Ralph Northam yearbook page shows men in blackface and KKK robe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you have something like this in your past and your sole plan for dealing with it is to hope that it doesn’t come up because it happened a long time ago...this is what happens. He shouldn’t have run for governor without assessing what types of skeletons he has in his closet and making a plan for how to deal with them if they become public issues. That Covington high school kid’s parents hired a PR firm right away and made sure the kid was coached before granting interviews. Northam couldn’t do the same before holding a press conference? He had to be told by his wife that he shouldn’t moonwalk at a press conference where he’s trying to convince people that he’s not racist and has just admitted that he used blackface to pretend to be Michael Jackson? He’s so spectacularly lacking in political acumen that he blurts out that his wife says it’s inappropriate to moonwalk then and there? The only good judgment he has shown is in marrying a woman with far more sense than he has. He needs to go because he is racist in ways that he doesn’t even understand are racist. It’s so deeply ingrained in him that he can’t see it. But he also needs to go because he seems so incompetent it’s laughable. Who still respects this man the same way they did when they voted for him?

BtW, the moonwalking stuff was a bit of a joke.

IT was really not the time or place to try joking about moonwalking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you have something like this in your past and your sole plan for dealing with it is to hope that it doesn’t come up because it happened a long time ago...this is what happens. He shouldn’t have run for governor without assessing what types of skeletons he has in his closet and making a plan for how to deal with them if they become public issues. That Covington high school kid’s parents hired a PR firm right away and made sure the kid was coached before granting interviews. Northam couldn’t do the same before holding a press conference? He had to be told by his wife that he shouldn’t moonwalk at a press conference where he’s trying to convince people that he’s not racist and has just admitted that he used blackface to pretend to be Michael Jackson? He’s so spectacularly lacking in political acumen that he blurts out that his wife says it’s inappropriate to moonwalk then and there? The only good judgment he has shown is in marrying a woman with far more sense than he has. He needs to go because he is racist in ways that he doesn’t even understand are racist. It’s so deeply ingrained in him that he can’t see it. But he also needs to go because he seems so incompetent it’s laughable. Who still respects this man the same way they did when they voted for him?

BtW, the moonwalking stuff was a bit of a joke.

IT was really not the time or place to try joking about moonwalking.

A joke made by commentators.

[Anonymous]

He was koonman, he can't remember which racist thing he did

[Anonymous]

This is from 1984 . . . same year the picture was put in the yearbook.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_LeJfn_qW0

Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know if Northam should resign or not because I don’t know if he’s telling the truth. But I deeply resent that we’ve been put in the position of ripping each other apart by a bunch of anti-abortion zealots and right wing crazies who have no moral core and are loving this.

I think the yearbook picture is why this discussion is happening. Keep up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have not read this entire thread and I do not condone or accept that year book picture at all.

If Northam were a Republican the right would be saying "Boys will be boys!" "Ancient history!"

That anyone on the right feels compelled to be outraged is beyond.

The VA GOP has attacked Northam in the past for supporting the removal of Confederate statues. Now the outrage? Hypocrites. Evry damn one of you.

How quickly you all forget Kavanaugh's yearbook and his dear friends' entries about the Klan. SMH.

Whataboutism. I think it’s a good thing that politicians from both parties have condemned this repugnant picture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have not read this entire thread and I do not condone or accept that year book picture at all.

If Northam were a Republican the right would be saying "Boys will be boys!" "Ancient history!"

That anyone on the right feels compelled to be outraged is beyond.

The VA GOP has attacked Northam in the past for supporting the removal of Confederate statues. Now the outrage? Hypocrites. Evry damn one of you.

How quickly you all forget Kavanaugh's yearbook and his dear friends' entries about the Klan. SMH.

Whataboutism. I think it’s a good thing that politicians from both parties have condemned this repugnant picture.

One party is consistent about condemning both sides for this stuff. The other party only condemns the other side and elects the overt racists and misogynists on their side president.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am seriously disturbed by the prominent Democrats calling for his resignation over a photo from 35 years ago. This is nuts.

I'm just a regular old voting democrat and I think he needs to resign. You cannot be a leader with this in your past. He's not entitled to this power, but similar to Kavanaugh, is irate at the idea he may not get to keep it based on his past. There's no downside to him resigning, we still get democrat Fairfax as governor. There's literally no benefit to keeping Northam for anyone but Northam.

