How Long Will Democrats Keep Defending Platner?

To get a sense of how bereft the Democrats are of genuine principles, a good place to start is their defense of Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner. This is the “oyster farmer” they hope can unseat five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins in November. And, in that cause, they are willing to overlook a lot of controversies surrounding Platner. Among these is the tattoo of a Totenkopf, the insignia of the Nazi SS, which he sported on his chest for 18 years. Yet, when Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) was asked about Platner on ABC News, he feigned “concern” then pivoted to President Trump: “This man is dangerous, and it’s time that we take back the Senate. And that’s what I’m focused on.”

The Nazi tattoo is by no means the only noxious element in the cloud of controversy that follows Platner around. It has been previously reported that he has engaged in lewd acts in portable toilets, attacked a Purple Heart recipient as someone “who didn’t deserve to live,” has a still-active account on an app called KiK, apparently used for hookups with underage girls, sexted with numerous women outside his marriage, ad infinitum. Yet, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) posted, “I am proud of @grahamformaine for having the character to stand up against the war in Iran, against genocide, and against an unfair & lopsided economy. I am proud of him for having a vision for a new deal for our time. Excited to campaign with him on June 5!”

After extensive write-ups appeared in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal about Platner’s sexual antics, he posted what amounts to a hostage video of his wife defending him on X: “I’m feeling angry today and I don’t normally make public statements, but it’s really important for me to tell all of you out there, especially people who are voting in Maine, that I think it’s shameful behavior to spend time, and energy and resources on negative ads and negative stories on Graham when all he’s trying to do is improve the lives of people.” She added, “I confided deeply personal details about my marriage to someone I considered a friend.” This was a reference to Genevieve McDonald, the primary source for the New York Times article:

Ms. McDonald was one of three campaign officials who resigned in October after revelations about controversial social media posts by Mr. Platner and scrutiny of a tattoo widely recognized as a Nazi symbol … Ms. McDonald shared with The New York Times what she said was a screenshot of a text message exchange with Ms. Gertner that started in the early hours of Aug. 27, 2025. Ms. Gertner had sent a message to a broader group, asking someone from the campaign to contact her, and Ms. McDonald offered to talk. In their conversation, Ms. Gertner told her about the messages, which she described as “sexting,” according to Ms. McDonald.