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WhiskeyGrinder

(25,918 posts) Tue Oct 21, 2025, 12:44 PM Oct 21

Graham Platner says his Nazi-linked tattoo was drunken mistake [View all]

https://www.pressherald.com/2025/10/21/graham-platner-addresses-tattoo-linked-to-nazis/

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Graham Platner, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Maine, took the unusual step of disclosing that he has a tattoo that has been linked to Nazis.

In an extended interview on Pod Save America that first aired Monday night, Platner said he and some fellow Marines got a skull tattoo while drunk on leave in Croatia in 2006, without knowing that it was associated with the Nazis.

“We got very inebriated, and we did what Marines on liberty do, and we decided to go get a tattoo,” Platner said. “We chose a terrifying looking skull and crossbones off the wall because we were Marines and, you know, skulls and crossbones are pretty standard military thing.”

Platner made the disclosure by providing a video of him dancing shirtless at a family wedding, because he said political opponents were pitching stories about it to national journalists.

A mistake you don't correct in the course of 20 years is hard to justify as a mistake, imo.

84 replies

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Graham Platner says his Nazi-linked tattoo was drunken mistake [View all] WhiskeyGrinder Oct 21 OP

That excuse in older than my dad. RandySF Oct 21 #1

Or have a different tattoo put on top of it? jmowreader Oct 21 #27

Exactly! Many people cover up regret tattoos with another tattoo tulipsandroses Oct 21 #51

LOL how do you not get that removed? leftstreet Oct 21 #2

He's always explaining, always excusing. RandySF Oct 21 #3

Yep leftstreet Oct 21 #5

Nopity nope nope nope. Cross him off the list Arazi Oct 21 #4

Totally agree with you. republianmushroom Oct 21 #6

Fully agree. (nt) Paladin Oct 21 #14

Chuck sure dodged a bullet for everyone with this. LuvLoogie Oct 21 #7

Not from Maine but I'd be interested in knowing more about Mills. nt Doremus Oct 21 #15

I'm from Chicago. This is all hands everywhere, tho. LuvLoogie Oct 21 #18

Trump hates Janet Mills. Good enough for me. mainer Oct 21 #22

Unfortunately so do a lot of Mainers Easterncedar Oct 21 #76

Looking forward to not voting for this guy MaineBlueBear Oct 21 #8

So has Bernie rescinded his endorsement yet? Or is he just hoping Platner disappears in the next few days? tritsofme Oct 21 #9

According to John Bresnahan of Punchbowl News, this is Bernie's response... PunkinPi Oct 21 #39

Wow, that is utterly disgraceful. For shame, Bernie, for shame. tritsofme Oct 21 #41

Absolutely shameful and admitting the mistake shouldn't be hard. nt PunkinPi Oct 21 #50

Mahalo, PunkinPi... Well We Cha Oct 21 #47

Mahalo, Cha! PunkinPi Oct 21 #52

Aloha, PunkinPi! So Grateful Gov Mills Cha Oct 21 #56

I hope to do phoning, etc. for Gov. Mills. yorkster Oct 21 #58

Mahalo, yorkster! Cha Oct 21 #60

Hi there Cha. Wish I could pop over and meet you. yorkster Oct 21 #65

Aww.. That would be Great! I have been to Cha Oct 21 #66

That sounds like a loverly trip. yorkster Oct 21 #70

Ah Yes, Oh Canada! We also went to Prince Cha Oct 21 #81

And this is the guy Bernie endorsed? awesomerwb1 Oct 21 #10

love Bernie (kind of like you do an elderly aunt) stopdiggin Oct 21 #13

"I support Sanders and Sanders supports me" does not a good progressive make. W_HAMILTON Oct 21 #24

Well said.. the way you described being "Established" .. Cha Oct 21 #25

100% !!! And thanks for both boosting a very valid point - and for making it so well ! - -(nt)- stopdiggin Oct 21 #61

I have been black-out drunk several times in my life. Aristus Oct 21 #11

But, but - "new blood", "establishment pols", "term limits" ... stopdiggin Oct 21 #12

