Considering his age at the time and the length of time we are talking about in this case though I am willing to give him the benefit of doubt providing he has not done anything that rose to similar level within the past 15 or so years.

making wonder if its another case of Russian bots being activated to try and exploit a potential weakness.

Agreed, but what if more is revealed?

And if it does rise, I will not use the blanket.

When we insist on clean histories for Republicans we should hold ourselves to the same standards or operate as hypocrites.

They don't care.

We are not them.

Because humans are flawed and far from perfect! People make mistakes, but in 35 years Northam has changed who he might have been, he is no longer that person!

Are you the same person you were 35 years ago, 15 years ago, 5 years ago?


I choose to be human with all of my flaws and to learn to be a better person, then who I was 35 years ago!!!

If he appeared in a photo like this, instead of being accused of rape?

... was young and stupid he was young and stupid

... their party

different matter.

Are you ready to be accused of hypocrisy? You can forgive him personally while insisting on his resignation.

believe in accountability for past racist incidents. His political career is over. No reason to let him drag the VA Dem party down with him because make no mistake the people most hurt by this revelation are the reason candidates like Ed Gillispie and Corey Stewart get and will continue to be defeated.

Some people change 100%. Not saying he did or not, but asking an honest question.

Northham should resign at the same time in his term as George Allen did.
Allen had a noose in his office and it was no secret.

the last 34 years.

forgiveness for all your past misdeeds when they are in the past and you have moved well past them and don't do those things anymore? We are human. Your standard is unrealistic.

therefore, asking for forgiveness

... before now.

Is it too much to allow for the possibility he's changed in the last 30 years?

He has changed

A Virginian here who has interacted with him and believes he has.

The NAACP says he should resign. Sounds like they're not in a "forgiving" mood. I don't blame them.

Last edited Fri Feb 1, 2019, 11:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Is that who anyone believes Prince Harry is? A Nazis?

I can examine forgiveness later.

For now, he's lost his moral authority to be a governor.

I'm fed up with "excuses" for hate.

and they get away with it everyday. Here, we have a Democratic Gov. giving a full apology and taking total responsibility .

You realize there are actual minority citizens of Virginia who have this man as governor? We should hold Northam accountable for their sake, not the Republicans'.

He can call a press conference and talk honestly and vulnerably. Lead by example. Speak about his shame. How long ago he learned the pain. How it's understandable that people of all types need to disassociate from acts like that. How he's one of them, but cant ever undo that moment. And how he is a better man because he learned years ago how his upbringing was failed. And how he is happy to be the poster child of what never to let happen again.

Worst case scenario is you say all of those things while the world watches, and you still resign, but you leave a lasting legacy about how to handle these moments with honor and sincerity..

people do change. I can see both sides. But we resign and ask our own to resign more than the Repukes do. For that reason, I urge caution.

Enough said

Gov. Fairfax - Virginia's 2nd Black Governor

As an African American and a Virginia Resident, I and my family "was" proud voters for Northam. The African American vote, especially with black women, brought Northam that win.

Doesn't matter if it was 35 years ago. Doesn't matter if he is of good character now. He's a good governor and I'm quite sure Northam is a good man, a good doctor, a good veteran, and NOT a racist.

But that image is there and we all see it. But you also can't dismiss the images of African Americans during Slavery, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow. Watch the 60 Minutes segment on Lynching and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Look at the images of unarmed young men being killed.

Should I tell my two adult black children to dismiss the images of their heritage? So, why should I or any DU member here should easily dismiss images of Northam in either of the two individuals.

I can't take back my vote but Northam can do the right thing and resign.

an African-American 39-year-old Democrat who is a supporter of the Affordable Care Act, prison reform, tighter gun control, campaign donation limits, and increased taxes for infrastructure. Justin Fairfax could also run for Governor at the end of his term, bucking the one term law.

1984 was just a handful of years from the time of eugenics and forced sterilization. The president at the time would openly demonize people of color getting welfare. PoC were going to jail for crack and white people were getting parole for cocaine. At the end of the day, nothing makes it right or excusable.

He knew that image was in his yearbook but never admitted it nor dealt with it. I think it damages the mantle of leadership that he needs to be an effective leader and he should bow out and concede that role to Lt Governor Fairfax, sooner rather than later.

He can be forgiven. But that doesn't mean he should keep the job - which he won under false pretenses.

Black folk and our allies busted their butts to elect him. If this not-so-youthfuk indiscretion had come out this way during the primary or general elecion campaign, he would not have won. He hasn't earned the right to keep the job. He should step down and turn the job over to his Lieutenant Governor.

The campaign was essentially a false advertisement

Cloud hanging over him going forward: maybe hecklers and distractors harassing him and possibly the Democratic Party for not getting rid of him. Isolated case but would be used by some as a false equivalency tool to excuse the systemic racism of Trump and the Republican Party.

Sends a bad message to young people that bad behavior is okay when you're young because later in life you can just say you're sorry and move on.

I'd personally leave it up to Virginians but I don't know how they would get a vote on it.

....about the KKK is not forgivable. Especially with a blackface cohort to complete "the gag". As a 25 year old---you're old enough to not be making this "joke". No excuses at that age.

Does anyone know his expressed thought processes and excuses for even thinking this was funny? How does he explain this?

35 years ago is way past the civil right era---so he knew. He knew. His sentiments had to been deeply racist to think, even for one minute, that this was funny.

We will be kicked off DU. So....We Will Say This....

It Was 1984, Not 1884 -- He Knew.

Blackface and a KKK Uniform -Hell even Drump has not been pictured with that-- Yet.

Governor Justin Fairfax has a DAMN GOOD Ring To It -- And Must Happen. PERIOD!!!

Bye Ralph

He should resign right now. His political career is toast. His racism goes back at least 3 years before the black face photo.

"After the governor issued his statement, CBS News, citing a 1981 Virginia Military Institute yearbook, reported that Mr. Northam had been known as “Coonman” as an undergraduate student there. The governor has not addressed the nickname, which contains a racial slur."

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/us/politics/ralph-northam-yearbook-blackface.html

https://archive.org/details/bomb1981virg/page/90

If he was a republican, it would be 'locker room talk'.