Meet the Democratic candidate with a Nazi tattoo on his chest

There’s also Genevieve McDonald, Platner’s former political director, who recently resigned without accepting $15,000 to sign a non-disclosure agreement. McDonald posted on Facebook: “Graham has an antisemitic tattoo on his chest. 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 damn well knows what it means.”

Context is instructive. Before this, Platner fundraised by attacking Israel and pro-Israel organisation Aipac, the bogeyman of American politics. September started with Jewish Insider reporting Platner had eight ads “running on Facebook and Instagram”. All eight repudiated Aipac, “and around half accuse[d] Israel of genocide”. Ads featured language like “‘there is a genocide happening in Palestine’, ‘why are we funding Netanyahu’s genocide in Palestine?’ and ‘I won’t kowtow to Aipac or billionaires’.”

Zach Schwartz, director of Maine’s Jewish Community Relations Council, told JTA: “Platner’s repeated, singular focus on not taking money from Aipac plays into familiar, harmful tropes that Jews or organisations like Aipac control the government.” In practice, Platner echoing myths that endanger Jews is more salient than his calling himself “a lifelong opponent” of antisemitism or Nazism.

Democrats in Washington have remained highly supportive, though. Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin characterised Platner’s online posts as “hurtful” and “offensive,” not “disqualifying”. Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, the Squad’s Jewish godfather, was vexed when asked about what he dismissively deemed “a tattoo”. New Mexico senator Martin Heinrich said: “Graham has made a lot of mistakes in his life. He’s had a very long journey to the place where he is today, but he’s owned those mistakes, owned up to them, and he’s evolved.” Connecticut senator Chris Murphy said Platner “sounds like a human being to me – a human being who made mistakes, recognises them, and is very open about it”. And representative Ro Khanna “abhor[s]” Platner’s online comments, but said, “we have to extend people grace for the culture that they’re part of”.

On Sunday, Massachusetts representative Jake Auchincloss became the first Congressional Democrat to urge Platner to drop out. Two Jewish state legislators also weighed in. California state senator Ben Allen messaged, “With all of this guy’s messiness, I’m supporting the Governor [Janet Mills].”  Platner isn’t the only option in next year’s Democratic primary, so progressives’ wagon-circling is striking. Meanwhile, Georgia state representative Esther Panitch messaged: “If you were upset about Elon [Musk]’s arm gesture but are excusing Platner’s Nazi tattoo, you are nothing but a partisan hack.” Panitch is right; partisans’ standards should apply to everyone, including themselves.

For all the talk about Platner’s supposed evolution, his hyper-focus on Aipac and Israel happened this year. Progressives untroubled by politics organised against Jews will downplay such developments, but they’re bad for society. Furthermore, the bipartisan, post-war taboo against Nazism was salutary. It shouldn’t be smashed, nor should there be carve-outs for anyone, anti-Israel progressives included.