Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, a Democrat, has, how do I put this? Dug himself into such a deep hole, he's calling for helicopters to pull him out of what he terms "The Second Grand Canyon."
On Friday, it was reported that Northam was part of a racist photo printed in his yearbook. Why or how it took this long to dig up said photo is another matter entirely, but I digress. In this photograph, one man was wearing blackface and standing next to another individual decked out in a white hood and robe, disturbingly akin to the KKK's attire. At first, Northam apologized for being part of the photo. He contended that he was embarrassed, ashamed, and isn't the person today he was in 1984, when the picture was taken. On Saturday, he changed his story and said he wasn't sure if he was part of the photo. No, I'm not sure how a person could be uncertain about this either. Was he included in multiple racist photos or something? Well, apparently that might have been the case, as he later admitted he had partially painted his face black for a dance competition when he was imitating Michael Jackson. Fast-forward to today and he's saying he's almost certain he wasn't part of the first racist photo that was released.
So, let me get this straight... A 35-year-old yearbook photo which featured a man in blackface and another dressed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan was finally unearthed; the Virginia governor admitted he was part of said photo; he backtracked by saying it might not have been him but he wore blackface one time as part of a dance-off; and is now saying it probably wasn't him in the photo? Okay then...
Something seriously stinks here. Regardless, I don't see how Northam can get by and he should resign. Some fellow Democrats have come after me for suggesting this, pointing toward Republicans' racist rhetoric and refusal to resign, but how can we call ourselves the moral party if we hold politicians to different standards dependent on their party affiliation? Steve King? Yes, he should resign. Donald Trump? Yup, him too. It probably won't happen, but just because they aren't accountable doesn't mean we can't be. As far as I'm concerned, if we don't hold our elected officials accountable, we've sunk to the GOP's level and are just as bad as they are. It might not seem fair, but it's right, and that's what we should be about.
On Friday, it was reported that Northam was part of a racist photo printed in his yearbook. Why or how it took this long to dig up said photo is another matter entirely, but I digress. In this photograph, one man was wearing blackface and standing next to another individual decked out in a white hood and robe, disturbingly akin to the KKK's attire. At first, Northam apologized for being part of the photo. He contended that he was embarrassed, ashamed, and isn't the person today he was in 1984, when the picture was taken. On Saturday, he changed his story and said he wasn't sure if he was part of the photo. No, I'm not sure how a person could be uncertain about this either. Was he included in multiple racist photos or something? Well, apparently that might have been the case, as he later admitted he had partially painted his face black for a dance competition when he was imitating Michael Jackson. Fast-forward to today and he's saying he's almost certain he wasn't part of the first racist photo that was released.
So, let me get this straight... A 35-year-old yearbook photo which featured a man in blackface and another dressed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan was finally unearthed; the Virginia governor admitted he was part of said photo; he backtracked by saying it might not have been him but he wore blackface one time as part of a dance-off; and is now saying it probably wasn't him in the photo? Okay then...
Something seriously stinks here. Regardless, I don't see how Northam can get by and he should resign. Some fellow Democrats have come after me for suggesting this, pointing toward Republicans' racist rhetoric and refusal to resign, but how can we call ourselves the moral party if we hold politicians to different standards dependent on their party affiliation? Steve King? Yes, he should resign. Donald Trump? Yup, him too. It probably won't happen, but just because they aren't accountable doesn't mean we can't be. As far as I'm concerned, if we don't hold our elected officials accountable, we've sunk to the GOP's level and are just as bad as they are. It might not seem fair, but it's right, and that's what we should be about.
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