Northam Reverses: Now Claims He Isn’t in the Racist Photo; Refuses to Resign

 

A day after Gov. Ralph Northam apologized for being in a racist yearbook photo (either as a man in blackface or in a Klan outfit), the Virginia Democrat now claims he’s “not the person in that photo.” Northam read a prepared statement inside the Executive Mansion in Richmond Saturday to explain himself:

He said part of the reason he thinks that is, is because he vividly remembers another situation where he blackened his face to portray Michael Jackson at a dance contest in San Antonio in 1984, after graduating from Eastern Virginia Medical School.

“You remember these things,” he said.

(Michael Jackson? Perhaps Northam should have started with the man in the mirror, asking him to change his ways.)

Last night saw Democrats throughout Virginia and the nation asking the governor to resign, and rumors were floating he would do just that on Saturday. Needless to say, this turnabout has left his former allies more than a little confused:

Earlier in the day, Virginia Sen. Louise Lucas who represents Portsmouth said Northam had called her this morning and said he wouldn’t step down.

“I’m not going to resign because it’s not me in that photo,” Lucas said, recalling what he told her.

She responded: “Then you waited too long to say it wasn’t you.”

Lucas said she was “befuddled” by the call.

“He’s losing even more credibility,” she said.

…Virginia’s Democratic party continued to urge Northam to resign Saturday morning even after it became evident he wouldn’t.

“Governor Northam must end this chapter immediately, step down, and let Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax heal Virginia’s wounds and move us forward,” they said on Twitter.

Will Northam remain as governor? Stay tuned.

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  1. Henry Racette Member
    Henry Racette
    @HenryRacette

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    [ No, I don’t have a Make America Great Again bumper sticker on my Yukon. I don’t want to get keyed. ]

    I will not let anyone know my political views because I fear.

    And thus you willingly allow yourself to be silenced.

    I understand. I have the same fear. But why are we afraid of them and they’re not afraid of us? Because they know we don’t hit back. They advance, we give them ground.

    We have to turn that around. Even if it means using their own methods.

    We can negotiate for peace after we win. Then we’d be negotiating from a winning position.

    This is the same old civility/incivility debate that we’ve engaged in here before. We probably don’t have to do it again right now, though I’m game to spend a minute with it.

    I have no problem with “punching back.” I personally don’t wish to adopt the most loathsome practices of my opponents, even if it might hasten a victory on my part.

    Here’s the nub of my thinking on it.

    1. Most normal people don’t really like the left’s extremists positions and tactics. Most normal people don’t like drama and ugliness.
    2. Most normal people can be turned away from the left, and toward the right, if their attention is called to those tactics and other examples of leftist misbehavior, and if the right is presented as a more sensible and decent alternative.
    3. It’s hard to do that — to appear sensible and decent — if you’re engaging in the tactics you and other normal people decry. (Saying “well they started it!” just doesn’t make for a strong case.)

    Ergo, try to be sensible and decent, even when your opponents aren’t.

    Anyway, that’s how I see it. It’s fine if we disagree.

     

    • #31
  2. DrewInWisconsin Member
    DrewInWisconsin
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Henry Racette (View Comment):
    This is the same old civility/incivility debate that we’ve engaged in here before.

    No, I don’t think it is. Because we’re not talking about civility vs. incivility. We’re talking psy-ops, a term used in the article linked above. What we’re talking about, essentially, is warfare. People freak out when we say that, but it is.

    Henry Racette (View Comment):
    Ergo, try to be sensible and decent, even when your opponents aren’t.

    That’s just holding ground — at best. Retreat at worst. The left is always advancing. And we don’t have control of the media, Hollywood, academia, entertainment generally, or urban centers like they do. We’re only now waking up to the fact that we’re in a war, and we are starting from a losing position.

    • #32
  3. George Townsend Inactive
    George Townsend
    @GeorgeTownsend

    Henry Racette (View Comment):
    But this “you will always lose” nonsense is such a bore.

    This is right on, Hank. The only thing we will lose is our ability to act  dignified, instead of succumbing to the childish tantrums of the Left. We conservatives should want to conserve a civilization that’s taken eons to build up. We should not want to go back to the era of who’s got the biggest…. er…. stick.

    • #33
  4. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    [ No, I don’t have a Make America Great Again bumper sticker on my Yukon. I don’t want to get keyed. ]

    I will not let anyone know my political views because I fear.

    And thus you willingly allow yourself to be silenced.

    I understand. I have the same fear. But why are we afraid of them and they’re not afraid of us? Because they know we don’t hit back. They advance, we give them ground.

