The American left’s glaring double standard on controversial symbols has been laid bare in their treatment of Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner’s Nazi-style tattoo compared to their previous hysteria over conservative figures’ religious imagery.
Platner, who hopes to challenge Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, sports a large skull and crossbones tattoo matching the Nazi SS Totenkopf (death’s head) symbol – a recognized hate symbol according to the Anti-Defamation League and formerly worn by Nazi concentration camp guards. The Democratic candidate received this tattoo in 2007 while serving as a Marine in Croatia.
The mainstream media’s response has been remarkably tepid. Rather than express outrage, left-leaning outlets have characterized the Nazi-style imagery as merely “a political stress test.” This stands in stark contrast to their treatment of conservative figures like Pete Hegseth, whose Jerusalem Cross tattoo was falsely maligned as “white supremacist and extremist” less than a year ago.
Platner’s attempt at damage control came through a friendly podcast appearance where he claimed ignorance of the symbol’s meaning – a dubious defense given his 18-year possession of the tattoo and his reported status as a military history enthusiast. His own former political director, Genevieve McDonald, publicly challenged this narrative, stating, “He’s not an idiot, he’s a military history buff. Maybe he didn’t know it when he got it, but he got it years ago and he should have had it covered up because he knows damn well what it means.”
The candidate’s problematic history extends beyond the tattoo. Recently uncovered Reddit posts show Platner expressing concerning views, including calling police officers “bastards,” describing white rural Americans as “racist” and “stupid,” and making derogatory comments about Black Americans’ tipping habits.
The media’s kid-glove treatment of Platner stands in sharp relief against their previous coverage of conservative figures. When Pete Hegseth’s “Deus Vult” tattoo (meaning “God wills it”) came under scrutiny, major news outlets rushed to link the Christian phrase to white supremacy. Yet these same outlets now employ careful linguistic gymnastics to avoid directly addressing the Nazi symbolism in Platner’s tattoo.
This incident highlights a troubling pattern in mainstream media coverage: aggressive scrutiny of conservative religious expression while providing cover for leftist candidates with far more problematic associations. The facts speak for themselves – a Nazi death’s head receives more charitable treatment than a Christian cross when the political affiliations align with progressive preferences.
As Platner hurries to cover his tattoo and maintain his Senate campaign, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the media’s selective outrage and the left’s willing blindness to concerning behavior within their own ranks.
Related: Grooming Gang Survivors Demand Labour Minister’s Resignation Over Inquiry Scandal
