Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam’s office is a dumpster fire. You seriously cannot make this stuff up. On Friday, the governor’s yearbook photo from his medical school days was revealed. On Northam’s page, it featured two people in racist costumes. One wore blackface and the other donned a Ku Klux Klan outfit. This wasn’t youthful indiscretion. Northam was an adult while attending Eastern Virginia Medical School in 1984. There’s no excuse. Last night, scores of top Democrats called on Northam to resign. Even Planned Parenthood called on Northam to resign. All of liberal America was demanding that he leave...immediately
When the Republican Secretary of State in Florida was found to have dressed up in blackface, he resigned.
— Shaun King (@shaunking) February 2, 2019
Now the Democratic Governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, must do the same.
Ralph Northam retire bitch
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) February 2, 2019
Freshman Virginia Congresswoman Elaine Luria calls on Gov. Ralph Northam to resign pic.twitter.com/6mQlkTsWw0
— Johnny Verhovek (@JTHVerhovek) February 2, 2019
You can’t get much sicker than honoring the KKK. It’s not about apologizing, Governor, it’s about having failed to reveal and explain your deep racist past as you ran as a Democrat in the 21st century. You disgrace our party and our country. Resign. https://t.co/4DBCSqrD4w
— Barbara Boxer (@BarbaraBoxer) February 2, 2019
BREAKING: Virginia House Democratic caucus just scheduled a conference call for 10 p.m. to discuss @GovernorVA NORTHAM blackface/KKK photo, sources say
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) February 2, 2019
Black face in any manner is always racist and never okay. No matter the party affiliation, we can not stand for such behavior, which is why the @NAACP is calling for the resignation of Virginia Governor @RalphNortham
— Derrick Johnson (@DerrickNAACP) February 2, 2019
That was the governor’s first bout of bad news when he made remarks that many took as defending infanticide during a radio interview this week. Virginia Democrats were pushing an extreme abortion bill that would have permitted termination of pregnancies virtually up until the moment of birth. It was heinous but the bill was rejected.
Northam admitted he was in the photo in a statement last night, he apologized, but then released a video later in the evening that was very clear: he wasn’t resigning. Now, he’s backtracking on his apology, saying that wasn’t him in the KKK, blackface photo. This is a man who ran as the anti-racist candidate in 2017 when he beat Republican Ed Gillespie. Side note for the GOP: how in the hell did you guys miss this photo? It was in the library in Norfolk the entire time!
BREAKING: Gov. Ralph Northam yearbook page shows blackface and Klan photohttps://t.co/6A89ejp5Ho
— The Virginian-Pilot (@virginianpilot) February 1, 2019
He made rejecting white supremacy a hallmark battle cry after the events in Charlottesville. Well, now we have this photo, an apology, a retracted apology, and a lot of hypocrisy. How can you stay when you’ve tweeted stuff like this, governor? Things are very awkward now:
Congratulations to @RalphNortham and his team for showing that Virginia won’t stand for hatred and bigotry.https://t.co/ptKySwzmMC
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 8, 2017
VA is an inclusive and diverse community—we won't put up with Ed Gillespie's racist rhetoric and fearmongering. https://t.co/WjEnUPBkXS
— Ralph Northam (@RalphNortham) October 11, 2017
when life comes at you fast... pic.twitter.com/NDgtNKs57a
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) February 1, 2019
I’ll take “Tweets That Aged Like Milk” for $800, Alex. pic.twitter.com/O0k0Wm0bXf
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) February 1, 2019
TOP: @GovernorVA saying that "elected officials in America must denounce white supremacy"
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) February 1, 2019
BOTTOM: @GovernorVA's yearbook page featuring black face and the KKK
?????? pic.twitter.com/QHAbrVR3bC
We deserve better than a president who won't condemn white supremacists. pic.twitter.com/RwnUGmSqhf
— Ralph Northam (@RalphNortham) August 16, 2017