Well . . . that didn’t go as well as Ralph Northam thought it should.
The embattled Democratic Virginia governor stood before the nation this afternoon and said the racist picture that appeared on his medical school yearbook page — the one with his name on it — does not include a picture of himself.
One of the young men in the picture is slathered in black face makeup; the other guy is dressed in a Ku Klux Klan get-up, complete with hood and mask.
The calls for Northam to resign have been coming like a torrent. Democrats want him out, as do Republicans.
Yeah, he needs to resign.
Northam said he didn’t even know of the picture’s existence until Friday. Someone showed it to him. He said he was horrified. Northam said he never purchased a yearbook back when it was published — in 1984! Thus, he said he didn’t have reason to see it, let alone know that it contained the picture on his medical school yearbook page.
Northam’s initial apology Friday night contained an acknowledgment that he likely was one of the two young men pictured. Then today he sought walk that back, saying that upon reflection he has decided that he is neither the guy in black face or the idiot in the KKK regalia.
Even more astounding is that he did admit to smearing black stuff on his face, also in 1984, to participate in a Michael Jackson dance contest, when he wore an MJ outfit complete with the glove on his right hand. He said something about learning how to “moonwalk.” Good grief! Didn’t this man, a medical student in his mid-20s at the time not know that blackface is offensive to African-Americans?
Why must this individual resign? That’s an easy one. His tenure as governor will now be overwhelmed by discussion of this hideous event. Northam cannot govern the Commonwealth of Virginia. Every single thing he says and does from this moment forward will be juxtaposed with the horrendous image that appeared in the yearbook. He cannot explain it away.
African-American leaders want him out. Politicians of all stripes have demanded his resignation.
How does this guy continue to govern given all that has been said? He doesn’t. Step aside, Gov. Northam. Hand the office over to your state’s lieutenant governor.