Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is in quite a pickle after the conservative publication Big League Politics published the page of Northam’s medical school yearbook that included a photo of two individuals, one in a Ku Klux Klan hood and the other in blackface.
After other outlets confirmed the contents of this page, Northam released a statement apologizing for the photo, saying, “I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now.”
A confirmation and an apology, but… pic.twitter.com/xSzzc5OIen
— Betsy Klein (@betsy_klein) February 1, 2019
My fellow Virginians, earlier today I released a statement apologizing for behavior in my past that falls far short of the standard you set for me when you elected me to be your governor. I believe you deserve to hear directly from me. pic.twitter.com/1rSw1oxfrX
— Ralph Northam (@GovernorVA) February 2, 2019
But then Northam backtracked, saying he did not think he was in the photo.
Virginia Gov. Northam: “When I was confronted with the images yesterday, I was appalled that they appeared on my page, but I believe, then and now, that I am not either of the people in that photo.” pic.twitter.com/KPanPvrI3L
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 2, 2019
Before and after this bizarre press conference, Democrats around the country called for Northam to resign.
Leaders are called to a higher standard, and the stain of racism should have no place in the halls of government. The Governor of Virginia should step aside so the public can heal and move forward together.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 2, 2019
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
And they should. Northam’s actions were completely reprehensible. But how can Democrats explain their silence a day earlier, after Northam seemed to endorse allowing infanticide?
VA gov on abortion this morning:
“If a mother is in labor…the infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians & mother” pic.twitter.com/cc15pVLjIQ
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) January 30, 2019
That an implied endorsement about taking the life of an infant didn’t warrant the same sort of calls for resignation is striking. It shows you how radical the Democratic Party has become.
