Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is getting heat from the GOP for backing oyster farmer Graham Platner, a progressive, as Maine’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate after criticism surrounding the candidate’s past social media posts as well as a controversial tattoo.
Vermont Republican Party Chair Paul Dame on Tuesday urged Sanders to retract or explain his endorsement of Platner, echoing comments from EMILY’s List President Jessica Mackler’s characterization of the candidate’s comments as “unacceptable and disqualifying,” according to the Vermont Daily Chronicle.
Platner’s Reddit posts reviewed by CNN’s KFILE featured a slur that is offensive to those with special needs. In a separate post on Reddit, Platner referred to himself as a “communist,” and called “all” police officers “bastards.”
In a reply to another user, he also said rural white Americans “actually are” racist and stupid.
Other news outlets recently unveiled that Platner had a tattoo resembling a Nazi skull and bones emblems on his chest. Platner said he planned to have the tattoo removed.
“He went through a dark period. He’s not the only one in America who has gone through a dark period,” Sanders told Politico in explaining his support.
“People go through that, he has apologized for the stupid remarks, the hurtful remarks that he made, and I’m confident that he’s going to run a great campaign and that he’s going to win,” he added.
Sanders is backing Platner over Maine Gov. Janet Mills, who has earned an endorsement from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
Sanders has continued to argue that Platner, a Marine Corps and Army veteran, “is a great working-class candidate.”
Platner on Monday said his past Reddit comments were meant “to get a rise out of people.”
“Those weren’t even reflective of my opinions back then,” he told Tommy Vietor on “Pod Save America.”
Platner later told Vietor that he got the skull and bones tattoo while drunk in Croatia with his fellow Marines.
“I absolutely would not have gone through life having this on my chest if I knew that — and to insinuate that I did is disgusting. I am already planning to get this removed,” Platner told Politico this week.
“In the nearly 20 years since, this hasn’t come up,” Platner added. “I enlisted in the Army, which involved a full physical that examines tattoos for hate symbols. I also passed a full background check to receive a security clearance to join the ambassador to Afghanistan’s security detail.”
