Ralph Northam Seeks Signs of Support as Crisis Strains Virginia Leadership

I've always loved the saying: If I shot him when I met him, I'd be out of jail by now. But think, suppose the governor had run over a pedestrian three decades ago. He'd be out of jail by now and likely leading a life of careful driving and extra care at crosswalks. He'd have done his time and if not forgiven, at least not penalized. But instead he three decades ago he acted like a tasteless, clueless twenty-something? (Those who call a twenty something an adult need to check the latest findings on human development. The brain is the last thing to mature.) We need to forgive him, or at the very least, allow him to lead a life being careful of racism and making amends. That he is in power to do so is all the better.

Politicians are a dime a dozen. None is so special that we need them. History tells us that none really work for the people.

The guy is toast, actually their both toast.

What a mess! I'd like to see Northram come up with evidence regarding who is in the photo and how it got on his page. I have read the allegations against Mr. Fairfax; apparently this came up before. The big question: why did either of these come up now?

Brietbart News sows discord wherever it can. The Democrats should not fold their tents every time some woman or women come forward with unsubstantiated allegations of sexual misconduct and when people did stupid things 30 or 40 years ago, they should be forgiven based on how they have lived for the following years of their lives. Are we to be held accountable for necking at the local drive-in while in high school when that now grown woman comes forward and says it wasn't consensual?

The lack of knowledge on the part of the public and lawmakers of the depth of the institutional racism and US terrorism promoted by Northam, his medical school and government as represented by the photo and Northam’s pathetic response are simultaneously stunning and disappointingly expected. We need a US Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Racism to understand, among other things, how government-sponsored black(face) minstrelsy was the expected byproduct of slavery which led and leads today to the systematic, unjustified killing of African-Americans, including by the KKK and the police.

Top three government officials in VA: 1) Governor (a white Dem) - Has yearbook page from med school (age 25) with photo of two guys, one in blackface, one in full KKK outfit. Initially, admits he is in the photo, but doesn’t recall which outfit!? Later, decides he is not either person, but discloses that at some earlier age he applied shoe polish to his face and dressed as Michael Jackson for a dance contest. 2) Lt Governor (a black Dem) who would become Governor if current Governor resigned - Accused of sexual assault in 2004. Ironically, the accuser is another California college professor! I remember well the liberal outcries during the Kavanaugh hearings: “we must believe the accuser” and “innocent until proven guilty applies only to criminal trials, NOT to government positions”. I can’t wait to hear liberals rationalize why those principles apply only to Republicans, not to Democrats! 3) Attorney General (a white Dem) who becomes Governor if both of the above resign - Just disclosed that he also dressed up in blackface for a rap contest (age 19)!! I can only imagine the machinations and rationalizations going on to save him “he was still a kid (age 19) whereas the Governor was a full adult (25)”. (This from the same people who argued for a reduction in voting age to 18 “Old enough to go to war, mature enough to vote!”) Bottom line: If the Dems can’t save one of the three, the next in line for Governor is a Republican! Even Hollywood couldn’t make this stuff up!!!

We he and the attorney general both had Black maids, and @house boys,” and more. He - Northam- should have more completely disavowed his past. These terrible depictions were and remain exquisitely painful to African-Americans. I was a young woman in the early 1980s. Nost people, especially white people, have absolutely no sense of the degree to which I, and my generation, had to constantly fight against such images. We have no idea as a society how to reconcile this nasty, brutish and systematic demoralization of African Americans.

If we Democrats have indeed become the Thought Police that Orwell depicted with such prescience, then I am afraid the time has come for me to exit the party. If we cannot do for our own that which we advocate for others - understanding, repentance, forgiveness - then I am left without a party that believes in the ultimate goodness that is possible in humankind. Right now the actor Liam Neeson is being condemned for demonstrating the honesty and integrity it takes to reveal the dark feelings and thoughts that he once held. Who has not had dark thoughts? Did he act on them? Did he harm anyone? Does that matter to those who are not interested in anything other than the immediate emotional gratification that they must feel when venting their outrage over anything wrong they decide has been committed? I am deeply saddened to see that we in America are no less likely to descend into the mindsets that characterized those in the French and Russian revolutions. I despair that I no longer have a political party that can represent me. I have long know I could never be a Republican. It now gives me no end of grief to know that neither can I continue to be a Democrat.

