Could the old racist deeds of Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam lead to a forced resignation and the promotion of Virginia’s African-American lieutenant governor? Oh, yes!
Politics
In a 1984 yearbook photo that went viral over the weekend, it sure does look like then-medical school student Ralph Northam posing with a buddy while donning blackface and a KKK robe. At the time, Northam had no idea he’d one day be the Democratic governor of Virginia and that this racist photograph would likely catch up to him — but he is and it did.
In light of the evidence, high-ranking Democratic Party operatives from former governor Terry McAuliffe to the legislative Black Caucus of Virginia have told Northam it’s time to pay the piper and resign.
“What has been revealed is disgusting, reprehensible, and offensive,” the state’s Black Caucus said in a statement. “We feel complete betrayal. The legacy of slavery, racism, and Jim Crow has been an albatross around the necks of African-Americans for over 400 years. These pictures rip off the scabs of an excruciatingly painful history and are a piercing reminder of this nation’s sins. Those who would excuse the pictures are just as culpable,” they added.
“Blackface in any manner is always racist and never okay,” tweeted NAACP President Derrick Johnson. “No matter the party affiliation, we can not stand for such behavior, which is why the @NAACP is calling for the resignation of Virginia Governor @RalphNortham.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), Sen. Kamala D. Harris (Calif.), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) and former Obama administration Housing Director Julián Castro (who are all running for president), also joined calls for Northam’s resignation.
After initially neglecting to own up to his past behavior, Northam eventually relented and admitted his participation in the photo that has since gone viral.
“I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now,” he said. “This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine, and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians’ faith in that commitment.”
Then, in a strange turn of events, Northam called a press conference on Saturday to flip-flop his story yet again — claiming he “doesn’t remember” taking the photo and suggesting that the image may have been mixed up on his yearbook page and that neither man pictured is him.
“I believe now and then that I am not either of the people in this photo,” Northam said to the shock of the political world. “This was not me in that picture. That was not Ralph Northam.”
The backpedaling Northam then went on to add that although he did once put “just a little bit of shoe polish” on his face while competing in a Michael Jackson dance contest during college, the “racist and offensive” viral image of someone in blackface and a KKK hood is not of him.
HUH???
Well, there is a silver lining to this story.
If Northam does eventually step down (as everyone still expects), the resignation would automatically promote Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax — a black man — who would follow in the footsteps of former Gov. Douglas Wilder by becoming Virginia’s 2nd African-American governor in history.
The 39-year-old Fairfax is so connected to his heritage, that he took the oath of office holding the freedom papers of his ancestor, who was once a Virginia slave.
Fairfax is also a former prosecutor who supports the Affordable Care Act, prison reform, tighter gun control, campaign donation limits, and increased taxes for infrastructure. He has been enthusiastically endorsed by Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, which called him one of several “stalwart proponents of access to women’s health” who “has taken bold actions in support of Planned Parenthood.”
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There is no place for racism in America. Governor Northam has lost all moral authority and should resign immediately, Justin Fairfax is the leader Virginia needs now.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) February 2, 2019
Has karma finally caught up to Gov. Northam? If the photo is not of him, how did it remain on his yearbook page all these years without him ever addressing it? Should he take the high road and step aside, if for no other reason than the confusing and contradictory explanations he’s provided? Or, is it possible that Northam really is the victim of mistaken identity and is correct to stay in the governor’s post?
This guy is a piece of work. How do you admit something one day then take it back the next. He figured out nobody can tell who is in that pic so he tried to switch his story up and we are not buying it. But like DJ said if he wants everybody to think it’s not him why did he do nothing about it all these years? He needs to go. Let the black governor get in there.