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this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2026
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Why is it that people who present themselves as morally superior often seem the least willing to forgive? Some would rather support establishment figures like Susan Collins or Janet Mills, politicians they view as helping sustain the policies and military interventions that created the problem in the first place, than support a former mercenary who ultimately turned against that system. It seems strange to condemn someone for what they once were while giving a pass to the institutions and leaders that continue to benefit from the same machinery.
That type of behavior benefits the Jeffrey Epstein Class. When the hell will we ever get shit done, if you cannot forgive or accept the people that are closest to the core of the system and have decided to help us? All you have to do is keep an eye on them. I'm not saying you should "blindly" support Platner, you should watch every single one of his moves to confirm he didn't lie. Zohran Mandami has delivered so far, and people had a similar level of skepticism, but it was worse, because they hated him for being muslim, so.
If their only argument is the Nazi tattoo, that's sad. It's a very silly one. The point is that you genuinely think people can't change, and that is really dangerous. And no, I'd not have these standards for people like Trump or similar, because they are already very old and adamant about who they truly are. Platner was a victim of this system, American Exceptionalism and American Imperialism (both still prevalent here in Lemmy; leftists who still want the USA to be the World Police, to intervene everywhere because they think they are Humanity's smartest and best choice or whatever "heroic" Main Protagonist Syndrome nonsense they carry) propaganda, and at least Platner is teaching all those around him to wake up. I prefer that over the other choices, why won't other people?
Because the GOP likes to run Republicans as Democrats, I absolutely judge a book by its cover. He has a history of controversy aside from the Nazi tattoo. If Platner wins, I wanna revisit this comment in a few years to see if another Fetterman was born.
This. It’s this simple. Fool me once… shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me every election…? Now come on that seems like some people are in on something…
This isn’t my fight, but Dems in Maine couldn’t do better than a guy with a Nazi tattoo? Says a fucking lot.
Yeah he didn't pull a gun on a jogger, he did it the right way, four tours bombing neighborhoods in Iraq and Afghanistan, and then signed up to do it for profit under a private company. Much better.
Platner is literally a trust fund wanna be tough guy
And you're a keyboard warrior sticking up for Susan fucking Collins and her weapons-dealing husband.
I know which is worse and it's you!
I've never advocated or stuck up for this person in my life.
Except it isn't a Nazi tattoo and you literally can't cite anything that actually happened and actually means something.
You are literally parroting right-wing propaganda, ya fuckin potato.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS-Totenkopfverb%C3%A4nde?wprov=sfti1
You didn't even know what that even was until a few months ago.
That's how you know these "outraged" guys are full of shit.
Fuckers couldn't have identified the problem tattoo out of a multiple choice exam, but they're BIG MAD with their dumb fucking feelings about it now.
And "well if I had a tattoo, I'd figure out its meaning". It's not an esoteric mystical design. Why would you ever think it had a special meaning? It's a skull and crossbones.
I did not know about this specific SS department. But I was well aware of a general fact that Nazis wore skulls like that on their uniforms since I was a teenager, and I’m surprised to hear anyone had never heard this.
The US military and police force wears skulls. Skulls iconography is commonplace in military forces around the world.
LOL get the fuck out of here.
You know damn well you wouldn't have picked that tattoo out of a lineup, and now you're pretending you're some fucking expert on Nazi iconography?
Good lord. Go be a Republican if you're going to be this way. We don't need you.
I would think 95 people out of 100 could very easily pick a Nazi uniform skull out of a lineup of other skulls, and I am really surprised that you are so surprised.
That's because you're lying.
How old are you, out of curiosity? Were you not around when everyone’s living grandfathers were WWII vets? Maybe the younger generations do not know this. But I assure you, it used to be very widespread knowledge.
I am closer to retirement than I am to college and my grandfather, who is literally my hero, killed Nazis in France and Germany. His father's body carried shrapnel from the first time Germany got unruly. The shrapnel was too close to his spine to remove it.
When I sit here laughing in disgust at the slander thrown toward Platner, it's not from a place of ignorance about the topic. I'm pissed because I understand what the Nazis were, and it dishonors the sacrifices, lives, and deaths of hundreds of millions of people to pretend Platner is one of them.
Ok, so you’ve been around a while. How many people in your many years have you seen with that particular skull tattooed on them? Is this a common sighting in your experience?
Edit: I’m in my mid 40s and that number for me is zero. Also I would add that if Platner said “I was young and stupid and I regret it” I would find that a lot more respectable. But I’m not in Maine so my opinion really does not matter here.
He's not one of them. He's just like them.
My grandfather wanted me to say FUCK YOU for that ignorant take.
If your grandfather was as noble as you say, I would think he'd be horrified that national "socialism" has come to the USA, and you're for it.
https://notoleranceforantisemitism.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/totenkopf
Bystander here, adl is not a good source.
And none of that proves a 20-something kid had any idea what the fuck that was. Why would you? It's not a Nazi emblem. It doesn't look like anything out of a history book or a fucking Nazi documentary.
But by all means, continue to be a ridiculous pedant about shit that does not matter.
If you honestly are concerned about this, you're a fucking ridiculous person and we don't need to listen to you.
Please learn how to comminicate without so much hostility when none was directed at you.
"Please be less hostile as I slander and libel a politician because years ago, he got a tattoo that even I wouldn't have recognized as a problem"
I mean Christ, how about you stop slandering good people over shit you just learned was a problem like five minutes ago?
I didnt learn he was employed by blackwater 5 minutes ago.
"good people"
(In response to a high school student asking why people joined the marines; likely a target of the US military's child grooming)
I'd rather have 100 of him over any of you lying, lazy bastards.
And I don't really give a shit about the opinion of a literal Chinese propagandist. GTFO here with that.
Curious what makes you call me a Chinese propagandist
I strongly hope you one day examine your mindset that causes you to instantly shut down and close your mind in response to the "yellow peril" of China.
Lol you got me. I'm the typical gay, psychedelic enthusiast, Chinese propagandist.
I don't say this lightly, but are you removed?
Fetterman had a stroke and the Establishment dems still decided to run him instead of literally anyone else.
Fetterman isn't progressive populist's baggage, he is the Establishment's fault. This comparison is a non-sequitur every time it is brought up in relation to Graham.
I guess some people believe the US can become a social democrat country the day after the next midterms, and won't settle for less than perfect candidates.
I've said this elsewhere, but if the left is so obsessed with purity tests, fascism will win. Your in the US for crisssake, don't be too picky choosing your allies...
Do better with your candidates. You should feel ashamed to lose to Donald fucking Trump.
This is the better candidate. Of the options, he was the one saying “tax the ritch”, “Israel is committing genocide” and “Medicare for all”.
Both centrists democrats and republicans are terrified of him and digging up anything they can and running disinfo campaigns to discredit him.
He's way more dangerous to them than Bernie or Warren, because if Platner wins in purple Maine their whole excuse for running bland centrists will be shown to be a lie.
Certainly can't complain considering the alternative....but it doesn't matter, I don't live in Maine
Is wanton murder of civilians in their own country a forgivable offense to you?