    We have to turn that around. Even if it means using their own methods.

    We can negotiate for peace after we win. Then we’d be negotiating from a winning position.

    This is the same old civility/incivility debate that we’ve engaged in here before. We probably don’t have to do it again right now, though I’m game to spend a minute with it.

    I have no problem with “punching back.” I personally don’t wish to adopt the most loathsome practices of my opponents, even if it might hasten a victory on my part.

    Here’s the nub of my thinking on it.

    1. Most normal people don’t really like the left’s extremists positions and tactics. Most normal people don’t like drama and ugliness.
    2. Most normal people can be turned away from the left, and toward the right, if their attention is called to those tactics and other examples of leftist misbehavior, and if the right is presented as a more sensible and decent alternative.
    3. It’s hard to do that — to appear sensible and decent — if you’re engaging in the tactics you and other normal people decry. (Saying “well they started it!” just doesn’t make for a strong case.)

    Ergo, try to be sensible and decent, even when your opponents aren’t.

    Anyway, that’s how I see it. It’s fine if we disagree.

    Watch this if you still think these are normal people.

    • #34
  5. DrewInWisconsin Member
    DrewInWisconsin
    @DrewInWisconsin

    And though this makes Democrats look really, really bad, they will probably win this one.

    Case in point:

    Where are the Republicans on that list? The media is going to show how Democrats police their own, and insinuate that Republicans don’t bother to call out their racists.

    And the Nevers are already helping by using this incident to attack the President.

    This looks bad for the Democrats, but the Republicans are absolutely clueless on how to use this to their advantage. Or aren’t interested. I understand the tactic of not stopping your enemy when he’s in the process of destroying himself, but Republicans ought to be going on record. (Of course, as the image above shows, even if they do, the media won’t recognize them anyway.)

    The Democrats will come out of this, maybe not squeaky clean, but certainly on the winning side.

    • #35
  6. She Member
    She
    @She

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    The best part of his defense is “That’s not me in blackface, I wore blackface on completely different occasions.”

    I think “do you know how hard it is to get shoe polish off your face?” (which was the conclusion of that story) was the apogee of the event, and should be the coup de grace of his career. I hope so, anyway.

    The whole thing was beyond surreal.

    • #36
  7. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Eastern Virginia Medical School cheer: We don’t smoke, we don’t drink, Norfolk!

    • #37
  8. Hoyacon Member
    Hoyacon
    @Hoyacon

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Eastern Virginia Medical School cheer: We don’t smoke, we don’t drink, Norfolk!

    Had you ever heard of the place before this?  Not me.

    And I even ended up in Norfolk once during an ill-fated trip to Virginia Beach.

    • #38
  9. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Eastern Virginia Medical School cheer: We don’t smoke, we don’t drink, Norfolk!

    Had you ever heard of the place before this? Not me.

    Nope. Had to look it up.

    • #39
  10. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Eastern Virginia Medical School cheer: We don’t smoke, we don’t drink, Norfolk!

    Had you ever heard of the place before this? Not me.

    And I even ended up in Norfolk once during an ill-fated trip to Virginia Beach.

    I wonder if Northam commuted between Onancock and Norfolk.

    • #40
  11. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    I won’t deny that it’s fun to watch the woke left eat its own for breakfast, but I’ll add that I don’t think the Governor should be driven from office because of a costume choice he made as a student. This retroactive hypersensitivity is stupid, even when applied to leftists.

    Henry,

    I don’t think you’ve got the full plotline here. Democrats don’t resign! Governor hypocrite won’t resign because he is a member of the party with no shame. You’ve got to stop worrying and be happy. Stock up on popcorn and sit back and watch the fun.

    Regards,

    Jim

     

    • #41
  12. Matt Balzer, Imperialist Claw Member
    Matt Balzer, Imperialist Claw
    @MattBalzer

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    I won’t deny that it’s fun to watch the woke left eat its own for breakfast, but I’ll add that I don’t think the Governor should be driven from office because of a costume choice he made as a student. This retroactive hypersensitivity is stupid, even when applied to leftists.

    I don’t care. The point is that they’re supposed to care.

    • #42
  13. Skyler Coolidge
    Skyler
    @Skyler

    Henry Racette (View Comment):
    This retroactive hypersensitivity is stupid, even when applied to leftists.

    It will not end in our lifetimes.  Why should it only be applied to their enemies and not themselves?

    • #43
  14. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    The best line to come out of this debacle is the line that; Partial Birth of a Nation is Gov. Northam’s favorite movie.