Curious how former Senator Franken and now Governor Northam are subject to immediate expulsion without any apparent due process. Contrast that with the GOP's brazen dismissal of far more serious allegations against Kavanaugh... and 45.

Northam can make amends as a private citizen. No one is entitled to a position as a lawmaker—let alone entitled to stay in the governorship of a very important swing state which may be essential for electing a Democratic president in 2020.

The Republicans could embrace Northam, allowing him to stay. He's already switched R to D before. No reason he can't, in fact or in effect, switch back. I had previously hoped Northam would weather this, that a 34-year-old misjudgment with a subsequent record of good deeds, was no reason for him to automatically resign. I'm frankly nearly as repulsed by a Cultural Revolution led by moral scolds as I am the outright evil of corrupt, climate-change-denying corporatists. If Northam leans back to the Rs, the Democrats would hopefully rethink their abhorrent zero tolerance policy.

Politicians never seem to learn that covering up the incident always makes it worse. Northam should have immediately owned up to his horrendous lack of judgement back then, and asked for forgiveness, while mentioning the good work he has done in his adult life. Instead, his dissembling and contradicting the facts, and practically offering to do the moonwalk during his conference has made his exit from the governorship inevitable.

This whole story is so bizarre. During the campaign against Edward Gillespie this guy ran adds against him that were so nasty and offensive as to boggle the mind. Then this comes out. Then he says yes it's me, then says no I don't think it's me and I'm going to use facial recognition to find out, but now I guess that won't work so I'll hire a private investigator. I guess it's true that you can't make this stuff up. This man is a MD but I think he needs a tune up above the shoulders. This would be hilarious under different circumstances but in reality it is so very sad.

It's over for Northam in Public life. He will always be remembered as the guy who walked all over his "apology." Fortunately, he still has his back-up career as a hopefully caring, compassionate, non-racist physician. Even if he is successful in hanging on to the governorship, he will greatly increase the chances for Trump to be re-elected. He was already mentioned in yesterday's SOTU address for his bumbling, fumbling support for 3rd trimester termination. So, Governor, do you want to be the guy to give Trump four more years?

Dear Governor and Lt. Governor, Don’t resign. Don’t cave in to the Twitter mob. Don’t let the right wing trolls who dug up this decades old photo be successful. And to the Democratic leaders who are falling all over themselves to signal their virtue by calling for resignations, you are not impressing anyone. You made the wrong call with Franken and you are missing the boat here. This NEEDS TO STOP! We need to have each other’s backs. None of us approve of black face and Klan outfits, even in jest. But, as Liberals, we need to embrace forgiveness and looking at one’s actions and deeds since the offensive behavior took place. None of us are “Woke” from the moment of birth and throughout life. And some people take longer to evolve. What matters is that people change and evolve. Let us celebrate that change and welcome that into our ranks. e need to have

I've been trying to think of a scenario that would convincingly help him. Someone from his class and an editor of that yearbook say that they wanted to prank old Ralph, and they substituted that photo for a benign photo he submitted, or he only submitted two photos and they added that as a third. And they're at least 95% sure he's not in the offensive photo. And they have a list on a piece of paper that looks around 35 years old of people who bought the yearbook, and his name isn't on it, or is on it as saying not interested, or something like that. Of course, the fact that he went around bragging about doing the moonwalk in blackface and was known as Coonman had nothing to do with why they thought he'd just think the photo was funny. And why would you submit a photo of yourself drinkin' a beer and sittin' in front of your cool sportscar if you weren't interested in the yearbook? Hmmm.

He should go. His shifting excuses are not credible. Very much like MSNBC's Joy Reid, who wrote horrific homophobic hate speech, denied it, then admitted it and said she'd "evolved." Both should be out of a job.

