Graham Platner faces criticism over Nazi-linked tattoo and offensive remarks
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 10
Graham Platner faces criticism over Nazi-linked tattoo and offensive remarks
8 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 10
The New York Times opinion piece says Maine Democrats are excusing Platner despite a Totenkopf tattoo he later covered up and years of inflammatory online posts.
Former political director Genevieve McDonald publicly doubted his claim he did not know the symbol's meaning, saying he was a military history buff.
The article argues opposition to Donald Trump does not absolve candidates of indecency, dishonesty or incompetence, comparing Democrats' defense of Platner to Republicans' accommodation of Trump.
How can voters weigh a candidate's traumatic past against the impact of their offensive words and symbols?
What does a candidate's rise, despite a controversial past, reveal about current voter priorities and political standards?
Why would a military history expert not recognize a notorious Nazi symbol he wore for nearly 20 years?