WASHINGTON — How dare he deem a Nazi tattoo disqualifying!
Democratic Rep. Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts is facing a torrent of backlash from the left for having the audacity to call Maine Dem Senate hopeful Graham Platner’s onetime Nazi tattoo and his excuse about it “disqualifying.”
“I’ve been clear about Graham Platner. I find that tattoo and his commentary about it to be personally disqualifying,” Auchincloss told CNN’s “The Arena” on Monday.
“I hope Maine voters agree with me.
“I think it would be a mistake for the Democratic Party to think that Graham Platner’s brand of the Democratic Party is what wins us durable majorities throughout this country,” Auchincloss said.
Auchincloss founded two Majority Democrats PACs last year with the goal of elevating centrist-leaning party pols.
Platner, who is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for a Maine Senate seat ahead of the June 9 primary after Dem Gov. Janet Mills dropped out of the race last month, was caught with a tattoo that looked like a Nazi SS Totenkopf symbol on his chest.
The oyster farmer and Marine veteran claimed to have gotten that ink during his time in Croatia in 2007 while he was inebriated. Platner has since inked over it with a Celtic knot and dog imagery.
Skeptics have scrutinized his assertion that he didn’t know what a Totenkopf was, given that he’s a military buff. CNN reporter Andrew Kaczynski has said he spoke to a source acquainted with Platner over a decade ago who said the Dem hopeful talked about the tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol.
But Platner has continued to insist he had no idea about its Nazi ties.
Auchincloss also spoke out against Platner last year, venting to Politico Playbook that “Democrats would be united in condemning a Republican candidate who had this episode, and we should be consistent.”
In addition to the tattoo controversy, Platner has faced a bevy of revelations about his past Reddit history, which he had mass-deleted before kicking off his campaign.
His posts included one that was recently unearthed mocking a Purple Heart soldier who captured wild helmet footage of himself moving into the open to steer Taliban fire away from his fellow soldiers.
Platner also made lewd musings about graffiti of men’s genitalia he stumbled upon during his world travels, defended soldiers urinating on dead Taliban soldiers, called war “the most enjoyable experience” and argued that white Americans “actually are” racist and stupid.
Prominent lefty figures, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who stumped with him Monday, have backed Platner.
Auchincloss’ condemnation of Platner’s candidacy elicited a storm of controversy on social media from his left flank and inflamed tensions between moderate and lefty Dems, both of whom contend their brand of politics is the key to winning elections.
“Jake Auchincloss is essentially endorsing [GOPer] Susan Collins in Maine. Absolutely no excuse for a Democrat in the House to back a Republican for Senate in a crucial swing seat,” chided Saikat Chakrabarti, a California congressional hopeful and former chief of staff to far-left New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Dem pollster Adam Carlson grumbled, “A smart reporter would ask Jake Auchincloss — the chairman of Majority Democrats — why he wants Trump to have a Republican Senate majority for his final two years in office.
“Why he wants Trump to be able to appoint more MAGA justices to the Supreme Court and federal bench.”
Ryan Grim of the lefty outlet DropSite complained, “If a Democrat endorses from the left against another Democrat in a primary, all hell comes down on them.
“Probably actually helps Platner to have Dems like Auchincloss against him, but I still wonder if he’ll hear from Dem leadership or if they’re quietly ok with Collins.”
Former Kamala Harris Deputy Campaign Manager Rob Flaherty sniped, “Does feel kind of odd to be the Chairman of an org called “Majority Democrats” and then endorse against both Democrats and a Majority.
A self-identified progressive user named Sean fumed, “Jake Auchincloss just endorsed Susan Collins.
“He needs to be kicked out of the Democratic Party.”
Democrats widely view the Maine Senate seat held by Collins as their top pickup opportunity outside of North Carolina in the 2026 midterm elections.
Platner has a 7.5 percentage point polling edge over Collins, according to the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate of polls.
Notably, Collins was significantly trailing Democrat Sara Gideon by similar numbers in nearly every poll during her 2020 reelection bid but won by about 8.6 percentage points.