Virginians struggle to move away from a antebellum past and the political pols act with lightning speed to be both righteous and hypocritical in meshing of past acts with decades of good service. We have seen this play many times with holier-than-thou speechmakers being exposed for their own misdeeds in their closets. There seems to be no way to turn the shouting and temperature down, and have a cooler look at the long line of the good and questionable actions in the lives of these never-perfect people in high office. Everywhere.

Republicans supporting Northam is just a political tactic to hurt Democrats and prolong the pain. Cynicism at its worst. The party should throw out Northam if it needs to and let the Republicans have him.

I have no idea what this man means by "clear his name." Whether or not it was him in the yearbook photo, he put that photo on his page where he knew it would represent him. Enough said.

Listening to Mr. Northam bumble and fumble his way through this incident makes me wonder how he was politically savvy enough to rise this high in elected office.

Every time I see that picture it reminds me of one taken of me and my wife taken forty years ago of the two of us at a costume party dressed as the Blues Bothers from the movie of the same name. Never mind The Jazz Singer and Birth of a Nation, destroy those two movies as well while we're at it. It's not like those two who dressed like that made it up all on their own. The longer this story runs the more it proves how we've all lost our minds.

I think he could have survived if he had used it as a teachable moment. He should have talked about the culture of casual racism at his school and talked in detail about his personal journey from that culture to one accepting of diversity.

Good. He should hang in there against those who likely behaved no better than he did 30-40 years ago. He was elected, like Trump, and can be defeated next time but questionable old yearbook photos are not a reason to overturn an election, especially when compared with a president proven to have done illegal and immoral things before and after the voting.

It is infuriating that the media continues to try to destroy Mr. Northanm's career when this is all a hard right/Russia propaganda scheme to try to destroy a democratic governor. Two articles ran in this week's Seattle P.I. (online only) that outs the neo-conservatives who started it. One includes information from a fellow graduate of the medical school who says a person's information is often changed without their knowledge. Read them for your selves at the links below, particularly media gossips, and STOP allowing them to control your reporting. Unless, of course, you really want The Con Don and his Robber Baron brethren to stay in power because it increases your ratings/readership and profit. If so, shame on you. OUR United States is under attack from inside by the International Mafia. Do not assist them. https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/A-tip-from-a-concerned-citizen-helps-a-reporter-13585192.php https://www.seattlepi.com/news/education/article/Racist-yearbook-photo-went-unnoticed-by-busy-med-13591054.php

The damage is done and deeply so by the reality that Northam still has not stepped down. Every day that this is prolonged is a testament that he and his faction of Democratic Party belief their individual outcome is more important than what party ideals represent.

Sensibilities have changed in recent decades about how much disrespect for women or tolerance for racism is acceptable in our culture. To be sure, the halting march towards erasing racism and misogyny has been excruciatingly slow in some parts of the country. Is it fair to Governor Northam that he is being held to a 21st century standard for a horribly insensitive attempt at racial humor - two guys ("black" and white) having a beer together - from over three decades ago? That's a fair debate to have but it is the wrong debate over the wrong question. This cannot be about fairness to a public servant. It has to be about what is best for the people he serves. There is no statute of limitations on the consequences of some poor choices, even those made by youthful grad students whose idea of humor was unacceptable then and now. I find it heart breaking and sad and yes, even unfair, that Governor Northam is ensnared in this trap of his own making. His life of public service has been exemplary in the years since that photo was placed on his page in a yearbook. He has more years of public service (military, medical & political) than he had years of life when that photo was new. But he should no longer serve as Governor of Virginia. When the focus shifts - as it should - to what is right for the people of the state and not what is fair to Ralph Northam, the path forward is clear. (Justin Fairfax's possible misconduct also merits investigation - entirely separate from this.)

Good. Stay. Democrats have to learn to stand and stand strong, not fold and fall down en masse at the first hiccup. Be a good governor. Maybe use this experience to be a great governor.

The country effectively gave Kavanaugh a pass on his way to the Supreme Court. He wanted everybody to believe he was a different person from the abuser he was as a young adult. We’ll see. Perhaps the nation can give Northam a similar break, and let him show that he, too, is a changed man and can fulfill the responsibilities of his position with due regard for all his constituents.

Mr. Northam and Mr. Fairfax's relationship will face a test during the coming months. That's quite an understatement.

