Pull the bandaid off - Bye bye Ralph Northam

[Stinky The Clown]

A whole bunch of thoughts come up for me.

First the facts. If a 25 year old man in the 80s thinks dressing up on a racially charged costume is okay on the occasion of his graduation from medical school (or any time, for that matter) he is unlikely to be governor material.

Should we forgive? Sure, if its warranted, but come on. 35 years ago we were, even then, sufficiently evolved that what he did was clearly wrong in the North, the South, among rich and poor, black and white. It may well have been tolerated in some circles, but it was KNOWN to be just plain wrong.

If a politician is so arrogant/stupid (?) as to think a yearbook picture like that would escape notice, he has no business being . . . . well . . . . a politician. (Sidenote: where were the GOP oppo guys? I hope they gave their paychecks back!)

Al Franken "had to go" for a BOATLOAD less.

Virginia might be better off with Justin Fairfax (what a PERFECT name for a Virginia governor!!!), who, I think, can serve a six year term - two more of Northam's term and four of his own after he wins an election outright.

All of this can serve as an example of how Democrats deal with such antics (:::cough:::Kavanaugh:::cough::

Sorry, Ralph, but you gotta go, bud.

Hello Justin Fairfax.

[guillaumeb]

1. If it had happened in 1880, this conversation would not be happening.

But it happened in the 1980s, not the 1880s, and well after the time when the Civil Rights Act was passed, and well after the ferocious backlash by white racists.

Do I expect perfection? No, but I do expect, and we should all expect, basic decency and an awareness of how incredibly racist these photos were, and are.

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. The word is "racist". "Racially charged" is an obnoxious euphemism.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. What do you think the intent in those words was?

That matters to some people.

I'm going to leave the original wording.

[Spider Jerusalem]

6. The intent was the same as it always is when someone says "racially charged" instead of "racist"

a reluctance to call racism what it is. (Usually extended by white people on behalf of their co-ethnics, oddly!)

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Please elaborate

About my intent. Not in general. About my intent.

Thank you

[Spider Jerusalem]

8. I'm not a mind reader.

However, whenever I see "racially charged", I see someone afraid to say "racist" because "racist" = Nazi/Klansman (never mind we're talking about a photo of someone dressed as an actual Klansman); to say someone is racist is, in the understanding of most (white) Americans, to say that they are a Bad Person, and people seem to be weirdly reluctant to call actual and overt RACISM what it is because of that.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Carefully worded, but you sidestepped my question.

You know what you thought when you made your original reply to me. I am simply asking that you make that clear.

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. I was quite explicit.

If you mean "racist", don't say "racially charged". Seeing the use of euphemism that serves to diminish the actuality of the thing being discussed weakens whatever point you're trying to make.

[yardwork]

13. The OP's intent is quite clear.

I don't understand why you're fussing at this OP, who is stating clearly that Northam has to resign. Are you fussing at the DUers who think that Northam should not resign?

I'm gay. When a DUer posts an OP that clearly supports equal rights, I don't jump on them if they use a phrase or word that isn't exactly what I think. I'm grateful for their support and advocacy. That's just my experience.

[a kennedy]

3. This is really scary.......the whole country is talking about it.....

This is want we want right??? The whole country talking about race?? Or am I wrong??

[Jarqui]

11. John Lewis and some were talking about it in 1963, before and since

What was really troublesome then as it is now is what is happening to victims of racism

We need to keep talking and doing something about it until there are no more victims.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

14. What are you scared of?

[zentrum]

12. Yes, yes and yes.

[Towlie]

15. I'll believe that it's "KNOWN to be just plain wrong" when the last Confederate statue is gone.

And Wikipedia says:

There are at least 223 public spaces with Confederate monuments in Virginia, more than in any other state.