Graham Platner Has a New Explanation for His Nazi Tattoo. It's a Doozy.
Maine’s Graham Platner is no longer hiding
anything, it seems.
The oyster farmer, whom Democrats see as their
answer to the neo-populist wave that the GOP has brought to victory,
carries significant baggage. He has Nazi tattoos, trained with an
Antifa-like militia, had some very problematic posts on Reddit, and lied
about DC consultants directing his campaign — though that’s the least
of it. The tattoo remains a topic of discussion because elected members
to Congress just don't have Nazi tattoos.
Platner apologized for it, then had it cleaned up, then took back the
apology, and now claims his military service essentially made him a
Nazi.
When
I left the military, I came out of a hyper-masculine, hyper-violent
place. I did four tours in the infantry. We have a crude sense of humor
in the infantry. We certainly have a, I would say, narrow view of a lot
of topics, and that colored my opinions and my beliefs.
Platner’s
camp is already looking to the general, as his opponent, Democratic
Gov. Janet Mills, doesn’t appear to be gaining in the polls. Still, in
DC, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) isn’t sold on Platner, reportedly thinking
he’s unelectable, which has caused heartburn in the Mills camp and
frustration all-around over how this crucial race for Democrats is
unfolding
Mills has lagged behind her upstart liberal rival, Graham
Platner, 41, in the polls since Schumer urged her to enter the race
last fall. As Platner surged, Mills launched a raft of negative ads
against him last month that were widely seen as her best shot at
regaining a foothold in the race.
But the ads — which resurfaced
Platner’s deleted Reddit comments that were dismissive of sexual assault
— have not appeared to help her in recent polls, which still show her
lagging far behind Platner. That leaves Schumer and Democratic groups
facing a key decision: Will they aid Mills as she tries to tear down
Platner ahead of the June primary, or leave her to make her case on her
own, given that his lead may be insurmountable?
So far, no
outside Democratic groups have come to her aid in the state on the
airwaves, leaving her to run her relatively modest ad campaign against
Platner on her own.
[…]
The lack of outside help for Mills
has left some Democrats in Maine with the impression that Schumer and
other powerful Democrats are leaving her to twist in the wind as she
fails to make up ground in the polls. With Platner ads airing regularly
on television, Mills supporters have begun complaining to Democrats
close to the governor about the lack of a response, with some wondering
why Schumer recruited the governor to run if no help would be provided
when she did.
[…]
Operatives close to Schumer have told
people in recent months that they believe Platner can’t defeat Collins
in a general election, and remain wary of the plethora of deleted
internet comments that include insulting police and rural Mainers,
insensitive comments about Black people not tipping and more. Platner, a
combat veteran, has disavowed many of the comments, saying he was
suffering from untreated PTSD when he made them.
“Governor Mills
is the strongest candidate to take on Susan Collins, who is increasingly
vulnerable and faces record low approval ratings,” said a spokesperson
for the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm.
Ms. Collins has to be feeling very good right now.
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