In his first interview since the release of a blackface photo in his medical school’s yearbook, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam told the Washington Post Saturday that he vows to spend the remaining three years of his term pursuing “equity.”
Despite mounting calls for his resignation, Northam told the Post that he sees the “horrific” reckoning that came out of the scandal as a way to refocus his governorship.
The Post reports that Northam seemed “chastened and subdued” as he recalled the past week of recognizing his personal failures upon the racist photo’s release.
“It’s been a horrific week for Virginia. A lot of individuals across Virginia have been hurt,” Northam said during a Saturday morning interview with the Post that was limited to 30 minutes and restricted release of audio or a full transcript.
Northam maintained that he is not in the photo — which shows one person in blackface and another in KKK robes — but could not say why he initially took responsibility for it.
“I overreacted,” Northam said, referring to the statement he released that took blame for the photo. “If I had it to do over I would step back and take a deep breath.”
In light of the controversy, Northam said he asked his cabinet secretaries to begin reporting suggestions Monday on how to tackle issues of inequality such as expanding access to health care, housing and transportation.
“It’s obvious from what happened this week that we still have a lot of work to do,” Northam said. “And so this has been a real, I think, an awakening for Virginia. It has really raised the level of awareness for racial issues in Virginia. And so we’re ready to learn from our mistakes.”
During his seclusion this week, in which he used tunnels to shuttle between the mansion and his office in a building nearby, Northam said he had “painful” conversations with black lawmakers who continue to call for his resignation.
Northam told the Post that there was “no question” about whether he felt liberated by the opportunity to atone for his mistakes.
Northam also said that the sexual assault allegations against Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax are “horrific” and must be “taken very seriously,” but that he has not come up with a potential replacement if Fairfax resigns.
“Lt. Gov. Fairfax has suggested and called for an investigation, I strongly support that,” Northam said.
Read the Post’s interview with Northam here.
“Only one thing would have been more ‘painful’ or ‘horrific’ and that would have been my resignation.”
I’m glad he’s not resigning.
Mistakes made decades ago should not force people from public office, unless the mistakes were against the law.
If Halloween costumes from the 1980s could force Democrats out, what’s next? Offensive jokes told or laughed at in the 1990s?
It’s been an awakening for me too. Prior to seeing that photo, I never would have assumed that anyone in the state of Virginia might have done or said anything racist in their life.
Fuck that. King’s “I have a dream” speech should have been an awakening. Having Richmond burned to the ground during the Civil War should have been an awakening. Having a Virginian write that “All men are created equal” in 1776 should have been an awakening. What is supposed to make us believe that Virginia is anywhere near waking up even now? How is a loser, coward and hypocrite like Northam supposed to be the vehicle for this alleged awakening?
If you’re going to cling to office like a stubborn turd, just say you’re sorry and shut the fuck up. Get the fuck out of here with “ooh oops I never thought about how blackface was bad until just now”. It’s insulting.
Christ, how was this the best Democrat Virginia could find to run for this office?