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The excerpt describes a political controversy involving Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner. After it surfaced that Platner had a Nazi SS-style \u201cTotenkopf\u201d (death\u2019s head) tattoo for years, the author claims the issue took months too be openly criticized by anyone importent within his party. Rep. Jake Auchincloss is presented as finaly calling the tattoo and Platner\u2019s related comments \u201cpersonally disqualifying,\u201d while the piece criticizes democratic leadership and media coverage for allegedly downplaying or not confronting the problem sooner.<\/p>\n

It also recounts Platner\u2019s origin story for the tattoo-reportedly getting it while serving in the Marines-and his later efforts to modify it rather than fully retract it. The author highlights backlash<\/a> and disputes about how the story was covered, including remarks that Auchincloss is Jewish and the article\u2019s suggestion that this fact may have been used to avoid deeper engagement wiht<\/a> the Nazi-related implications. The overall tone argues that Democrats were aware of the tattoo before choosing Platner as the nominee and suggests that opposition within the party was limited, leaving voters with a controversial candidate in an effort to challenge Sen. Susan Collins. <\/p>\n