senate -> Hill staffer -> party insider pipeline. We're all pretty much sick of that character, he sounds much more authentic by comparison.

JumpCrisscross 5mo ago
> no idea that particular image was nazi-related and I don't think most other people would have either He knew what it was [1]. That doesn't mean he's unelectable in 2026. [1] https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/05/politics/graham-platner-cant-explain-why-ex-girlfriend-knew-tattoos-nazi-link-before-he-says-he-did https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/05/politics/graham-platner-cant-...
- nixon_why69 5mo ago
  I'm sure he figured it out at some point and should have had it covered up sooner, but I doubt he knew what it was when he got it. Honestly, I'd be more concerned with someone who knows too much Nazi minutiae rather than too little. EDIT: reading the CNN story, I'm actually less convinced, this is all coming from a conservative activist ex-girlfriend. Its a really obscure symbol and then there's this quote: "Platner argued that he had the tattoo for 17 years without anyone raising concerns about Nazi symbolism, noting that he received a State Department security clearance, reenlisted in the Army after being screened for gang and hate-related tattoos, and regularly appeared shirtless around family members, including Jewish relatives."
  - JumpCrisscross 5mo ago
    > I doubt he knew what it was when he got it Sure, maybe. I'm doubtful. But that's irrelevant. He knew when he launched his campaign. He chose to keep it. Worse, there's a good chance his family and his staffers knew as well. This is Jill Biden covering up Joe Biden's dementia all over again, except this time for racism. Platner is a rubbish candidate. But! There is a case to be made that he's better for America than Susan Collins.
    - nixon_why69 5mo ago
      Did you recognize that skull as a Nazi symbol without being told? Like, "Oh, that's the Totemkompf"? Personally, like I said, I think the more recent sexting thing is way more damaging to his brand. "Got a dumb tattoo on shore leave and posted dumb reddit comments 10 years ago" are fine for an everyman candidate, recent infidelity is not.
      - JumpCrisscross 5mo ago
        > Did you recognize that skull as a Nazi symbol without being told? Nope. But if you're sending your pics out, someone is going to come back to you with that feedback. In this case, we have someone who says they did that. > the more recent sexting thing is way more damaging to his brand Sure, why not. I don't think, at the end of the day, we have any evidence either is electorally relevant anymore.
        nixon_why69 5mo ago
        For the record, and I hope this isn't too forward, I respect your honesty and understand it's gotta be tough being a liberal zionist with everything that's going on. I respect it so much more than just going full Stephen Miller which I've seen some friends do.
        JumpCrisscross 5mo ago
        > it's gotta be tough being a liberal zionist Not sure why you’re being (a) so randomly wrong and (b) randomly irrelevant. EDIT: Ah, a 4-month old single-issue troll account. Lovely.
- viking123 5mo ago
  I think people are really past the point of caring. The limousine liberals of course make a fuss but sitting on the high horse has not really served democrats that well, just taking L after L. And the sitting president is Epstein-Mossad pedofile and huge number still stand behind him without any shame.
WickyNilliams 5mo ago
It's an extremely well known nazi symbol. Probably second behind the swastika itself. There's even that famous "are we the baddies" meme, which uses that symbol as a central pillar of the gag.
- utdoctor 5mo ago
  Not even just that, the main villain (Amon Göth) in Schindler’s List (which won Best Picture) has it on his uniform throughout the film. It’s not like it’s some obscure icon.
  - nixon_why69 5mo ago
    If the bones are a little longer, it's a Jolly Roger. If the teeth were longer, it would be a punisher skull. If it weren't turned at that particular angle it would just be a generic skull. If it were 2 angular lightning bolts, it would obviously be SS but a skull is really common in a lot of contexts. If you happened to clock this particular skull shape as a symbol from an SS division, then congrats, but 95% of people just would not and that's why it didn't land as a scandal. Everyone said "Huh. I didn't know either." and then accepted "Marine gets dumb skull tattoo while drunk on shore leave" as a fairly normal thing to have happened.
    - utdoctor 5mo ago
      If I had wheels I’d be a bicycle. I don’t see your point? It’s very obvious what it is and just because you can alter an icon to make it look like something else doesn’t change what it is. Ignorance of something doesn’t change what it is. “Oops I accidentally had a Nazi for nearly 20 years and only had it covered up 9 months ago when it became a political liability” isn’t a good look to say the least.
      - nixon_why69 5mo ago
        My point is that it's not very obvious what it is unless you are super studied in Nazi symbology. I thought I was clear but there it is in case I wasn't. If this were a swastika, the SS lightning bolts or even the Iron Cross, yeah, that looks pretty Nazi. Instead it's a skull and crossbones just like every other one used all over the place, including the very cool jolly roger, except this one happens to be Nazi. I didn't know, most people didn't know, he can credibly say he didn't know, and we all think the jolly roger's cool. Dog's not gonna hunt.
throawayonthe 5mo ago
> I had no idea that particular image was nazi-related and I don't think most other people would have either for context it's https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totenkopf#Nazi_Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totenkopf#Nazi_Germany , i'm surprised so many people didn't know the nazi use if platner really didn't know, i guess it just spoke to him as a (future?) blackwater mercenary
- nielsbot 5mo ago
  > if platner really didn't know, i guess it just spoke to him as a (future?) blackwater mercenary Yes, correct. Despite that, if I lived in Maine, I'd wholeheartedly vote for him. Not sure why I shouldn't?
woodruffw 5mo ago
I would expect anybody who graduated with a 4 year degree in the US to be able to recognize a totenkopf. It's probably the third most well-known Nazi symbol, and is almost certainly present in any textbook or museum about WWII (besides being a symbol is fictional media about Nazi Germany). However, I think this is beside the point. The more relevant questions are (1) whether Platner knew what it was, and (2) whether an informed voter should want someone who doesn't know the meaning of the things they get tattooed on their body. Authentic or not, (2) demonstrates a lack of good judgement to me. (Separately, having been to that part of part of Slavic southern Europe, it is inconceivable that any tattoo parlor that would give you a totenkopf tattoo is not plastered in other Nazi and far-right iconography. You would need to actively look past all of the other Nazi stuff and assume that the skull is the one thing that doesn't have some additional meaning.)

