Democrats in Maine seem more than prepared to overlook a little antisemitic footsie from their candidate if it might put them one seat closer to power.
You remember Graham Platner, right? Oysterman and veteran from the great state of Maine; rough-hewn man of the people; plainspoken progressive with outsider appeal; “populist” challenger to Governor Janet Mills for the Democratic nomination to take on the impossibly resilient Susan Collins in Maine’s marquee Senate race in November. Platner seemed like he was bred in a vat to scientifically appeal to the Democratic base’s yearning for a candidate with “working class” appeal and the current fashions in left-wing politics.
And then it was revealed that he had a few skeletons in his closet — or more accurately, on his skin: an enormous Nazi SS “Totenkopf” tattooed across his chest, to be exact. Platner insisted to the world that under no circumstances was he a secret antisemite, chalking up the giant Nazi skull plastered across his chest as the result of a bout of youthful over-exuberance — sort of like that guy who got Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign logo tattooed across his face right before Obama won reelection. Live and learn, I guess!
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the scandal was that it had seemingly little effect on Platner’s candidacy. The same rabid progressives who had flocked to his banner as a potential “giant-slayer” have refused to abandon him.
So it’s just downright unfortunate that Platner “accidentally” retweeted a neo-Nazi to denounce Trump’s State of the Union address the other day. Stew Peters (one of Twitter’s most well-known antisemitic influencer accounts) wrote “War with Iran is the only thing republicans and democrats have both given a standing ovation for. Let that sink in.” Platner immediately retweeted it, adding, “As always, there’s one thing that brings Republican and Democratic politicians together: sending other people’s children to die in stupid wars in the Middle East.”
Platner deleted the tweet a few minutes later — presumably someone tipped him — but it certainly leaves one pondering why Twitter’s notoriously responsive algorithm is feeding him neo-Nazi troll content. One might even reasonably inquire into whether it reflects his online interests. I’m sure it’s just an unfortunate coincidence.
That hasn’t prevented him from picking up even more mainstream endorsements, however! Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego took the controversy in stride, publicly endorsing Platner on Monday. Citing the outbreak of the Iran war and the need for “expertise” in a candidate, Gallego threw in with the progressive. Perhaps he feels he knows which way the wind is blowing: Platner continues to hold a commanding lead over Mills in what little polling of the race that exists. Democratic voters in Maine seem more than prepared to overlook a little antisemitic footsie from their candidate if it might put them one seat closer to power.