Asked during a CNN interview about the controversial ink design that Platner said he got it while he was out drinking with fellow Marines in Croatia, Auchincloss replied, “I find that tattoo and his commentary about it to be personally disqualifying. I hope Maine voters agree with me.”
His remarks angered Democrats who have come to see the Maine Senate election as a binary choice: either embrace Platner and all his baggage, or watch Collins win reelection.
Two things can be true. What Auchincloss said helps Collins and hurts Platner. But Auchincloss also raises a valid point. From the tattoo to a trove of offensive social media posts, Platner brings heavy baggage to this campaign. In the interests of winning back the Senate, many Democrats are willing to accept it.
Auchincloss, who is Jewish, has drawn the line at Platner’s now-voided skull and crossbones tattoo. He first spoke out about it last fall, saying at the time “Democrats would be united in condemning a Republican candidate who had this episode, and we should be consistent.”
When I reached out to Auchincloss for comment about his own past social media controversy, his office said he is “not litigating Platner’s past social media commentary,” just addressing “an antisemitic tattoo.”
Platner has said he did not know the tattoo resembled a Nazi Totenkopf symbol. However, others, including his former political director, said he knew its Nazi origins.
To Jeremy Burton, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, it is clear that “Platner had a Nazi symbol tattooed on his chest”; that he “knew the name of the symbol in the past”; and only recently “chose to cover it up.” He added: “Whether or not it’s disqualifying, reasonable people can and should be deeply concerned about celebrants of Nazi imagery and memorabilia.”
The larger context, Burton said, is the distinction between “doing what it takes to win or winning by any means” versus doing “what’s actually good for democracy.”
But at this moment in time, what is best for democracy? Helping President Trump’s agenda by helping Collins win reelection? Or helping Platner defeat Collins despite his liabilities?
Some, but not all of Platner’s conduct, can be written off as youthful indiscretions. But whether or not they qualify as such, Auchincloss was right when he noted Democrats would condemn them from a Republican candidate.
Beyond Platner’s tattoo, this is also a battle between the party’s left wing, which adores his fiery populist rhetoric, and those Democrats who believe the path to victory lies somewhere in the political middle.
“Struggle, grapple, it’s the right word,” to describe the dilemma faced by Democrats over Platner, said Liam Kerr, who as cofounder of the organization Welcome, has been pushing for more centrist candidates. But in the end, said Kerr, “It’s very important that Democrats win the Senate.”
Kerr also expressed sympathy for Auchincloss, who has come under heavy attack from some Democrats.
“Everyone wants politicians to be authentic and courageous, until they’re authentic and courageous. Then the outrage machine dials it up and everyone piles on,” Kerr said.
There has been piling on, and some of it is directed at Auchincloss’s Jewish identity. In response to Auchincloss’s “disqualifying” comment, for example, leftist influencer Hasan Piker wrote on social media “straight up israel first.” Burton, of the Jewish Community Relations Council, cited this post as an example of how the reaction “has gone straight to antisemitism.” As Burton sees it, ” Platner having a Nazi tattoo is not about Israel, it’s about extremism.”
Commentary like that does not help Platner’s argument that the tattoo was a long-ago choice fueled by ignorance and alcohol, and should not be equated in any way with antisemitism.
In 2020, when Auchincloss apologized for his social media post, he said, “It was an attempt to make a nuanced point in a very tone-deaf way. I would hope that instead of allowing my record to be defined by a social media post 11 years ago, it should be defined by my record of service of issues that affect the Muslim-American community.” Voters did what he asked and sent him to Washington.
Whether or not you buy Platner’s explanation for the tattoo, he’s seeking similar grace.
The stakes are huge.
Will it be Platner or Collins to the Senate?
And how much should a tattoo from two decades ago influence the decision?
For those who want Democrats to control the Senate, the answer to the tattoo question was easy. Then, Auchincloss made it harder.
Joan Vennochi is a Globe columnist. She can be reached at joan.vennochi@globe.com. Follow her @joan_vennochi.
