Statement from Northam apologizing for yearbook

[octoberlib]

Last edited Fri Feb 1, 2019, 08:09 PM - Edit history (2)

Link to tweet

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Say hello to Justin Fairfax, Virginia's possible soon-to-be new Governor



Justin was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia on November 7, 2017. Justin is only the second African-American in history, and the first in nearly 30 years since the tenure of Governor L. Douglas Wilder, to be elected to statewide office in Virginia. His Inauguration took place on January 13, 2018. https://www.ltgov.virginia.gov/

Link to tweet

To add to the shock, a page from Northam's yearbook at the Virginia Military Institute listed one of his nicknames as "Coonman," a racial slur. Story from @Grace_Segers https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ralph-northams-yearbook-page-shows-man-in-kkk-costume-and-another-apparently-in-blackface/ …
https://archive.org/details/bomb1981virg/page/90 …

[manor321]

1. Well I don't say this lightly but I think he should step down.

I was waiting for his statement for an explanation.

I think he should go.

[Tipperary]

14. But we forgive Kevin Hart.

Double standards suck.

[Drunken Irishman]

20. Kevin Hart isn't a politician.

There is a double standard for that specifically. We can forgive Northam but demand he resign.

[Kurt V.]

61. Completely agree.

[d_r]

79. I agree nt

[jezebel321]

2. he needs to resign, especially with a good Democratic Lt. Gov waiting in the wings.

He was an adult when this happened and it wasn't the 1950s, no excuses.

[Demsrule86]

31. The legislature would pick the new Lt. Governor so that is a bad idea...35 years ago...

I say let it go.

[ehrnst]

56. +1000

[Demsrule86]

95. Thanks

[Duppers]

65. This is bad but

Gov. (Dr.) Northam is a "good Democratic" governor. Ask any other Virginia DUer.

While a practicing Pediatric neurologist, he treated my son and I saw that his office was staffed with folks of color. And he was one of the nicest physicians I've ever dealt with.

What he did was *horribly stupid* but I'm judging his behavior from what I know about him in the last 25yrs.

[hlthe2b]

3. well, this is the confirmation I've been waiting on. It is HIM in the photos--he needs to go.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

4. waiting for Virginia voters to speak

[spooky3]

26. Well, I'm just one. I think it's awful and will defer to

Persons of color about what should be done now.

I don’t agree with the talking heads who say that in 1984 we all knew better, however. There was a lot of “socially acceptable” racism (and sexism, and other isms) in attempts at humor, and some DUers may remember the Ted Danson blackface scandal that occurred 9 years *later.*

[Hermit-The-Prog]

82. "comedy" from even that recently is cringe-worthy now

[spooky3]

85. One of my favorite sitcoms of the 1990s-early aughts

Is Frasier, but the homophobia and slut-shaming alone in multiple episodes is hard to watch.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. Another vote for stepping down.

[madaboutharry]

6. He was an adult when he chose to appear like this.

It is inexcusable. He was a doctor graduating from medical school when he did this. He must resign.

[OliverQ]

7. This was definitely a Republican hit piece bringing this up.

They went after him over the abortion issue.

[malaise]

17. This is his photo

Due diligence should have dug this up ages ago.
If he didn't have this in his past, it could not be exposed. 1984???WTF!

Bye bye!

[OliverQ]

27. He also ran on a campaign of tearing down Confederate monuments.

Are you saying people can't change? Has he demonstrated being a racist since that photo?

You guys are saying that if absolutely any politician ever has even the slightest imperfection in their past, they should be kicked out of office even if they aren't like that anymore.

[Rainbow Droid]

35. I want to rec this response but I can't.

My kneejerk response is OUT GTFO SERIOUSLY but this was 35 years ago and people change. I'm not the person I was in 1984, that's for damn sure...

[Blue_true]

40. Actually you can somewhat, like +1000 or something else to show big agreement.

I agree with you and the other poster, Northam should stay unless something else comes up about him as a Doctor. As a Doctor in his state he was a champion of low cost and free medical care for poor people, including Black poor people.

[Brawndo]

41. Everyone makes mistakes however,

most people's mistakes don't reveal an ugly soul. If you're a Democrat, you don't need to evolve on issues like this. Disqualifying.

[Rainbow Droid]

48. So when I was 7 years old and carved a swastika on a bathroom toilet stall that makes me a Nazi?

SPOILER ALERT: I had been reading Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and I found everything about WWII fascinating. Shortly afterward I learned the full scope of the Nazi crimes and the symbolism inherent in the mark and I never did it again.

But I guess the fact that I did it reveals an ugly soul...

[Brawndo]

62. Were you a mature, sentient, doctor at 7 years old?

This was the unforced choice of an adult. For every one of him you can find many more with better sense and awareness of history, the bar for Democratic leaders can and should be higher. You went to an extreme to justify something that has no justification. Plus, it looks like the Lt Gov will be a step up anyhow.

