A Democratic Senate Candidate With A NAZI Tattoo?!

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner faces controversy over a Nazi SS 'Totenkopf' tattoo and past offensive Reddit posts, yet retains Bernie Sanders' endorsement, highlighting a perceived double standard within the Democratic Party regarding radicalism.

• Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate, is under fire for a Nazi SS 'Totenkopf' tattoo and offensive online posts, yet retains high-profile endorsements.

• The Democratic Party is accused of double standards, defending Platner while typically condemning similar behavior from Republicans.

• The government shutdown continues amidst partisan blame, and the White House's East Wing reconstruction is a new political talking point.

Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is embroiled in scandal due to a Nazi SS 'Totenkopf' tattoo and resurfaced Reddit posts where he identified as a communist, disparaged sexual assault victims, and made offensive comments about Black people. Despite these issues, which typically lead to cancellation, Platner maintains the endorsement of Bernie Sanders and other progressive figures, prompting criticism of the Democratic Party's perceived hypocrisy and embrace of radicalism for political gain. This situation is presented alongside other instances of Democrats defending controversial figures or issues.

Platner's Nazi Tattoo & Past

• 00:01:30 Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, endorsed by Bernie Sanders, is facing significant backlash after a video emerged showing a Nazi SS 'Totenkopf' (death's head) skull tattoo on his chest. Platner claims he got the tattoo while inebriated during deployment in Croatia with fellow Marines, believing it to be a generic 'terrifying looking skull and crossbones.' However, a former acquaintance stated Platner had acknowledged the tattoo's 'Totenkopf' meaning in 2012, and his former political director suggested he knew its significance and should have covered it up.

• 00:07:34 Beyond the tattoo, Graham Platner's candidacy is further complicated by past Reddit posts where he self-identified as a communist, used derogatory terms for police, and dismissed military sexual assault. He also defended a man with a Nazi SS lightning bolt tattoo, claiming it was an 'SI icon' for Marine Corps scout snipers, and appeared in a photo with a white supremacist agitator. These revelations have led to accusations of hypocrisy from critics, who note that similar behavior from a Republican would likely result in immediate condemnation and calls for removal.

• 00:09:00 The Democratic Party is criticized for its inconsistent application of standards, particularly in its defense of Graham Platner despite his controversial tattoo and offensive past statements. While typically demanding condemnation of perceived extremism from Republicans, prominent progressive figures like Bernie Sanders and John Love It are defending Platner, citing his military service or downplaying the severity of his actions. This selective outrage highlights a partisan double standard, suggesting that political expediency and power outweigh consistent moral or ethical principles within the party.

• 00:27:10 In addition to political controversies, the podcast touches on the ongoing government shutdown, which is framed as a Democrat-driven policy. Republicans criticize Democrats for holding the government hostage and failing to reopen it, while Democrats blame Republicans and highlight issues like healthcare costs. The White House's East Wing reconstruction project, planned as a large ballroom funded by private donations, has also become a point of contention, with Democrats attempting to frame it as a symbol of the current political disarray, despite the White House having a long history of significant construction and renovation projects.