As a Virginia voter, this whole affair disgusts me. What appears on Governor Northam's page is in very poor taste, but what people are forgetting is that Northam ran against a literal white supremacist. While one appears to have a racist photograph near his name in a yearbook, the other openly wished to disenfranchise minority voters. One of them confesses he wore a Michael Jackson costume in his youth that he now sees as wrong, and the other would probably gladly a Confederate statue on every corner just to show minorities who's boss. Let the man's record speak for itself; what I see is a man who supports progressive and inclusive policies. I am a white woman, so it's true I cannot speak for black voters who were offended, and for them, I am truly sorry. But if the situation were one that concerned me, for instance a man who in his youth had a yearbook page littered with women in bikinis but then spent his entire political career supporting income equality for women, abortion rights, and maternity leave, I would support wholeheartedly support him, especially if his opponent unapologetically treated women like chattel.

The governor must resign. Anyone with a shred of integrity would've never had a picture like that next to your name even in 1984. Furthermore, his comments in 2019 were beyond the pale, showing zero comprehension of the actual issue. His latent racism is apparent and therefore he must step down. By not doing so he is showing his true colors, a person who innately believes he is better than others. A person who cannot consider the greater good due to his ego. If he was decent, he would use himself as an example opening up the dialogue on how awful HIS behavior was in 1984 and not using semantics to justify it.

Who didn't do something incredibly stupid when they were young. This occurred 35 years ago. He has apologized. He has served the Commonwealth as a physician, state senator, lieutenant governor and governor with grace and distinction. We as a society must begin to practice forgiveness or we will never overcome the incredible divisiveness which is tearing this nation apart.

What an absolute fiasco: (a) Northam clings to power, so the ugly story stays fresh, unable to heal; (b) VA politics become a circus, so the peoples' business does not get done; (c) folks wonder why it is so difficult for Northam to make way for his black Lt Gov, (d) supporters of the Lt Gov suspect Northam's supporters tried to smear the Lt Gov with a sexual assualt allegation; and (e) Northam defies all Dem presidential candidates, past and present, showing the world he doesn't believe their advice needs to be respected. A real mess.

What the Gov did in the 1980's was terrible. I'm sure he and his friends thought they were "just having fun". I am glad that we as a society have spoken with a clear voice -- demeaning anyone due to their gender, race, religion, etc., etc., is hurtful and divides us. However, I am equally concerned that the Lemmings on TV and in print make it a rush to judgement -- each has to condemn and perhaps jump to conclusions before the other guy/gal does. We should approach these revelations with caution, and sometime doubt. To my white friends I ask if you ever used the "N" word -- ever in your entire life - even 50 years ago? If so, please unfriend me on Facebook now.

Northam is a dead man walking- he just won't accept it.

This is ridiculous. I have a strong suspicion that the real “Governor” is his wife and staff, who have mistakenly told Northam to stubbornly hold fast and not resign. The man needs to go. His time is over as Governor and he needs to stop being selfish and be a team player. Optics matter. Go.

Dem leadership in Virginia is in trouble. It’s discouraging to have politicians carry these clouds. Grow up men, be moral and decent, and without bias, discrimination, and keep your hands where they belong. I miss Barack Obama sooooo much.

Looking at the photo again: Look at “Mr. KKKs” hands! Look at the shape of “his” body! That’s a young woman under the Clown White with a white guy in blackface! If that is NOT a cartoon against Klansmen who still claim they were founded to “protect our women from being ravaged by violent greed slaves” I don’t know what it is. Looks like a fine piece of performance art to me. And, again, if you are trying too look like Michael Jackson in the years before he began lightening his skin, what is Step One by a white kid, ignorant or insensitive, probably both, to the blackface tradition. Which shows up regularly in cartoon TV channels when they replay Warner Brothers videos “purged of bigotry” with the removal of WW II-eta anti-Japanese episodes. If you watch regularly, or buy the set, you will still find ‘Porkey’s Moving Company’ there - da Pig can’t get the job done because his black-faced critter assistant arrives too late to help saying “yez bawass”. Let up on the governor and see how he acts!