    • #44
  15. Chris Campion Coolidge
    Chris Campion
    @ChrisCampion

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    I won’t deny that it’s fun to watch the woke left eat its own for breakfast, but I’ll add that I don’t think the Governor should be driven from office because of a costume choice he made as a student. This retroactive hypersensitivity is stupid, even when applied to leftists.

    Make them live up to their own rules. Isn’t that what’s written in their holy book?

    Here. This is nearly two years old, but it applies here as well: http://ace.mu.nu/archives/369999.php

    Actually, I’d rather encourage everyone to live by sensible rules. I don’t respect these overly sensitive crybabies who take offense at every bit of tastelessness, and I won’t pile on with them.

    Then you will always lose.

    When someone has a metaphorical gun to your head, you don’t convince him to lower his weapon by lowering yours. He will not be moved by you disarming yourself. You’re only signalling that you surrender.

    Drew, this stuff is so tiresome. Look, I understand that you and I don’t necessarily agree on the best way to achieve what are almost certainly common goals that we both share. That’s fine. But this “you will always lose” nonsense is such a bore. Let’s accept that neither you nor I has all the answers; that we might value different things and so want to preserve and defend different aspects of our culture; and then back off just a little.

    If some liberal keys my car because of my Make America Great Again bumper sticker, I’m not going to go key a random car sporting an Another Ignoramus for Bernie bumper sticker in retaliation. That’s not how I want to live.

    [ No, I don’t have a Make America Great Again bumper sticker on my Yukon. I don’t want to get keyed. ]

    Granted.  But if the Social Justice “Warriors” get popped in the face when caught keying my all-American Jeep, they’ll think twice next time.  Reconstructive dental work is not an easy thing to forget.

    • #45
  16. Chris Campion Coolidge
    Chris Campion
    @ChrisCampion

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    And though this makes Democrats look really, really bad, they will probably win this one.

    Case in point:

    Where are the Republicans on that list? The media is going to show how Democrats police their own, and insinuate that Republicans don’t bother to call out their racists.

    And the Nevers are already helping by using this incident to attack the President.

    This looks bad for the Democrats, but the Republicans are absolutely clueless on how to use this to their advantage. Or aren’t interested. I understand the tactic of not stopping your enemy when he’s in the process of destroying himself, but Republicans ought to be going on record. (Of course, as the image above shows, even if they do, the media won’t recognize them anyway.)

    The Democrats will come out of this, maybe not squeaky clean, but certainly on the winning side.

    A certain Sunday laziness prevents me from guffawing at PocaWantus being on that list calling for Northam to resign for racial insensitivity.  

    If Elizabeth Warren was a math problem, I would have difficulty solving it.  She has folded in upon herself, nearly achieving The Singularity of Stupid.

    What do these people do when they’re not embarrassing themselves?  Like Warren.  What’s her Sunday look like?  Focus group spit-balling ideas as to what racial and societal groups she should align with in order to secure her a place of power?

    Head-slaps.  I wish I could materialize in those rooms and administer head-slaps to these leeching clowns.  Naked and shameless tools.

    • #46
  17. Skyler Coolidge
    Skyler
    @Skyler

    Chris Campion (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    And though this makes Democrats look really, really bad, they will probably win this one.

    Case in point:

    Where are the Republicans on that list? The media is going to show how Democrats police their own, and insinuate that Republicans don’t bother to call out their racists.

    And the Nevers are already helping by using this incident to attack the President.

    This looks bad for the Democrats, but the Republicans are absolutely clueless on how to use this to their advantage. Or aren’t interested. I understand the tactic of not stopping your enemy when he’s in the process of destroying himself, but Republicans ought to be going on record. (Of course, as the image above shows, even if they do, the media won’t recognize them anyway.)

    The Democrats will come out of this, maybe not squeaky clean, but certainly on the winning side.

    A certain Sunday laziness prevents me from guffawing at PocaWantus being on that list calling for Northam to resign for racial insensitivity.

    If Elizabeth Warren was a math problem, I would have difficulty solving it. She has folded in upon herself, nearly achieving The Singularity of Stupid.

    What do these people do when they’re not embarrassing themselves? Like Warren. What’s her Sunday look like? Focus group spit-balling ideas as to what racial and societal groups she should align with in order to secure her a place of power?

    Head-slaps. I wish I could materialize in those rooms and administer head-slaps to these leeching clowns. Naked and shameless tools.

    Please don’t mention Liz Warren being naked.  I’m eating my breakfast.

