Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam will go down not only as an executive who wore blackface for a dance competition but also what not to do during crisis management. Northam is facing calls to resign after a racist photo was found on his 1984 yearbook page from Eastern Virginia Medical School last Friday. The picture showed two people, one in Klan regalia and the other wearing blackface. Northam apologized and admitted he was in the photo. He didn’t specify which character he was in the picture, however. Then, the next day, he retracted his apology, said it wasn’t him, and now has zero intentions of resigning. He also admitted to wearing blackface for a dance competition in San Antonio, where he dressed as Michael Jackson.
BREAKING: Gov. Ralph Northam yearbook page shows blackface and Klan photohttps://t.co/6A89ejp5Ho
— The Virginian-Pilot (@virginianpilot) February 1, 2019
Now, Northam’s latest explanation for why he can’t be in the photo just blew up in his face. He says he’s left-handed. The people in the photo are holding beers in their right-hand. Then, why is Northam doing stuff with his right hand?
You can’t make this stuff up.https://t.co/tB4OuAsSNk pic.twitter.com/rpBbLpi9Tx
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) February 8, 2019
Virginia implemented a bipartisan regulatory reform plan to streamline our regulatory review process and make state agencies more efficient. https://t.co/rwb9DGkiih #OneYearStrongerVA pic.twitter.com/TXwA3PAmgY
— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 9, 2019
In June, I signed an executive order to reestablish Virginia’s Children’s Cabinet—a group that’s working to help address challenges facing our children and families, including school safety and early childhood development. https://t.co/n3xGIy5u1r #OneYearStrongerVA pic.twitter.com/ZthH3Rgm0y
— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) January 9, 2019
When one is left-handed, it would take an enormous amount of concentration to write with one's right hand I would think, eh?https://t.co/48TW9dHNyy
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) February 8, 2019
Myth busted? From the start, this was a total fiasco. With the photo, then the admission of guilt, the retraction, and now the refusal to resign.
‘I didn’t wear blackface…in this photo’ is the defense. You just cannot make this up. And then there’s this:
Oh, dear lawd. Northram asked if he can still moonwalk after explaining Michael Jackson black face dance contest. Needs to consult wife on breaking out moves. Wife...nixes. ?????? pic.twitter.com/UEcTvFHRfQ
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) February 2, 2019
And now, with state Attorney General Mark Herring admitting he wore blackface in college to Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax facing two sexual assault allegations. The entire Virginia Democratic Party has collapsed in less than a week. Fairfax is facing articles of impeachment if he doesn’t resign on Monday. Democratic House Delegate Patrick Hope of Arlington plans to put forward the motion. So, the two white guys who admitted to doing blackface stay, but the black guy is kicked to the curb? Yeah, that looks good. All three should go, but they won’t. That would give the governorship back to the Republicans.
