Bangor Daily News - Graham Platner knew his tattoo of a Nazi symbol was a problem weeks ago, former staffer says

[PatSeg]

11. There seem to be more issues with Platner

than just that tattoo. And people are supposed to believe he has magically transformed in just the past few years?

Mr. Platner also addressed Reddit posts that he made between 2009 and 2021, which were reported by CNN and The Washington Post, saying that he was “utterly horrified by” some of his words from the past.

Among the posts that have drawn criticism was one from 2013 in which he responded to a thread asking users what questions they have for people of other races. Mr. Platner asked why Black people do not tip, something he said he observed while working as a bartender. On the podcast, Mr. Platner said he had been “legitimately asking the question,” because he thought there might be a cultural explanation.

In another 2013 post, he appeared to play down challenges that service members face when trying to report sexual assault allegations. Mr. Platner said in the podcast that, when rereading his own comments, he saw “me not knowing what I’m talking about,” along with an expletive, and added that his views had changed.

He made other posts disparaging police officers and calling white Americans living in rural areas racist and stupid.

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/us/politics/graham-platner-nazi-tattoo-maine.html?unlocked_article_code=1.vU8.Ydit.rqVGpPJRrpsU&smid=url-share
(Gift article)