    • #47
  18. Songwriter Inactive
    Songwriter
    @user_19450

    David Deeble (View Comment):

    Thing is, even Michael Jackson eventually refrained from appearing in blackface…

    Oh. no. you. didn’t…  

    (Comment of the Month)

    • #48
  19. Henry Racette Member
    Henry Racette
    @HenryRacette

    Chris Campion (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    I won’t deny that it’s fun to watch the woke left eat its own for breakfast, but I’ll add that I don’t think the Governor should be driven from office because of a costume choice he made as a student. This retroactive hypersensitivity is stupid, even when applied to leftists.

    Make them live up to their own rules. Isn’t that what’s written in their holy book?

    Here. This is nearly two years old, but it applies here as well: http://ace.mu.nu/archives/369999.php

    Actually, I’d rather encourage everyone to live by sensible rules. I don’t respect these overly sensitive crybabies who take offense at every bit of tastelessness, and I won’t pile on with them.

    Then you will always lose.

    When someone has a metaphorical gun to your head, you don’t convince him to lower his weapon by lowering yours. He will not be moved by you disarming yourself. You’re only signalling that you surrender.

    Drew, this stuff is so tiresome. Look, I understand that you and I don’t necessarily agree on the best way to achieve what are almost certainly common goals that we both share. That’s fine. But this “you will always lose” nonsense is such a bore. Let’s accept that neither you nor I has all the answers; that we might value different things and so want to preserve and defend different aspects of our culture; and then back off just a little.

    If some liberal keys my car because of my Make America Great Again bumper sticker, I’m not going to go key a random car sporting an Another Ignoramus for Bernie bumper sticker in retaliation. That’s not how I want to live.

    [ No, I don’t have a Make America Great Again bumper sticker on my Yukon. I don’t want to get keyed. ]

    Granted. But if the Social Justice “Warriors” get popped in the face when caught keying my all-American Jeep, they’ll think twice next time. Reconstructive dental work is not an easy thing to forget.

    That is an entirely different kind of thing. I’m all for specific acts of self-defense. But who has time to babysit his truck?

    • #49
  20. Chris Campion Coolidge
    Chris Campion
    @ChrisCampion

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    Chris Campion (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Henry Racette (View Comment):

    I won’t deny that it’s fun to watch the woke left eat its own for breakfast, but I’ll add that I don’t think the Governor should be driven from office because of a costume choice he made as a student. This retroactive hypersensitivity is stupid, even when applied to leftists.

    Make them live up to their own rules. Isn’t that what’s written in their holy book?

    Here. This is nearly two years old, but it applies here as well: http://ace.mu.nu/archives/369999.php

    Actually, I’d rather encourage everyone to live by sensible rules. I don’t respect these overly sensitive crybabies who take offense at every bit of tastelessness, and I won’t pile on with them.

    Then you will always lose.

    When someone has a metaphorical gun to your head, you don’t convince him to lower his weapon by lowering yours. He will not be moved by you disarming yourself. You’re only signalling that you surrender.

    Drew, this stuff is so tiresome. Look, I understand that you and I don’t necessarily agree on the best way to achieve what are almost certainly common goals that we both share. That’s fine. But this “you will always lose” nonsense is such a bore. Let’s accept that neither you nor I has all the answers; that we might value different things and so want to preserve and defend different aspects of our culture; and then back off just a little.

    If some liberal keys my car because of my Make America Great Again bumper sticker, I’m not going to go key a random car sporting an Another Ignoramus for Bernie bumper sticker in retaliation. That’s not how I want to live.

    [ No, I don’t have a Make America Great Again bumper sticker on my Yukon. I don’t want to get keyed. ]

    Granted. But if the Social Justice “Warriors” get popped in the face when caught keying my all-American Jeep, they’ll think twice next time. Reconstructive dental work is not an easy thing to forget.

    That is an entirely different kind of thing. I’m all for specific acts of self-defense. But who has time to babysit his truck?

    Truck baby-sitting.  It’s the hot new gig for Millennials!

    • #50
  21. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    • #51
  22. Jim Swift Inactive
    Jim Swift
    @JimSwift

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Ouch:

    Poor John has lost it. He used to be funny and witty, but Trump seems to have broken him.

    • #52
  23. DrewInWisconsin Member
    DrewInWisconsin
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Jim Swift (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Ouch:

    Poor John has lost it. He used to be funny and witty, but Trump seems to have broken him.

    Many brains were broken, but I don’t think John’s is among them.

    • #53
  24. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    DrewInWisconsin (View Comment):

    Eustace C. Scrubb (View Comment):

    Northam staying on as Governor is the best possible outcome for Republicans.

    Unless CNN succeeds in convincing everyone he’s a Republican.

    All racists are Republican.

    Gov Northam is a racist.

    QED Northam is a Republican.

     

    • #54
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