Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Tuesday offered an impassioned defense of Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate in Maine who’s been immersed in hot political waters over past offensive social media posts and having a tattoo that resembles a Nazi symbol.
Sanders was an early endorser of the military veteran and oyster farmer in what’s become a crowded Democratic field to take on Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) in one of the country’s most competitive Senate races.
“Of course, I’m supporting him,” Sanders told reporters. “I personally think he is an excellent candidate. I’m going to support him, and I look forward to him becoming the next senator in the state of Maine.”
The Vermont independent, who caucuses with Senate Democrats, suggested that the since-deleted Reddit posts from Platner that were recently unearthed were the result of an overseas combat veteran who “went through some really difficult experiences seeing friends of his killed.”
“And he had, despite all that, had the courage to run for the United States Senate, to stand up to the powers that be, and fight for the working class of this country,” Sanders said.
Platner espoused offensive comments toward Black people and sexual assault survivors in the posts revealed by CNN. The candidate has since apologized for views that he said were made when he was “struggling deeply” after returning from serving in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Sanders, who is Jewish, also sought to redirect a line of questioning from reporters at the Capitol on Tuesday when asked about a purported Nazi tattoo, which Platner himself revealed the day prior on a Pod Save America podcast appearance. The shirtless video of Platner, from his brother’s wedding, was meant to preempt more negative headlines and showed a skull tattoo that resembles a Nazi-era “Totenkopf,” which was a symbol of Hitler’s Schutzstaffel paramilitary organization. Platner explained he received the tattoo with fellow Marines while on deployment in Croatia and stated he was “not a secret Nazi.”
Sanders deflected by, in part, referencing cuts to government healthcare programs under President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” tax law, passed earlier this year.
“What bothers me is that 60% of the people in this country are living paycheck to paycheck. And you know what bothers me? That if we don’t act, 50,000 Americans are going to die each year because they’re not going to have healthcare as a result of Trump’s bill,” Sanders said. “What bothers me is that we have a corrupt campaign finance system. And what bothers me is we don’t have enough candidates in this country who are prepared to take on the powers to be and fight for the working class. That’s what bothers me.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who is also Jewish, was forced to address Platner’s controversies. He reaffirmed his support for Gov. Janet Mills (D-ME), whom he helped recruit and who national establishment Democrats see as a more formidable and seasoned candidate with less progressive views than Platner.
DNC CHAIRMAN STANDS BY PLATNER IN MAINE SENATE RACE OVER ‘INDEFENSIBLE’ DELETED POSTS
Schumer said he’ll “let the people of Maine decide” if Platner’s controversies should be politically disqualifying.
“We think that Janet Mills is the best candidate to retire Susan Collins,” he said. “She’s a tested two-term governor, and the people of Maine have an enormous amount of affection and respect for her.”
