The Platner Trap

[Violet_Crumble]

By David French


I don’t want politicians to be “authentic.” I want them to be decent. I want them to be honest. I want them to be competent. And if they fail those tests, they don’t redeem themselves by opposing Donald Trump.

If you’re a conservative watching Democrats talk themselves into supporting Graham Platner, the Maine Democrat who until recently wore what sure looked like a Totenkopf tattoo (he covered it up after it became a political embarrassment) is to experience déjà vu. To a lesser but still familiar degree, I’m seeing Democrats engage in the same process of absurd accommodation and justification that Republicans use to excuse their deep love for Trump.

Let’s talk about that tattoo first, no matter how sick you are of hearing about it. For those who are not familiar with the Totenkopf, it’s the death’s head insignia of the SS-Totenkopfverbande, one of the three key branches of Hitler’s Waffen-SS, the armed backbone of the Nazi regime. And the SS-Totenkopfverbande arguably represented the worst of the SS. Among other duties, they were concentration camp guards, the people who were responsible for order in the industrial killing machines of Nazi Germany.

*snip*

But still, you might think, if push comes to shove, isn’t it necessary to support the lesser evil? There are two problems with this argument, however, one that’s obvious and the other that’s more subtle and insidious.

First, the obvious problem — the lesser evil is still evil. You’re still compromising your standards. You’re still empowering someone you’d never ordinarily support. If a person with an identical profile applied to be your manager at work, would you be comfortable hiring him?


https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/10/opinion/graham-platner-democrats-senate-maine.html?unlocked_article_code=1.hVA.6T_g.TxxkfMLt-N3d&smid=nytcore-android-share

I'm guessing by what I've read that some at DU agree with this. I do see some inconsistency in this logic.

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. One more NYT writer expressing Collin's-like "concern" for Dems

Platner will be the nominee and almost certainly the next senator from Maine.

If he turns out to be a closet Nazi, goose stepping into the chamber each morning, the folks can post their “I told you so” columns.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Yep. The concern vibes are strong

I was a bit understated in what a hypocritical pile of shit that article is

[UpInArms]

2. Fuck yourself off the planet, David french

No pussy grabbing 34 felonies raping pedophile

Bankrupted everything he touched

Just fuck yourself right off

And stfu

[AZProgressive]

4. My position was always to support the winner of the primary in the election to face Susan Collins

I agree with the criticisms when it comes to Platner and I had my own with Janet Mills but if Platner dropped out and Mills was the clear winner I would support Mills in the general election against Susan Collins. The road to Democrats taking back the Senate goes through Maine.

I'm hoping he matured from his 20s which is likely he has so I will take his apologies and admissions to mistakes at face value.

[everyonematters]

5. The Platner situation is an example of how both parties are in denial about what is going on

with independents and swing voter in this country. Maine is a semi open primary. I would bet anything that Platner is doing gangbusters with independents. They don't care if a politician was doing or saying anything that was politically incorrect before he was a politician. They think he is out to make a difference in their lives. Mills represents the establishment.

[Demsrule86]

12. Give me a break...it is a tatoo I have seen before...Marines have it and no they are not Nazis...can we stop turning on

candidates for nothing? I am sick of the concerned one...support Democrat candidates.

[JI7]

6. At this point it's about voting for which party controls the Senate

But I will say that support for Platner is because of his tattoos and everything else. Many people see white make bigotry as a result of them being victims.

One of his biggest supporters has said people like Kamala Harris are the problem .

[Cha]

9. Well "one of his biggest supporters" is

WRONG.

Kamala Harris isn't the "problem"... anyone saying that is.

[Violet_Crumble]

11. People support Planter because of the tattoo, not despite it?

That's a huge call and one I don't believe is true.

Also, who are you referring to when you talk about one of Planters biggest supporters?

[a kennedy]

7. Violet.....where ya from???

[Violet_Crumble]

10. Australia. Why do you ask?

I subscribe to the NYT and also have heard about Planter and the good odds of knocking off Susan Collins.

[a kennedy]

8. Nervous about the Maine voters.....

JI7 (93,855 posts)
6. At this point it's about voting for which party controls the Senate
Reply to Violet_Crumble (Original post)
Sun May 10, 2026, 08:04 PM
But I will say that support for Platner is because of his tattoos and everything else. Many people see white make bigotry as a result of them being victims.

One of his biggest supporters has said people like Kamala Harris are the problem .

So….do the people of Maine want him?? I mean ALL THE PEOPLE OF MAINE, WANT HIM?????

[OAITW r.2.0]

13. As a Maine voter, I would have preferred Janet Millsin in the primary..

I'll obviously vote for the Democrat and will hope he keeps his primary commitments on all of the issues he is pushing.

[appmanga]

14. The last time I kept hearing that "Lesser of two evils" crap...

...it was admonishing Hilary Clinton was no better than Donald Trump.

Go to Hell.