[Rainbow Droid]

86. There's no perfect candidate, and people change. Lets not forget those two facts,

regardless of what Northam decides to do next. I'd prefer Fairfax for Gov as well, but lets not be so quick with the tar and feathers on someone who very well might have spent the past 35 years trying to undo his first 24. Look at his biography ffs.

[Brawndo]

88. I'm sure he does feel genuine remorse but

consider what defending him will cost us. We will be somewhat persuasively accused of being hypocrites, this will result in bothsiderism on crack. I am unwilling to lose that argument with repuglicans. The cost of defending him greatly outweighs the benefit.

[Rainbow Droid]

90. The situation you describe already exists, and I'm not suggesting we defend him.

I'm suggesting that if his family, friends, and co-workers don't defend him then he will go regardless. We don't have to do a thing. If they defend him who are we to override them? If they don't defend him then his career is over and it should be. We don't take that shit from anyone. But people grow, people change, and people make mistakes. Lets not forget that.

[malaise]

43. Of course people change

He should have mentioned this photo himself during said campaign.
We're not talking 50s and 60s here - 1984. Just saying.
Black face and KKK are not slight imperfections.

[OliverQ]

57. Yeah he should have mentioned, but my guess is he didn't remember

since he doesn't hold those views anymore. I couldn't tell you what's in my yearbook and I graduated a lot more recently than Northam.

[malaise]

59. The party has to screen candidates more thoroughly

We all know ReTHUGs will do anything to destroy Dems.

[OliverQ]

60. Especially when we make it so easy for them by eating our own.

[malaise]

66. None of mine dress up in black face

or KKK.

[octoberlib]

45. A Republican had to resign last week in Florida after appearing in blackface.

It's up to the people of Virginia. The thing is Northam should have been up front about this crap when he ran.

[Takket]

21. Yeah, the republicans made him pose for the photo.......

[OliverQ]

24. He also ran on a campaign of tearing down Confederate monuments.

Maybe he changed and repented of his past?

If we keep getting rid of people who have a questionable background, Republicans are going to keep winning. Because there is no such thing as a perfect candidate. Republicans don't care if their candidates are horrible people. Dems just each other alive.

[LisaL]

28. ITA.

Nobody is perfect and this was a long time ago.

[Duppers]

67. Exactly! 👍

[EffieBlack]

71. He should have owned up to this before now

Not only should he not have waited until he got "caught," but his opposition to the monuments would have been much more powerful if he had shared his own history.

[OliverQ]

81. Maybe he didn't remember it? I doubt he looks at his yearbook from 35 years ago.

[EffieBlack]

83. He doesn't remember putting on blackface or wearing a KKK robe and hood as a grown-assed man?

[Freethinker65]

38. Actually, if he resigns, as he should, the GOP loses

His racism has knocked his abortion statements way off the front page, and he will no longer be governor.

[OliverQ]

58. But that's what the GOP wanted. They want him out of office due to his abortion views.

[Freethinker65]

87. I think they wanted him severely damaged to use him to paint all Democrats pro abortion on demand

He would be gone as their punching bag. And the fact that he resigned unlike say, Rep. Steve King, will not be forgotten.

Justin Fairfax, Democratic lieutenant governor, would become governor.

[Glimmer of Hope]

8. Disturbing that he did something like that while in medical school. Fairfax will be a very

good and popular governor.

[lilactime]

9. I voted for him and I don't care how sorry he is. I'm sickened and

horrified and I can't unsee that. There is no excuse for this. None.

He needs to go.

[RDANGELO]

10. The political winds are against him.

This isn't one of those if I offended somebody oligopolies. He sounds like he sincerely regrets it. I don't think he should have to resign, but that is what probably will happen.

[nolabear]

11. Nnnnnnnnnnnnnope. Fatal move.

Resign and do what’s right for the party and the people.

[malaise]

12. Bye bye n/t

[MLAA]

13. The only thing I can say is this is the first republican apology i've Seen that was actually an

apology. I am not saying he shouldn’t step down, just sayin there were no wiggle words including the ubiquitous ‘if I offended’ anyone’

[madaboutharry]

15. He is a Democrat.

[MLAA]

91. Sorry, I wrongly thought he was a repug. Thanks for correcting me.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

16. That's because he's not a republican. nt

[MLAA]

93. Thanks for correcting me.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

94. I mean given their track record. I can't blame people for assuming. nt

[Ms. Toad]

47. It is actually one of the few true apologies I have seen from anyone in any party.

Because he has sincerely offered a real apology, I hope decisions regarding stay or go will be made based on whether his actions since then have demonstrated real change - and efforts to not just not offend - but to proactively work for racial justice and equality in ways that are welcomed by POC.

I am not a POC, but I am a member of the LGBT community. Pretty much no one in politics is pure on the issue of LGBT equity - if I excluded anyone who ever behaved in an offensive way to my community as fit for office, there would be no one fit for office. I believe in the possibility of change. We witnessed that in Barack Obama as to LGBT rights. This apology is a good starting point.

[Duppers]

51. What???!!!

He is not a rethug.

[MLAA]

92. Sorry, thanks for correcting me.

[Drunken Irishman]

18. He needs to resign.

[jberryhill]

19. Begone

Not worth an explanation. Out.

