Graham Platner, a Democrat from Maine, found himself in a predicament nearly two decades ago.
During a leave with his fellow Marines in Croatia, he had chosen a skull and crossbones tattoo design while under the influence of alcohol. It was only weeks into his campaign for a crucial U.S. Senate seat that Platner realized the design was associated with Nazi symbolism.
Instead of enduring multiple laser removal sessions, Platner sought the assistance of a friend to help him conceal the tattoo. Mischa Ostberg, a Maine-based artist, recounted the conversation to The Associated Press, saying, It was a phone call like: Hey, I have a tattoo. I found out its something I dont want, can you help me cover it up?
According to Boston.com, Ostberg, a novice tattoo artist licensed for just two years, was more than willing to assist. For Ostberg, the request was not unusual, as cover-ups are a common practice in the tattoo industry. Platner's readiness to rectify the situation upon learning about the image's Nazi associations was consistent with the friend Ostberg had known for years.
This incident further solidified Ostberg's support for Platner's campaign. Ostberg believes that Platner's past mistake shows that hes a regular person like all of us and hasn't been perfectly vetted by Democratic leaders.
Platner has been under increased scrutiny for now-deleted Reddit posts where he downplayed military sexual assaults, questioned the tipping habits of Black patrons, and criticized police officers and rural Americans. He also used homophobic slurs and made anti-LGBTQ+ jokes between 2018 and 2021.
Despite this, Platner insists that in the 20 years he has had the tattoo, no one has ever questioned its Nazi connections. After serving three tours as a Marine, he later attempted to enlist in the Army, which necessitates a review for hate symbol tattoos. Ostberg commented on the situation, saying, We all make mistakes and we dont have teams to cover it up for us.
The process of finding a suitable cover-up design was challenging, according to Ostberg. Platner's chest was already heavily inked. Ostberg eventually sketched a design using a Sharpie, which took several hours to complete. The result was a Celtic knot covering most of the skull and crossbones, with a dog leaping out from the image, inspired by Platner's Scottish heritage and his love for his two dogs.
However, Ostberg admits that the reaction to the new design has been harsh. Many have mocked the cover-up, while others have questioned whether Platner genuinely concealed the symbol. Ostberg said, I know a lot of people have said some honestly pretty brutal stuff. Im trying not to look at it too much, because it just really hurts the ego and the creative part of you.
Platner is vying for a U.S. Senate seat long held by Republican Susan Collins. As a first-time candidate, he must first navigate the states Democratic primary, which includes Gov. Janet Mills, who enjoys the support of Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer and prominent left-leaning political groups.
Ostberg expressed mixed feelings about the attention the tattoo has garnered, saying, I didnt really want necessarily so many people to be talking about this. The important thing is that people are talking about, this movement. The incident serves as a reminder of the scrutiny public figures face, and the importance of personal accountability in addressing past mistakes.
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