Sadly, the message we are witnessing this week from Virginia’s top leaders is that racism and possible sexual assault are better than bipartisanship.
Three strikes, you’re out, Virginia.
It started with Gov. Ralph Northam. After a banner week of essentially championing infanticide while voicing his support for a late-term abortion bill, Northam had blackface photos surface inside his medical school yearbook. Initially, Northam apologized for the photo, where he was either depicted in blackface standing next to a Ku Klux Klan member or as the hooded racist.
The following day, Northam held a press conference. Despite the strong urging of his own Democratic Party, Northam did not resign. He opted instead to insist the photo was not him, despite the words “Ralph Northam” emblazoned on the top of the yearbook page. Northam actually tried to excuse it by informing the press that he had worn blackface on another occasion to dress up like Michael Jackson, implying the KKK yearbook photo must be a case of mistaken identity. He even almost moonwalked.
Seriously. That happened.
In all of this, Northam maintained he would remain governor of Virginia. His lieutenant governor, Justin Fairfax, decried the alleged Northam photo, all but coming short of calling for Northam’s resignation. If Northam had resigned, or if he still does, Fairfax would be first in line and become the second black governor of the commonwealth.
Except he, too, found himself in controversy. A woman named Vanessa Tyson is accusing Fairfax of sexual assault during the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