This. He just needs to resign already. There’s nothing special about keeping him in office. Whether or not he’s in the photo he’s acted like an idiot dealing with it. He’s not worthy of the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
He apologized. It was 35 years ago. Let him continue. If anything, he will be more sensitive to racial issues going forward.

+1

it's insane that he should resign over a picture from 35 years ago.

Especially with pussy grabber in chief still in office!

+3

Northam has NOTHING to apologize for.

YOU are condoning racism here.

And the post you "+3" 'd is pure whataboutism.

Defending a KKK costume?? WTF is wrong with you people???!?

1) he wasn't in the costume

2) he isn't in blackface

3) he didn't select the photos or create the page

4) he wasn't even aware of it this whole time

5) it was 35 years ago. THIRTY FIVE YEARS! He was only a kid basically

6) he apologized

7) he has been a faithful Progressive voice and women's health advocate

8) he is an elected Democrat in a high office

9) it is entirely possible that this photo may not be genuine, or may be part of an organized smear campaign by vindictive right wing pro-birthers, in retaliation for his affirmation of women's rights.





So yes, based on those points, Northam is certainly worth defending. It infuriates me to see other fairweather friend politicos in the party all dogpiling on him like this. Loyalty is NOT an outmoded concept, people.

If every Democrat castigating him over the last two days had simply shrugged and said "that was 35 years ago, it's irrelevant" when asked about it, this would be over and forgotten about now. But they have to make use of any opportunity for media buzz, so they run their mouths at the expense of one of our best and brightest. Southern governors make highly electable presidential candidates. Northam would've easily won. We just threw away a potential president (something that DID occur to other Dems interested in running, I'm sure).

Times like this make me disgusted and ashamed to be a Democrat. Because it reminds me that our party has no internal unity. No loyalty. We will eat our own at the drop of a hat. We will NEVER defend our own people if there's the slightest personal advantage to be had in turning on them. It's sad. Sad and pathetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
He apologized. It was 35 years ago. Let him continue. If anything, he will be more sensitive to racial issues going forward.

+1

it's insane that he should resign over a picture from 35 years ago.

Especially with pussy grabber in chief still in office!

+3

Northam has NOTHING to apologize for.

YOU are condoning racism here.

And the post you "+3" 'd is pure whataboutism.

Defending a KKK costume?? WTF is wrong with you people???!?

1) he wasn't in the costume

2) he isn't in blackface

3) he didn't select the photos or create the page

4) he wasn't even aware of it this whole time

5) it was 35 years ago. THIRTY FIVE YEARS! He was only a kid basically

6) he apologized

7) he has been a faithful Progressive voice and women's health advocate

8) he is an elected Democrat in a high office

9) it is entirely possible that this photo may not be genuine, or may be part of an organized smear campaign by vindictive right wing pro-birthers, in retaliation for his affirmation of women's rights.





So yes, based on those points, Northam is certainly worth defending. It infuriates me to see other fairweather friend politicos in the party all dogpiling on him like this. Loyalty is NOT an outmoded concept, people.

If every Democrat castigating him over the last two days had simply shrugged and said "that was 35 years ago, it's irrelevant" when asked about it, this would be over and forgotten about now. But they have to make use of any opportunity for media buzz, so they run their mouths at the expense of one of our best and brightest. Southern governors make highly electable presidential candidates. Northam would've easily won. We just threw away a potential president (something that DID occur to other Dems interested in running, I'm sure).

Times like this make me disgusted and ashamed to be a Democrat. Because it reminds me that our party has no internal unity. No loyalty. We will eat our own at the drop of a hat. We will NEVER defend our own people if there's the slightest personal advantage to be had in turning on them. It's sad. Sad and pathetic.

NP. I don’t want my party to be associated with people like you. GROSS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
He apologized. It was 35 years ago. Let him continue. If anything, he will be more sensitive to racial issues going forward.

+1

it's insane that he should resign over a picture from 35 years ago.

Especially with pussy grabber in chief still in office!

+3

Northam has NOTHING to apologize for.

YOU are condoning racism here.

