I told a fib. This is my second Northam post. Without African American votes he would have lost

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Ralph Northam lost the white vote in Virginia by a whopping fifteen points, 57-42% !. He won the election by winning the African American vote by a more whopping 75 points, 87-12%.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2017-election/VA


I stand with the Virginia Senate Black Caucus and Former Governor Doug Wilder along with Democratic leaders and progressive groups throughout the nation calling for his resignation.


Furthermore:



While African Americans comprise thirteen percent of the population they provide Democratic presidential candidates with over 25% of their votes. In fact the last Democrat to win a plurality or majority of the white vote was Lyndon Baines Johnson. They are indispensable.

Fast forward to today. Debbie Stabenow a white Democrat, running for re-election lost the white vote 45-53 to an African American Republican while winning the African American vote 90-8.

https://www.cnn.com/election/2018/exit-polls/michigan/senate


You can't buy that kind of party loyalty.

Every person with a D after his or name who runs for office benefits from this huge built in 90-10 advantage. Ralph Northam abused it, and if for no other reason he has to go.

[treestar]

1. Should have been caught in the primaries.

Check the yearbooks! All of them - Harris, Booker, Gillibrand, Warren, etc.

[SWBTATTReg]

8. Curious as to why finally the yearbook pics were finally discovered? Or had they been ...

discovered before and held in secret until finally released? Of all of the students getting yearbooks, as well as the student staff compiling them (and their families and friends), no body ever said anything? I know that yearbooks are somewhat limited in their distribution (to the class that the books are written for mostly), but what other tidbits of information are out there that we're not aware of yet, on all candidates for all offices?

I would think that such a process is already in place to examine a candidate's resume thoroughly prior to be allowed/accepted as a candidate for public office. I think most businesses do this in some manner already, to properly vest a candidate for a job slot before offering a job to the candidate.

Perhaps a more thorough search of a candidate's history should be initiated prior to someone running for office (made as a requirement), besides just tax returns. A shameful and sad slice of history as well as the cover up (if there was one intended, which kind of does seem likely here, otherwise, why so long to catch?).

[treestar]

10. That is true - the vetting process cannot be entirely controlled

Somebody who has that yearbook may have to be the one - but then usually they are public? I don't know, at the institution they might be. I hope you can get any college yearbook at the college library. HS may be tougher - Kavanaugh's made it out, though. Maybe they are available to the public.

The party should be on notice now to vet at that level.

[Empowerer]

2. Black people are being told that we don't matter

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. It's much bigger than Northam

"Unless he steps down the question will continue to be asked

After all, it is a 90-10 demographic. This question would not be posed without that type of tilt.

How can anyone be surprised at the question? That is a butchering of situational grasp. We don't receive a 90-10 benefit of a doubt, even if that would be proper and on the low end. This era revolves around instant reaction.

Simple remedy: Resign and this is all but forgotten within a month. The Donald Trump era does not allow sidelight issues to linger."

[Awsi Dooger]

32. Thank you for quoting my post in the other thread

I saw the quotation mark but didn't realize they were my words until I saw situational. I tend to overdo that word.

I do think it is as simple as that: Northam goes away and this issue goes away. As bad as this is, the timing is fine. Within a week or two we're back to the government shutdown/wall dominating every news cycle.

The push from above typically doesn't happen on a weekend. Once it reaches Monday and Tuesday, Northam will be receiving so much pressure from all levels and angles of the party, he'll get the idea.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

33. There's a betting market at predictit. Will Northam be gone by 2/28?

BTW, Northam "only" won the African American vote 87-12. I suspect it might have been a tad bit higher without the controversy about him snubbing his African American "running mate".

[treestar]

11. Why say that?

There can be no disagreement with you without you taking it that way?

How would the change affect things could affect black people too. And they don't all think alike.

[Empowerer]

13. Because we're being told our concerns should be subordinated to some "greater good"

Read the threads and listen to what we're saying if you're really having trouble understanding "why we're taking it that way." It's been explained over and over and over and over and over.

[treestar]

15. What of the new Republican Lt Governor

as opposed to having a D one and the legislation that would not pass because of the new state of the legislature that might have benefitted black people? And that Northam might have signed in spite of his racist photo? At least debate that first. People in VA are the ones who know the most about that too (don't know if you are from VA).

[Empowerer]

16. I'm a sixth generation Virginian

My ancestors - white and black - helped to build the state.

And I don't know a single black person in the state who thinks Northam should stay.

We are all intelligent and politically savvy enough to know the political dynamics of a Republican lieutenant governor (not to mention of a BLACK governor, who, for some reason, keeps getting skipped over in the rush to warn us about a potential Republican second in charge). We have lookesld at the situation, gauged it carefully, and have, by a large majority, it appears, come to this conclusion.

We don't need to be lectured by white people about why we should subordinate our deep concern about Northam's display of racism to the "greater good" of the party.

But that said, Northam departing in no way damages the party. In fact, it is actually in the best interest of the party for him to go away.

[treestar]

18. A Democrat is a Democrat regardless of race

A Republican is a Republican. And no one is lecturing. It's discussion. Why does it matter the race of the person "lecturing"? Plus assuming we are saying you don't matter if we have questions. I didn't say greater good of the party, I said greater good of the black people. You attribute evil motives to people if they don't agree automatically.

[Empowerer]

19. Maybe the black people are in a better position to determine what is best for our greater good

And if we keep telling you what we think, you should stop telling us we're wrong about what we think is best for us and for our party.

