Graham Platner, a millennial oyster farmer and a far-left political figure, was once considered a dream candidate for the Democrats.
However, recent revelations have turned the tables, making him a potential nightmare for the party.
Platner is a favorite for the Democrats in the 2026 senatorial elections in Maine, a seat they believe they can snatch from the incumbent, Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican who has been a constant target of the Democratic Party.
The initial plan was for the popular Democratic Governor, Janet Mills, to challenge Collins. However, concerns about Mills' age (she will be 78 at the time of the election) and Platner's popularity among liberal donors have disrupted this plan.
These donors see Platner as the future of the party, a progressive who will fight for their cause, which can be translated as a radical with little sense of reality.
However, the past week has been challenging for Platner. According to Western Journal, CNN, in a rare act of journalistic integrity, delved into Platner's online history, unearthing Reddit posts where he identified himself as a "communist" who supported violence against what he termed "fascism." His views on police officers, whom he referred to as "bastards," were also revealed.
In response to a comment that white people aren't as racist or stupid as Trump thinks, Platner said, "Living in white rural America, I'm afraid to tell you they actually are."
Platner's military service, while commendable, has also been a source of controversy. His Reddit comments reveal a deep-seated disillusionment with America, which he believes is steeped in corruption and horror. He wrote, "My time in America's imperial wars definitely radicalized me further, and I'm significantly more left today than I was back then. It is difficult to see all that horror, as well as all the grift and corruption, and not find the entire thing utterly bankrupt."
Adding to the controversy, Jewish Insider reported that Platner has been trying to quash rumors that a black skull-and-crossbones tattoo on his chest is a Nazi symbol. Platner confirmed the existence of the tattoo during an appearance on the "Pod Save America" podcast, but vehemently denied any affiliation with Nazism.
However, this denial has been met with skepticism, particularly considering the media's previous insinuations about the Jerusalem cross tattoo of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, which was wrongly associated with right-wing Christian extremism. The media's double standards are glaring, especially considering Platner's vehemently anti-Israel views.
Platner insists that the tattoo, which he got in 2007 while on leave with fellow Marines in Croatia, was chosen because it looked terrifying and was a standard military symbol. However, a former acquaintance of Platner's told Jewish Insider that Platner had acknowledged that the tattoo was a Totenkopf, a symbol adopted by a notorious Nazi SS unit that guarded concentration camps during World War II.
This revelation paints a troubling picture of Platner, who is seen as a progressive darling. It raises questions about his suitability as a candidate and his ability to represent the people of Maine. The Democrats, who were quick to smear Hegseth over his tattoo, now face a similar situation with one of their own.
The question remains: Did Platner knowingly get a tattoo of a Nazi symbol? While it's plausible that he may have chosen the tattoo without understanding its connotations, the same could be said for Hegseth, who was unfairly targeted by the Democrats. Given Platner's association with anti-Semitic causes and his description of Israel as "genocidal," it's only fair that he be held to the same standard of proof.
Platner's past comments, now deleted from Reddit, are insufficient to clear his name. He must repeatedly affirm that he did not knowingly get a Nazi tattoo, especially as he continues to campaign as the left's favored candidate. This is the playbook the Democrats used against Hegseth, and conservatives will use it to challenge Platner, shifting him from the dream candidate column to the worst nightmare one.
The sword of Nazi symbolism, once wielded by the Democrats, may now be their undoing.
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