[backabby-blue]

22. I'm not young.. I remember 1984

This was not ok in the circles I ran with in 1984. No way, no how. RESIGN now.

[Buckeyeblue]

23. He probably has to resign...but

I think it's important to judge a person on who they are not who they were.

[standingtall]

25. He should've have been open and up front about this

He should of just told voters he was a racist jackass in his past, but he has changed sense then and this wouldn't have been necessarily disqualifying. Now he is probably going to have to resign.

[octoberlib]

32. Rick Wilson said the same thing.

[malaise]

46. You nailed it

He should have brought it up when explaining why he would support tearing down the confederate statues.

[EffieBlack]

73. This

[Hoyt]

29. We don't need another Robert Byrd in the party. Sorry this happened. How did it go

this long? Damn.

[JI7]

33. he supports liberal causes right now unlike robert byrd

[Hoyt]

37. I know. But there are people who support liberal causes that haven't done racist junk

like that. This does not help the Party, and ought to tick people off.

[maxsolomon]

30. Exhibit A; why Medical Schools shouldn't have Yearbooks.

don't start nothin, won't be nothin

[Blue_true]

52. So you are saying if it is hidden it's ok.

Parents should teach their kids that they live in a diverse world and that before they take any action, they should consider all the consequences.

Northam appears to have had an exemplar pry life post Medical School. I don't think that he should resign, but if there is other shit out there, he would know that and step down to avoid issues.

[maxsolomon]

68. I'm saying people have too many opportunities to parade their ignorance.

And that if you have, in any way shape or form, the GOP opposition research will find it.

He should have known better at every step of the way: putting on the costume, going out in public dressed like that, posing for a photo, developing the film, putting this in print on his freaking Yearbook page, not thinking his candidacy through knowing this was in his past.

now he's just another club for the GOP to bludgeon Dems with.

we point out actual racist policies like child separation, they point at Northam. "oh well, both sides" say the flibberdigibbet independent voters.

[Freethinker65]

34. Bye.

[ismnotwasm]

36. I knew better than that shit in 1984

And I was a kid addicted to drugs and alcohol at the time.

[Bradshaw3]

76. Me too, on the knowing better part

Not on the drug part. But dressing up in a KKK costume or blackface? I just wouldn't have done something like that.

[d_b]

80. fuckin' a

[OnDoutside]

39. How has he done since being elected ?

[Blue_true]

55. Even before being elected governor, he had a good track record in regards to issues that

affected Black people. His life over the 35 years should be considered, if there is more of this out there, he should step down because he would know that.

[OnDoutside]

64. Thanks. I guess the next 24 hours will tell.

[Blue_true]

69. Yes. His history is being examined right now. nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

42. If that photo was discovered during his gubernatorial campaign he and we would have been sunk.

[octoberlib]

49. I had the same thought.

[malaise]

50. I disagree - he could have explained how far he had come

and why he was now against the confederate statues. Would have been an excellent move.

[LisaL]

53. I don't think so.

Democrats don't seem to be forgiving of any transgressions, no matter how long ago, do they?

[WillowTree]

75. He could have.......for all the good it would have done for his campaign.

[BlueStater]

78. It was 35 years ago. He probably doesn't even remember taking the photo.

If he was a racist back then (and more evidence that's coming out seems to suggest that he was), he probably didn't think it was a big deal at the time and completely forgot about it.

[EffieBlack]

84. If it wasn't a big deal that he doesn't remember, there's more where that came from

[WillowTree]

89. Yeah.......What EffieBlack said.............

[Renew Deal]

44. He had to know that he would never be president

Though he was brazen enough to run for governor

[SaschaHM]

54. Time to place him on resignation watch.

Seems harsh, but he has a democratic Lt Gov. He can't run in 2021 anyway and w/ the direction of the party wasn't going to be the 2024/2028 nominee or 2025 gov nominee for that matter.

He's in the "why are you still here" category of politicians going through scandals. The only people to facing any potential consequence from his decision to stay in office are 2020 candidates that need the state of VA.

[Mike Nelson]

63. I can't believe this...

… this was 1984! … and there was Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh's yearbook... I have my HS and College yearbooks... there was nothing like this... and I was out before 1984. We did crazy stuff in college, but I'm just really not understanding this... his apology is a start, I guess...

[EffieBlack]

70. How effed up does a school environment have to be that something like this slipped under

the radar for 35 years. No one thought this was a big deal? Not one person in his class? No one on the faculty or in the administration? No one who had reason to look at the yearbook in the last 35 years?

Seriously?

[octoberlib]

74. Why would the school think this picture was okay to publish or that nickname?

Stuff like this must have been going on all over the schools and faculty was okay with it. Northam should have brought this up 12 years ago when he first ran and said he's changed. Now Julian Castro is calling for his resignation.

[Goodheart]

72. I think he should resign.

[Raven]

77. Medical School???

Not college, not high school, medical school? Isn't that the place where you vow to do no harm? I'm beginning to really despair for this country.