JumpCrisscross 5mo ago

> what is Platner for? Not being MAGA. I have some respect for Susan Collins. But this nonsense where a tattoo and infidelity should be disqualifying on one side while the President, popularly elected this time, sleeps with porn stars and endorses anti-Semites and KKK adjacents, is unsustainable. If we need a dude with a Nazi tattoo to win Maine, I guess I prefer to be pissed off and winning.

Arodex 5mo ago
I have the fear that Platner will just be another Fetterman, and you will have brought this unto ourselves...
- JumpCrisscross 5mo ago
  > Platner will just be another Fetterman This reminds me of the folks who had conniptions over Sinema and Manchin. You know what we'd have if we had four of those right now? A majority.
  - ngcazz 5mo ago
    As if that has ever overcome the American media and political classes' fixation with bipartisanship (which is how the American system inoculates itself against left-wing policy)
  - afavour 5mo ago
    A majority that does what exactly, though? Manchin was against Build Back Better, expanding voting rights legislation and codifying abortion rights. Yes, he was better than a Republican. But he was a big reason why Democrats are seen as the do-nothing party who never achieve things. Because he stood in the way of it. Not to mention, Fetterman isn’t Manchin. Manchin at least voted to impeach Trump, Fetterman is skeptical of even doing that.
    - Ylpertnodi 5mo ago
      >"Democrats are seen as the do nothing party". Quite a few people I know [eu based] used to consider themselves 'democrats' ie not republicans. But, more and more are co.ing to the conclusion that the dems are pretty darn useless.

throwawayqqq11 5mo ago

Plathner is authentic and able to see and correct his mistakes (tattoo), two important properties that candidates from the una-party lack. He is certainly not perfect, but apparently better than the rest.

bijowo1676 5mo ago

What is the alleged downside of Platner as a politician? All I see discussed is tatto which is irrelevant and does not reflect his policy Just pure hysteria from neurotic people

nielsbot 5mo ago

Platner is to help win the Senate for Dems. He has progressive policies and he's anti-Israel. I believe him that he didn't know it was a Nazi tattoo. There's no other evidence that he holds Nazi views and he has covered it up. Stop hand wringing, vote Platner.

saturn8601 5mo ago

Mamdani and AOC were appealing because they grew up in those communities and had a history of fighting for their communities. (AOC with her organizing efforts while she was a bartender and Mamdani as Assemblymember and him doing things like going on a hunger strike for the Taxi protests). AOC took on a congress member that was placed into his seat, served 10 terms (and was known as the Dem party's money link to wall street) and didn't even live in the district. Mamdani was a clean slate from the messes of the prior administrations. Platner has many of these qualities and is also taking on candidates (both in his party and the opposition) that have repeatedly failed his community. An oyster farmer that grew up in his state, he talks a lot about his upbringing in the state. It seems like so many of his speeches incorporate how deeply ingrained he is within Maine. The community organizing that convinced him to run is probably a lot to do with his success. I remember when AOC was just starting. There were multiple community organizing groups that knew all the tricks of the Queens machine. They were able to help AOC avoid early traps laid by the establishment.

subpixel 5mo ago

He didn’t have a nazi tattoo, full stop.

licebmi__at__ 5mo ago

If the main objection against a blackwater mercenary that talks fondly of the time where he made a living by being a murderer, is was that has a Nazi tattoo, then yes, it's quite likely that America can't find anything better.