Maine's Graham Platner Faces Difficult Questions Over Record and Tattoo Amid Controversy
In a stunning turn of events, Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner is facing intense scrutiny over his past comments and actions that have resurfaced on social media. The 37-year-old oyster farmer and combat veteran was once touted as the frontrunner to take on Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine's closely watched Senate race. However, his campaign has been marred by a series of disturbing revelations that have raised questions about his judgment and character.
Platner, who is nearly half the age of his opponent, Governor Janet Mills, was introduced to the party by some high-profile supporters, including former presidential candidates Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders. His campaign events drew huge crowds, but it's unclear how long that momentum will last now that his past controversies have come to light.
The trouble started when Politico reported that Platner had made comments online suggesting violence as a means to achieve social change. CNN later revealed that he had also called himself a "communist" and dismissed all police officers as "bastards." More recently, The Bangor Daily News exposed messages in which Platner asked why Black people don't tip and suggested that people who have been raped shouldn't be inebriated around those they don't feel comfortable with.
These revelations were followed by the news that Platner's campaign manager had resigned. And in a bizarre twist, it emerged that he had also gotten a tattoo of a skull and crossbones, which bears an uncanny resemblance to a Nazi symbol. The candidate claimed he didn't know about the tattoo and has since announced plans to have it removed.
The problem is that Platner's denials and explanations no longer seem convincing. At one point, he even told viewers on Monday's episode of "Pod Save America" that he was not a secret Nazi – an admission that feels like damage control at best. Democratic officials had already started rallying behind Governor Mills, who has said she'll only serve one term if elected. Now, it's likely that party support will intensify for her, leaving Platner's campaign in tatters.
As the story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Platner's past actions and comments have left him facing an uphill battle to regain the trust of the Democratic Party and its voters. It remains to be seen whether he can recover from this scandal or if his reputation will suffer irreparable damage as a result.
In a stunning turn of events, Democratic Senate hopeful Graham Platner is facing intense scrutiny over his past comments and actions that have resurfaced on social media. The 37-year-old oyster farmer and combat veteran was once touted as the frontrunner to take on Republican Senator Susan Collins in Maine's closely watched Senate race. However, his campaign has been marred by a series of disturbing revelations that have raised questions about his judgment and character.
Platner, who is nearly half the age of his opponent, Governor Janet Mills, was introduced to the party by some high-profile supporters, including former presidential candidates Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders. His campaign events drew huge crowds, but it's unclear how long that momentum will last now that his past controversies have come to light.
The trouble started when Politico reported that Platner had made comments online suggesting violence as a means to achieve social change. CNN later revealed that he had also called himself a "communist" and dismissed all police officers as "bastards." More recently, The Bangor Daily News exposed messages in which Platner asked why Black people don't tip and suggested that people who have been raped shouldn't be inebriated around those they don't feel comfortable with.
These revelations were followed by the news that Platner's campaign manager had resigned. And in a bizarre twist, it emerged that he had also gotten a tattoo of a skull and crossbones, which bears an uncanny resemblance to a Nazi symbol. The candidate claimed he didn't know about the tattoo and has since announced plans to have it removed.
The problem is that Platner's denials and explanations no longer seem convincing. At one point, he even told viewers on Monday's episode of "Pod Save America" that he was not a secret Nazi – an admission that feels like damage control at best. Democratic officials had already started rallying behind Governor Mills, who has said she'll only serve one term if elected. Now, it's likely that party support will intensify for her, leaving Platner's campaign in tatters.
As the story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Platner's past actions and comments have left him facing an uphill battle to regain the trust of the Democratic Party and its voters. It remains to be seen whether he can recover from this scandal or if his reputation will suffer irreparable damage as a result.
