VA Gov. Ralph Northam’s racist past triggers Dem demands for resignation — along with GOP hypocrisy!
The NY Times reports
Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia faced intense pressure to resign on Saturday after losing the support of leading Virginia Democrats, including black lawmakers in the Legislature, after admitting that he posed in a racist costume as a medical student more than 30 years ago.
Mr. Northam, who apologized on Friday night but said he planned to finish his term, was increasingly isolated, and Virginia Democratic leaders said privately that he would most likely realize he had no choice but to quit.
… [T]he Legislative Black Caucus, a strong ally of Mr. Northam, who was elected in 2017, at first held off. But after an emotional meeting with the governor Friday evening, the caucus said in a statement, “It is clear he can no longer effectively serve as governor.”
Northam’s problem is not merely the state’s Black Caucus.
Pressure is mounting on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to resign, with his state’s House Democratic Caucus urging him to step down following revelations he appeared in a racist photo of a man in blackface next to another individual in a Ku Klux Klan outfit.
The image was found in a 1984 medical school yearbook and has politicians across the country demanding Northam step down from his post.
In a statement Friday, Virginia House Democrats said they were “deeply saddened by the news” and “are no longer confident in the Governor’s representation of Virginians.”
Obviously, it is not a mere state issue. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris reacted immediately and
called on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to resign Friday after he admitted appearing in a 1984 yearbook photo showing one person in a Ku Klux Klan robe and another in blackface.
Harris, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, was one of the first members of Congress to say Northam should step aside.
The reaction tsunami from high-profile Democrats seemed to shock the media.
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro was the first to urge Northam to resign. “It doesn’t matter if he is a Republican or a Democrat,” Castro tweeted. “This behavior was racist and unconscionable. Governor Northam should resign.”
These images arouse centuries of anger, anguish, and racist violence and they’ve eroded all confidence in Gov. Northam’s ability to lead. We should expect more from our elected officials. He should resign.
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) February 2, 2019
These racist images are deeply disturbing. Hatred and discrimination have no place in our country and must not be tolerated, especially from our leaders – Republican or Democrat. Northam must resign.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) February 2, 2019
There aren’t two sets of rules for our friends and our foes: Right is right and wrong is wrong. Americans deserve to be respected by their leaders, and racism cannot be excused in our government or anywhere else. Having seen the photo, I believe Governor Northam should resign.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 2, 2019
There is no place for racism in America. Governor Northam has lost all moral authority and should resign immediately, Justin Fairfax is the leader Virginia needs now.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) February 2, 2019
Gov. Northam should resign. Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax should step in and begin a new day for Virginia.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 2, 2019
Bigotry, Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia are on the rise.
We need leaders who can move us forward, not turn back the clock.
This disgusting photo and other disturbing biographical facts are disqualifying.
If Ralph Northam refuses to resign, he must be recalled.
Immediately. https://t.co/VopvAAbcfz
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) February 2, 2019
Governor Northam should resign. Our Commonwealth is better than this and deserves better than this.
— James Comey (@Comey) February 2, 2019
This is not a high school yearbook. It’s a medical school yearbook. The photos are horrendous. Doctors are joking about alcohol abuse, denigrating blacks and celebrating the KKK.
Northam must resign NOW!https://t.co/OK8OGkCkDp— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) February 2, 2019
Governor Ralph Northam must resign. There is no excuse for the shockingly racist picture. I note that Florida Republican Secretary of State Michael Ertel resigned last month for being in blackface. This picture is even worse. It’s blackface next to a KKK figure. https://t.co/0Ujze6odGW
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 2, 2019
The silver lining is that this scandal is not exactly going according to the Republican social media playbook…
My feed is currently a mix of conservatives bashing Dems for defending Ralph Northam and Dems calling on Northam to resign.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 2, 2019
DEVELOPING…