Key facts
- James Carville defended Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner.
- Carville compared supporting Platner to the US allying with Joseph Stalin during WWII.
- Carville praised Platner's military service and criticized opponent Susan Collins.
- Platner faces allegations of sending explicit messages and having a Nazi-like tattoo.
- Platner denies allegations of physicality and knowledge of the tattoo's meaning.
Veteran Democratic strategist James Carville has defended Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, drawing a controversial parallel between supporting Platner and the United States' alliance with Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin during World War II. Carville praised Platner, a combat veteran and oysterman, for his service and character, contrasting him with his opponent, Senator Susan Collins, whom he described with contempt. Carville argued that in a time of 'imminent peril,' a candidate like Platner, despite being 'a little bit weird' and 'f---ed up,' is more likely to counter perceived threats than Collins. He suggested that if historical figures like Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill could work with Stalin, then a tattoo resembling a Nazi SS symbol, which Platner has, should be overlooked. Platner, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has been embroiled in scandals, including allegations of sending explicit messages and possessing a tattoo with a skull and crossbones insignia similar to the Nazi SS. One accuser, Lyndsey Fifield, stated Platner and his unit chose the symbol due to parallels with Nazi 'death units,' contradicting Platner's claim of not knowing its association. Platner has denied allegations of physicality and knowledge of the tattoo's meaning, attributing them to political motivation. Carville also dismissed the severity of the allegations, suggesting that if a crime was committed, charges should be filed, and that Platner is less 'f---ed up' than current Washington politicians. He further argued that Platner's combat experience offers a valuable perspective on the consequences of war, which Collins, as a politician, may lack.