. I mean, come on, getting a tattoo that looks like a Nazi symbol? That's not something you just get and forget about. And the comments he made online, suggesting violence to achieve social change? Not cool at all. It makes me wonder if he was serious or just trying to stir up trouble. Either way, it doesn't look good for his campaign. I've lived in Maine my whole life and I'm proud of our values of kindness and inclusivity. Platner's behavior is a far cry from that. The Democratic Party needs someone who can represent them with integrity, not someone who's going to make headlines for all the wrong reasons 
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i mean who gets a tattoo of a skull & crossbones and thinks it's not a big deal? and those comments he made about violence and cops? red flag alert 
i don't think any campaign event can recover from this mess, plus the fact that his own team is quitting left and right 
governor mills is gonna be the clear winner now, no doubt 
guess you could say platner's campaign went up in flames 
. I mean, come on, who makes comments about violence and police officers? And then you got him talking about Black people not tipping? That's just messed up. I'm not sure what's more disturbing, the fact that he said those things or that his campaign manager already quit 
. And now he's trying to get a tattoo removed because it looks like a Nazi symbol? Like, isn't that just basic common sense? You don't put a skull and crossbones on your skin unless you're trying to signal something, right? 
This whole thing is just a big mess and I think Platner's chances of winning are basically gone 
.
. Graham Platner's campaign was like, totally on fire 
. I mean, yeah, we've all heard of people saying stuff they regret later, but this is on a whole other level 
. The tattoo thing? 
what's up with that?! It's like, you can't just get a tattoo and expect it to magically disappear 
. And the way he's trying to spin these things? not convincing at all 
. The party is already peeling away from him 
, and I don't blame 'em 
. Platner needs to take some time to reflect on his actions and figure out what kind of person he wants to be 
. This whole scandal has left a bad taste in my mouth 
. I mean, who gets a tattoo of a skull and crossbones and thinks it's no big deal? And to think he was being considered for Senate... it's like, what was he thinking? 
. But seriously, his comments about violence and police officers are really disturbing. It's not just the tattoos or the comments themselves, it's how they reflect on his character and judgment as a person. I'm all for people making mistakes, but this is just reckless and irresponsible 
. The stuff coming out about him online is just wild – I mean, who says they're a communist and talks down to people like that? It's not just the tattoos or past comments, it's the way he's been trying to spin everything too 
. Can't say I blame 'em – if I were in their shoes, I'd be looking for someone else to support too 
.
. His attempts to downplay or deny these controversies only seem to have done more harm, highlighting a lack of accountability and maturity 
. Newsflash: online comments don't delete themselves, and tattoos aren't just for self-expression... they can also be a permanent record of your weird cousin's birthday party 
. Platner needs to focus on removing that tattoo and getting his act together ASAP 
. Until then... 
how is it that one gets from being a hero to being a villain so fast? 
i mean we all make mistakes, but this dude's mistakes are literally going to be used against him 
& honestly, his excuse about not knowing about the tattoo & claiming he wasnt a secret nazi just makes me think hes trying to spin this one out 
itll be hard for him to recover from this scandal.
And can't believe the tattoo drama... Skulls and crossbones are NOT cool 
Platner's gotta step up his game if he wants to get back in the running! 
He was supposed to be a great candidate, but now it's hard to see him being taken seriously. Those videos and messages that came out are super troubling - it feels like he's trying to downplay the severity of his actions or make excuses for them 
. Maybe then people could start to trust him again, but right now it's hard to see that happening 
He's got some serious growing up to do 
just think about it, he was so close to being part of the big league but now it's all falling apart 
how did nobody catch on sooner? 
just no, platner needs to take a seat 
this whole scandal is a big mess and it's only gonna get worse 
and his age is definitely working against him 
plus those tattoos and past comments are major red flags 
. It seems like everyone's so quick to bring up the past now. In my day, we didn't have social media to dredge up our old comments and tweets 
. At least that one's still visible! 
The thing is, Platner's not even 40 yet, that's like me being 25 all over again 
. It's just so... fast-paced nowadays. Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how this whole thing plays out. I guess only time will tell if he can recover from this scandal 
.