This is why we have primaries. mr715 Oct 21 #23

and why I'm not AGAINST a certain amount of vetting stopdiggin Oct 21 #57

It shouldn't be regular to get nazi tats and not know mr715 Oct 21 #67

I believe it is possible for people to change, and grow stopdiggin Oct 21 #69

Yeah mr715 Oct 21 #71

dear god, NO ! (now there's an image to etch into your retinas .... or memory ... I may never properly sleep ... ) stopdiggin Oct 21 #75

They're concerning. nt mr715 Oct 21 #77

Having gotten it in the first place, under those conditions, I would let that slide AZJonnie Oct 21 #16

The Totenkopf is older than the Nazis, but... Happy Hoosier Oct 21 #17

The version he got is the SS version. WhiskeyGrinder Oct 21 #20

Yes, appears to be the 3rd SS Panzer Division Totenkopf symbol EX500rider Oct 21 #74

He brags about being a history buff, including being a WWII buff obamanut2012 Oct 21 #34

Like I say, if he didn't know at the time, then when he came to know would be the most important point for me AZJonnie Oct 21 #43

He is Hegseth-like mcar Oct 21 #19

I am still spooked by Tulsi obamanut2012 Oct 21 #35

Whoa. He made me nervous, but Blackwater? yorkster Oct 21 #64

As they say in Mortal Kombat - DISQUALIFIED Blue_Adept Oct 21 #21

He seems like a lying sack of shite...once you get a Nazi tattoo, you're always a Nazi in my book... wcmagumba Oct 21 #26

Survey says?! .... ❌ QueerDuck Oct 21 #28

Sorry, if you find out your tattoo is Nazi-related and don't have it removed, that speaks volumes. Vinca Oct 21 #29

He was also a Blackwater Merc obamanut2012 Oct 21 #37

Totally disqualifying!!! Machine heads are likely oasis Oct 21 #72

Tattoo removal is readily available, and failing that coverup tattoos are even moreso. RockRaven Oct 21 #30

Why are you picking on this guy? I thought he dropped out as soon as the governor announced she was running? questionseverything Oct 21 #31

Thank goodness people are "picking on" this terrible candidate. tritsofme Oct 21 #32

Just making sure new blood with Nazi tattoos don't try again. WhiskeyGrinder Oct 21 #36

Wrong guy, and sorry, know who has Nazi tattoos? obamanut2012 Oct 21 #38

So I asked google, are skull and crossbones always nazi signs? questionseverything Oct 21 #44

The version he got is the SS version. WhiskeyGrinder Oct 21 #45

When I googled it there were hundreds of variations questionseverything Oct 21 #48

that's fine, but the one he got is the SS version WhiskeyGrinder Oct 21 #49

Feels like we can do better than making excuses for people who knowingly had Nazi symbols tattooed on their body for tritsofme Oct 21 #46

because there is NEVER any need for 'new blood' such as this stopdiggin Oct 21 #63

Then he should have removed, and it provbably could have been covered for free obamanut2012 Oct 21 #33

I believe it. Iggo Oct 21 #40

Another GOP mole exposed struggle4progress Oct 21 #42

something ain't right Skittles Oct 21 #68

I would love to see a Democrat progressive defeat Susan Collins. walkingman Oct 21 #53

Update: Platner says he's going to get it removed. WhiskeyGrinder Oct 21 #54

Former political director (resigned last week) doesn't buy it: WhiskeyGrinder Oct 21 #55

Former Platner political director weighs in on his tattoo LetMyPeopleVote Oct 21 #59

Mahalo, LMPV... What's "Red Eats" about in Cha Oct 21 #62

Tattoos can be removed iemanja Oct 21 #73

This guy would end up being another Fetterman. nt Blasphemer Oct 21 #78

Come on, who hasn't got a Nazi related tattoo awesomerwb1 Oct 21 #79

A mistake. But not enough of one to even think about voting for his GOP opponent. marble falls Oct 21 #80

Has Platner ever held elected office or run a successful campaign? dlk Oct 22 #82

Ya.. SSJVegeta Oct 22 #83

".. A Drunken Mistake.." But not enough Cha Oct 22 #84