And the post you "+3" 'd is pure whataboutism.

Defending a KKK costume?? WTF is wrong with you people???!?

1) he wasn't in the costume

2) he isn't in blackface

3) he didn't select the photos or create the page

4) he wasn't even aware of it this whole time

5) it was 35 years ago. THIRTY FIVE YEARS! He was only a kid basically

6) he apologized

7) he has been a faithful Progressive voice and women's health advocate

8) he is an elected Democrat in a high office

9) it is entirely possible that this photo may not be genuine, or may be part of an organized smear campaign by vindictive right wing pro-birthers, in retaliation for his affirmation of women's rights.





So yes, based on those points, Northam is certainly worth defending. It infuriates me to see other fairweather friend politicos in the party all dogpiling on him like this. Loyalty is NOT an outmoded concept, people.

If every Democrat castigating him over the last two days had simply shrugged and said "that was 35 years ago, it's irrelevant" when asked about it, this would be over and forgotten about now. But they have to make use of any opportunity for media buzz, so they run their mouths at the expense of one of our best and brightest. Southern governors make highly electable presidential candidates. Northam would've easily won. We just threw away a potential president (something that DID occur to other Dems interested in running, I'm sure).

Times like this make me disgusted and ashamed to be a Democrat. Because it reminds me that our party has no internal unity. No loyalty. We will eat our own at the drop of a hat. We will NEVER defend our own people if there's the slightest personal advantage to be had in turning on them. It's sad. Sad and pathetic.

NP. I don’t want my party to be associated with people like you. GROSS.

Well given that you're probably a republican, it's highly unlikely you will ever be associated with me. Now go back to shopping for Tiki torches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
He apologized. It was 35 years ago. Let him continue. If anything, he will be more sensitive to racial issues going forward.

+1

it's insane that he should resign over a picture from 35 years ago.

Especially with pussy grabber in chief still in office!

+3

Northam has NOTHING to apologize for.

YOU are condoning racism here.

And the post you "+3" 'd is pure whataboutism.

Defending a KKK costume?? WTF is wrong with you people???!?

1) he wasn't in the costume

2) he isn't in blackface

3) he didn't select the photos or create the page

4) he wasn't even aware of it this whole time

5) it was 35 years ago. THIRTY FIVE YEARS! He was only a kid basically

6) he apologized

7) he has been a faithful Progressive voice and women's health advocate

8) he is an elected Democrat in a high office

9) it is entirely possible that this photo may not be genuine, or may be part of an organized smear campaign by vindictive right wing pro-birthers, in retaliation for his affirmation of women's rights.





So yes, based on those points, Northam is certainly worth defending. It infuriates me to see other fairweather friend politicos in the party all dogpiling on him like this. Loyalty is NOT an outmoded concept, people.

If every Democrat castigating him over the last two days had simply shrugged and said "that was 35 years ago, it's irrelevant" when asked about it, this would be over and forgotten about now. But they have to make use of any opportunity for media buzz, so they run their mouths at the expense of one of our best and brightest. Southern governors make highly electable presidential candidates. Northam would've easily won. We just threw away a potential president (something that DID occur to other Dems interested in running, I'm sure).

Times like this make me disgusted and ashamed to be a Democrat. Because it reminds me that our party has no internal unity. No loyalty. We will eat our own at the drop of a hat. We will NEVER defend our own people if there's the slightest personal advantage to be had in turning on them. It's sad. Sad and pathetic.

No. He admitted to being in blackface, even if it wasn’t in this picture. That’s enough. He’s done. I have a visceral reaction to this, though it doesn’t surprise me that a man of his age from where he’s from wouldn’t even recognize why this made him unfit to even run, or at least to out himself and apologize for his youthful missteps before someone else outed him. He doesn’t even see it now, and he responded in a really stupid way. He should resign now, because we have a deep bench, and we just need to shake off all the vestiges of the Virginia of the past, including old white guys who kept some shoe polish around just in case they needed a quick Halloween costume. Fairfax will make a fine governor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

He apologized. It was 35 years ago. Let him continue. If anything, he will be more sensitive to racial issues going forward.


+1

it's insane that he should resign over a picture from 35 years ago.


Especially with pussy grabber in chief still in office!


