Va govenor northam in blackface/kkk hood

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deleted15807

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On the one hand he has admitted his error and apologized on the other hand should he resign?

RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) on Friday acknowledged appearing in a “clearly racist and offensive” photograph in his 1984 medical school yearbook that shows a man in blackface and another in a Ku Klux Klan robe.

“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.”

Gov. Ralph Northam ‘deeply sorry’ after photo emerges from his 1984 yearbook showing blackface, KKK hood
 

TexanStar

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On the one hand he has admitted his error and apologized on the other hand should he resign?

RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) on Friday acknowledged appearing in a “clearly racist and offensive” photograph in his 1984 medical school yearbook that shows a man in blackface and another in a Ku Klux Klan robe.

“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.”

Gov. Ralph Northam ‘deeply sorry’ after photo emerges from his 1984 yearbook showing blackface, KKK hood

This doofus was just in the news for some really squirrelly remarks about abortion a few days ago.

I don't think he should resign over a racist decision he made 35 years ago before he took public office. But it'll be difficult for him to survive his next primary for sure.

Most of my concern is actually with the medical school... if they allowed that pic in their yearbook, do they have a history of unfair treatment of minorities and if so has it been addressed?
 

keenobserver

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This doofus was just in the news for some really squirrelly remarks about abortion a few days ago.

I don't think he should resign over a racist decision he made 35 years ago before he took public office. But it'll be difficult for him to survive his next primary for sure.

Most of my concern is actually with the medical school... if they allowed that pic in their yearbook, do they have a history of unfair treatment of minorities and if so has it been addressed?

There won't be a next primary. Va. Governors are only allowed one term. Given that Kaine and Warner are not going anywhere I don't see Ralph seeking higher office when his term is over. We will see,
 

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I say,"Bye Felicia." Northam should resign and allow the Lieutenant Governor take his place.

Beto O'Rourke crashed his car while driving drunk 20 years ago. Between the two of them, only Beto's decision at the time ran the risk that he could've killed innocent bystanders. Fate was such that he did not, but he could have, we've all seen similar accidents on the nightly news that turned out horrifically worse . Should Beto have to remove himself from public service for that as well?
 

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Beto O'Rourke crashed his car while driving drunk 20 years ago. Between the two of them, only Beto's decision at the time ran the risk that he could've killed innocent bystanders. Fate was such that he did not, but he could have, we've all seen similar accidents on the nightly news that turned out horrifically worse . Should Beto have to remove himself from public service for that as well?
no
 

Tight_N_Juicy

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Part of me wants to say let him stay in the race and get stomped by his opponent in the polls, but part of me knows how little that shit matters to a lot of people. Hell, look at how many people still voted for Roy Moore after finding out what they did about him? He didn't win, but he came pretty fuckin close.

He shouldn't have to drop out, but if he ended up winning I'd be just as disgusted as I am having Trump as president. These are not the best of times for our country.

The guy was clearly mocking victims of hurricane Katrina. He was way too old to NOT know better than to do that. It was racist, it was heartless, it was a bad fucking idea.
 

TexanStar

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The guy was clearly mocking victims of hurricane Katrina. He was way too old to NOT know better than to do that. It was racist, it was heartless, it was a bad fucking idea.

That's a different guy (who did resign).

This guy's photo was from before you were born :p
 

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That's a different guy (who did resign).

This guy's photo was from before you were born :p

Oh, shit. That's what happens when you wake up way too early and feel like actual death, but still try to read and participate in political conversations :eek::blush:
 

Industrialsize

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In 1982, Congress extends the Voting Rights Act. In 1983, Reagan reluctantly signs a law making MLK birthday a national holiday (Jesse Helms filibustered). In 1984, Jesse Jackson runs in the Democratic primaries. 1984-Northam publishes this photo. That’s the context of the times.
 

keenobserver

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Part of me wants to say let him stay in the race and get stomped by his opponent in the polls, but part of me knows how little that shit matters to a lot of people. Hell, look at how many people still voted for Roy Moore after finding out what they did about him? He didn't win, but he came pretty fuckin close.

He shouldn't have to drop out, but if he ended up winning I'd be just as disgusted as I am having Trump as president. These there are not the best of times for our country.

The guy was clearly mocking victims of hurricane Katrina. He was way too old to NOT know better than to do that. It was racist, it was heartless, it was a bad fucking idea.