How do you respond to my point about him leaving. How will his stepping down harm the party? Do you think it's better to have a governor with no credibility, no political clout, who won't even get invited to a school or a ribbon cutting, whom no candidate would campaign with, who could not run a political machine necessary to deliver the state in 2020, and who would be Republicans' Exhibit A every time any Democrat tries to point out racism in the Republican party than to have him go away quietly and turn over the seat to a young, dynamic black governor?

[octoberlib]

30. THIS. Every word of it.

[cwydro]

22. Although I've been disappointed in those here trying to defend this horrid example of racism,

I see far more DUers NOT defending it. The entire Dem leadership has condemned this man’s actions, though I’ve not heard anything from the Obamas yet.

So I’m not sure where you’re getting that.

[Empowerer]

23. You're not sure where I'm getting that?

You answered your own question: "those here trying to defend this horrid example of racism"

Pointing to the fact that others here aren't doing that doesn't undermine my point since I didn't say that EVERYONE was doing this

[cwydro]

24. Yes, but the majority support POC, and recognize this scum for who he is.

Stick a fork in him. I doubt he lasts two more days.

THe DUers who defended and are still defending him? Noted.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

28. It is interesting the hill some people choose to die on.

[bitterross]

27. Given Northam's voting record, he apparently thinks black people matter

He consistently voted against voter ID requirements. He voted against requiring drug testing for welfare recipients. He voted to increase minimum wage. He voted against the ultrasound requirements for women seeking an abortion. He voted against allowing adoption agencies to discriminate based on their religious beliefs. He voted for prohibiting discrimination in state employment based on sexual orientation.

If Northam was ever a racist and bigot, then his record clearly shows he isn't now. If he is a racist and bigot now, he's not a very good one with that record. A record that clearly favors the poor and disadvantaged. We all know that poverty and these laws he voted against disproportionately affect African Americans. And he voted on the side of African Americans every single time.


Actions speak louder than pictures.

[Empowerer]

34. He doesn't get extra credit for doing the right thing. That's what he's SUPPOSED to do

And plenty of people who DIDN'T parade around in blackface as adults did the same thing.

He needs to do much more than just not do racist stuff.

[bitterross]

35. He's not allowed to change? To become a better person.

Seems like as a representative of the people he's done so much more than just not do racist stuff.

How long do we have to punish people for their past to satisfy you? It's been 35 years and he's been voting in favor of measures that help African Americans. He gets no credit for that at all?

[Empowerer]

36. Of course he can change

But changing is not the same as making amends. And making amends requires more than just belatedly doing the right things he should have done in the first place.

Northam voting the way any decent Democrat should vote is not some kind of profile in courage and it doesn't count as making amends for his past behavior. HE's not even claiming that - in fact, he's promising to NOW do things to make amends. That's great. He should do that. And he should do that on his own time and dime, not as governor of the state, a position he won under false pretenses.

I'm all for him atoning for his past behavior. It's a shame that he didn't make the effort to do it before now.

[liberalmuse]

4. We live in a society steeped in racism.

It’s abhorrent that many of us might not even realize when we’ve said or done something racist. This is why we need to listen to those who have been targeted for racism and we need to be fully receptive if we don’t want to hurt others. Instead, people are being disregarded and gaslighted by the very people propagating their oppression. It needs to stop.

Northam has shown such utter disregard for others by his yearbook page it’s appalling. He knew better and was at an age where one is fully responsible for their actions, but didn’t care. He needs to fucking go. Many are defending him or are employing whataboutism in regards to Republican racism. While I agree they have zero rights to point fingers, we need to tell them to “STFU, hypocrites!” and worry about cleaning our own house.

[Jarqui]

7. I don't care if Northam didn't get a single black vote. Wrong is wrong.

How many votes he got from whoever has nothing to do with it.

"Coonman" needs to go.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. Why is he hanging on?

[Jarqui]

12. I have no idea

I do not understand the mindset of someone who would do as he has done. It does not compute for me.

Maybe he thinks he can use the power of his office to "fix" this ... ?
To me, that is something that is going to take years - if he can get his head around it and if he ever follows through on it.

Here's some of who have called for him to resign
(notably missing Joe Biden who also called for him to resign)
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/03/politics/ralph-northam-virginia-resignation/index.html

The Republicans and Trump have piled on.

Saw an article also listing who had publicly not insisted he resign ... only one VA mayor

It's as close to unanimous as it could get.

His former Gov McAuliffe says he'll resign soon
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/03/politics/terry-mcauliffe-northam-cnntv/index.html

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. Jarqui, of course I think he should resign for moral reasons.

If I were him and knew in my heart I wasn't the person then I am now I would resign my seat, do some sober self reflection, go on a healing tour and then run for my old House seat. If he wins he can see it as vindication he is a new man.

[Jarqui]

20. Part of the troubling thing with his press conference is that he

did not seem to fully appreciate what was wrong - he couldn't fully see the optics of his past behavior

He was fumbling around with it but he did not get it completely. His "Coonman" explanation is exhibit A.

That alone has some racial overtones - like he's oblivious to it.

To me, the first thing he needs to do is connect the dots on what was being publicly perceived as wrong here. Yesterday, it was like nearly everyone else in the room got it but him. When your Governor can't get his head around that ....

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. All

All kinds of prejudices are harboring in people, even inwardly and outwardly good people, that they don't even realize they are the hosts. That being said, the governor's mansion is not the appropriate venue to work through those issues.

[Jarqui]

25. Well said nt

[uponit7771]

29. statistically if he does this will all rush over and people will forget about him in less than

[octoberlib]

31. He wants to hang on to power? I do wonder if he's being advised by the AG, Mark Herring,

who had plans to run for Governor , when Northam's term is up.

[Gothmog]

26. Northam is hurting the party and needs to go

Northam needs to go