+3

Northam has NOTHING to apologize for.


YOU are condoning racism here.

And the post you "+3" 'd is pure whataboutism.

Defending a KKK costume?? WTF is wrong with you people???!?


1) he wasn't in the costume

2) he isn't in blackface

3) he didn't select the photos or create the page

4) he wasn't even aware of it this whole time

5) it was 35 years ago. THIRTY FIVE YEARS! He was only a kid basically

6) he apologized

7) he has been a faithful Progressive voice and women's health advocate

8) he is an elected Democrat in a high office

9) it is entirely possible that this photo may not be genuine, or may be part of an organized smear campaign by vindictive right wing pro-birthers, in retaliation for his affirmation of women's rights.





So yes, based on those points, Northam is certainly worth defending. It infuriates me to see other fairweather friend politicos in the party all dogpiling on him like this. Loyalty is NOT an outmoded concept, people.

If every Democrat castigating him over the last two days had simply shrugged and said "that was 35 years ago, it's irrelevant" when asked about it, this would be over and forgotten about now. But they have to make use of any opportunity for media buzz, so they run their mouths at the expense of one of our best and brightest. Southern governors make highly electable presidential candidates. Northam would've easily won. We just threw away a potential president (something that DID occur to other Dems interested in running, I'm sure).

Times like this make me disgusted and ashamed to be a Democrat. Because it reminds me that our party has no internal unity. No loyalty. We will eat our own at the drop of a hat. We will NEVER defend our own people if there's the slightest personal advantage to be had in turning on them. It's sad. Sad and pathetic.

"But they have to make use of any opportunity for media buzz, so they run their mouths at the expense of one of our best and brightest. Southern governors make highly electable presidential candidates. Northam would've easily won. We just threw away a potential president (something that DID occur to other Dems interested in running, I'm sure)."

That's some pretty big conjecture there. Northam is not "highly electable" for president by any stretch of the imagination. Even before this happened. He was primaried here in Virginia and his opponent did very well. It was no runaway.

[Anonymous]

^ Democrat here. I held my nose and voted for him. Same as Hillary. He is not electable. The Ds had nothing to fear from him. He's a good old boy through and through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
He apologized. It was 35 years ago. Let him continue. If anything, he will be more sensitive to racial issues going forward.

+1

it's insane that he should resign over a picture from 35 years ago.

Especially with pussy grabber in chief still in office!

+3

Northam has NOTHING to apologize for.

YOU are condoning racism here.

And the post you "+3" 'd is pure whataboutism.

Defending a KKK costume?? WTF is wrong with you people???!?

1) he wasn't in the costume

2) he isn't in blackface

3) he didn't select the photos or create the page

4) he wasn't even aware of it this whole time

5) it was 35 years ago. THIRTY FIVE YEARS! He was only a kid basically

6) he apologized

7) he has been a faithful Progressive voice and women's health advocate

8) he is an elected Democrat in a high office

9) it is entirely possible that this photo may not be genuine, or may be part of an organized smear campaign by vindictive right wing pro-birthers, in retaliation for his affirmation of women's rights.





So yes, based on those points, Northam is certainly worth defending. It infuriates me to see other fairweather friend politicos in the party all dogpiling on him like this. Loyalty is NOT an outmoded concept, people.

If every Democrat castigating him over the last two days had simply shrugged and said "that was 35 years ago, it's irrelevant" when asked about it, this would be over and forgotten about now. But they have to make use of any opportunity for media buzz, so they run their mouths at the expense of one of our best and brightest. Southern governors make highly electable presidential candidates. Northam would've easily won. We just threw away a potential president (something that DID occur to other Dems interested in running, I'm sure).

Times like this make me disgusted and ashamed to be a Democrat. Because it reminds me that our party has no internal unity. No loyalty. We will eat our own at the drop of a hat. We will NEVER defend our own people if there's the slightest personal advantage to be had in turning on them. It's sad. Sad and pathetic.

NP. I don’t want my party to be associated with people like you. GROSS.

Well given that you're probably a republican, it's highly unlikely you will ever be associated with me. Now go back to shopping for Tiki torches.

"He was a kid basically" is that like saying "she was basically third trimester about a baby after it is born"