There will be no polls with an opponent, this guy is term limited and there are no higher offices for him to run for - i.e. Congress, Senate, etc. From the outrage I am reading in his state and nationally, I am starting to feel he has no viable choice but to resign. I don't think too many people in the State legislature want to be standing too close to him when cameras are out. It is going to affect his ability to work with segments of the assembly. He will become the poster child for Democratic hypocrisy in a state that took a long time to flip from the GOP. Let us not forget ex-Governor Allen kept a large Confederate Battle Flag in his offices.

All said and done, I feel he has to go.
 
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I generally stay out of the political forum, but as a resident of this state (VA) I can stay on the sidelines no longer. Of all the attacks on Gillespie (his opponent in the campaign) for being racist, he did this??? Get out of our state, do the right thing, step down.

One wonders where this yearbook photo was during the 2017 campaign.
 
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keenobserver

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I generally stay out of the political forum, but as a resident of this state (VA) I can stay on the sidelines no longer. Of all the attacks on Gillespie (his opponent in the campaign) for being racist, he did this??? Get out of our state, do the right thing, step down.

One wonders where this yearbook photo was during the 2017 campaign.

Yeah, that is a fair question.
 

lookatthat

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He shouldn't resign because he can use this as a learning moment. He can explicitly outline what he was thinking at that time, and describe his journey of growth and maturation to who he is today. He can discuss why propagating racist, classist stereotypes is truly destructive.. he can define that destruction, and he can define how condemning those beliefs and attitudes can heal us as a community. He can absorb the short-term knee jerk sanctimony and holier-than-thou tropes he'll be blasted by, and move on to do good things.
However he should resign. Forever more, he'll be an easy target of the right wing. They can meme him endlessly and the image will always be witheringly successful in painting progressives as racist. These same people who actually are racist and defend blackface and racist costumes. The same people who elected Donald Trump because "he tells it like it is" and isn't a "PC pussy too afraid to offend others." They will demonize him in perpetuity for doing what they support, knowing it'll find its mark every time.
And he should resign because he's a lame duck now. His own party will not support him. He won't achieve anything.
He'll never be able to do any good work, and he'll always be a drag on the party. He knows what he has to do. Step down, and work tirelessly in public or private to heal racist and classist wounds in Virginia.
 
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TexanStar

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In 1982, Congress extends the Voting Rights Act. In 1983, Reagan reluctantly signs a law making MLK birthday a national holiday (Jesse Helms filibustered). In 1984, Jesse Jackson runs in the Democratic primaries. 1984-Northam publishes this photo. That’s the context of the times.

Ronald Reagan was 73 in 1984.
Jesse Jackson was 43.
Ralph Northam was 25.

I'm really sick of the life sentences that some people want to dole out for the idiocy of others. Part of the reason politics is such a mess these days is that few people can make it to the minimum age of office without having done some stupid shit or another that people will trot out and hold over them for the rest of their life.

If there's some racist stuff he's done recently for which he should be held accountable, hold him accountable, but grabbing the tar and feathers for a 45 year old racist joke is just petty distraction.
 
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Industrialsize

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Ronald Reagan was 73 in 1984.
Jesse Jackson was 43.
Ralph Northam was 25.

I'm really sick of the life sentences that some people want to dole out for the idiocy of others. Part of the reason politics is such a mess these days is that few people can make it to the minimum age of office without having done some stupid shit or another that people will trot out and hold over them for the rest of their life.

If there's some racist stuff he's done recently for which he should be held accountable, hold him accountable, but grabbing the tar and feathers for a 45 year old racist joke is just petty distraction.
I did a lot of stupid shit when I was 25. NONE of it was racist. I'm watching his press conference now. It's a shit show.
 

Industrialsize

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Are you of the opinion that people cannot change and that once racist always racist?
I am a partisan Democrat who thinks the rest of Northam's term, should he not resign, will be ineffective. Virginia is an important state in the coming 2020 elections. I would rather have Justin Fairfax, an African American who "stepped down" as a principled protest during Virginia's annual tribute to Robert E Lee, leading Virginia.
 

TexanStar

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I am a partisan Democrat who thinks the rest of Northam's term, should he not resign, will be ineffective. Virginia is an important state in the coming 2020 elections. I would rather have Justin Fairfax, an African American who "stepped down" as a principled protest during Virginia's annual tribute to Robert E Lee, leading Virginia.

That dodges the question though. Do you think that if a person is racist at one time they are racist forever?