The conflation of Northam and Franken is inappropriate.

[Atticus]

If my memory is correct, there was no evidence that Franken even touched the woman he was accused of " molesting" or "assaulting". There was a staged joke photo that some would say was in poor taste, but there is also evidence that the woman had been coached and encouraged to make her accusation by others, including Roger Stone.

Northam has admitted that he is "in the photograph" and it matters little whether he was in blackface or wearing the hood and robe of the KKK. True, this was 35 years ago and his conduct since then has been--- to our knowledge--- without any comparable incidents. It is also true that it could be argued that, in Virginia in 1984, his conduct was "in the mainstream" of what was acceptable behavior. But, I think we are entitled to expect more from our leaders than go simply be no more offensively racist than the racist majority. Hopefully, we still expect leaders to LEAD; to see what is right and pursue it without regard to how popular or unpopular that may be.

It may well be that, like many of us, Governor Northam has indeed "grown" and "evolved" in his views concerning race. Like most of us, he may now be a "good person". But, none of US are governors of a state with a sad history of racism. None of US has to serve as the chief executive of a state with a significant population of black citizens, some of whom may have had relatives who were lynched by the Klan.

Northam should resign.

[manor321]

1. Yep, these cases are extremely different.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Hugo Black belonged to the KKK before FDR appointed him as his first choice to the USSC.

Should HE have resigned?

[JI7]

4. FDR should have resigned also then

[Atticus]

5. This is 2019. Could Black be confirmed today? If a current Justice was found to have been a Klan

member, "I" would be demanding their resignation or impeachment.

[dsc]

11. It was known when he was appointed

I think he should have been rejected but once he was approved then he was approved. If Northam had admitted this during his run and won anyway then he should stay.

[delisen]

3. Actually they are both posed photos.

[LexVegas]

6. JFC...

[djacq]

7. Gov Northam will have to resign. (Copied from another post)

As an African American and a Virginia Resident, I and my family "was" proud voters for Northam. The African American vote, especially with black women, brought Northam that win.

Doesn't matter if it was 35 years ago. Doesn't matter if he is of good character now. He's a good governor and I'm quite sure Northam is a good man, a good doctor, a good veteran, and NOT a racist.

But that image is there and we all see it. But you also can't dismiss the images of African Americans during Slavery, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow. Watch the 60 Minutes segment on Lynching and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Look at the images of unarmed young men being killed.

Should I tell my two adult black children to dismiss the images of their heritage? So, why should I or any DU member here should easily dismiss images of Northam in either of the two individuals.

I can't take back my vote but Northam can do the right thing and resign.

[malaise]

8. +1,000 n/t

[murielm99]

9. Yes, he should resign.

There is no question about it.

The turtle should resign also, over that Confederate flag picture. We should push for it, shout him down, do whatever is necessary.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. Turtle will not resign. Republicans have different standards.

Racism, pedophilia, spousal abuse, these are just things to gloss over, laugh about, point at the snowflakes in the "Democrat Party".

Dems are the pure, steely-eyed, unforgiving judges, disbelievers in redemption, snapping to conclusions, and riding our own out of town on a rail, tarred and feathered. Northam must resign, just as Franken did.

But, Republicans are energized, with their minions (and perhaps foreign governments) searching archives of electronic and hard-copy documents for any past improprieties with which to pillory Dems. It only stops when Repubs have regained control of all aspects of government, or when all Democratic leaders who remain have unblemished pasts.

Northam must resign. The 30+ year old photo, and the inevitable result are both sickening.

There are no good answers. Yellow dogs, blue dogs, no longer good enough.

[JGug1]

10. Conflation of Northam And Franken

I think you miss the point of comparing the two. The point is that "we" crucified Franken IMMEDIATELY. There was no "let's see about this." "Let's let things cool down and make a more thoughtful decision."
I suspect he is done. Castro, NAACP, Harris, NJ Governor....are all saying, "take a hike." Maybe he should but Kavanaugh didn't. We put him on the Supreme Court. Is that inappropriate conflation? Well, my point is that the Repukes never let a little issue like that keep them from putting their person where they want him/her and it is always damaging to liberalism. I don't know.........Maybe we should be as Michelle said, going high.

[TomCADem]

12. Vox - 8 women have now alleged sexual misconduct by Sen. Al Franken

Wasn't t there more than just one accuser against Al Franken? It is a mistake to say that Franken stepped down just because of one isolated allegation.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/11/16/16665830/al-franken-sexual-assault-allegations

Two more women accused Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) of sexual misconduct Wednesday, bringing the total number of women who have come forward with allegations against the lawmaker to eight. A former Democratic congressional aide told Politico’s Heather Caygle that after a taping of Franken’s radio show in 2006, he tried to block her exit from a room in an attempt to forcibly kiss her. She says that Franken told her, “It’s my right as an entertainer.”

Franken issued a statement saying her accusation was “categorically not true,” and that “the idea that I would claim this as my right as an entertainer is preposterous.” But two former colleagues of the woman told Politico that she had told them her story years ago.

And in an article published by the Atlantic, former Democratic Hill staffer and media commentator Tina Dupuy said Franken inappropriately touched her during a photo op at a party in 2009. “He immediately put his hand on my waist, grabbing a handful of flesh. I froze. Then he squeezed. At least twice,” Dupuy wrote.

Four other women have also come forward to say that Franken inappropriately touched them during photo ops. Another says that Franken forcibly kissed her and later groped her while she slept. And another claims that Franken tried to give her a “wet, open-mouthed kiss” during a 2006 onstage event.

[Unca Jim]

15. Exactly

Not the same, but Franken grabbed people and made them uncomfortable.

[oberliner]

13. They both appear to have been "staged joked photos"

Each of them potentially offensive in different ways and to different degrees.

Both Franken and Northam apologized for being in the photos and expressed how offensive they were and how ashamed and embarrassed they were for being in them.

Now Northam appears to be getting ready to claim he wasn't actually in the photo.

[SergeStorms]

16. IMO Franken was railroaded.

Northam isn't even on the train tracks over his grave error in judgement. He should resign and Franken should run again.