Embattled Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is having difficulty keeping his story straight.
Less than 24 hours after the Democrat politician issued two public apologies — one written, and one by video — for having dressed in either blackface or KKK robes during his college days back in the 1980s, the governor reportedly began privately switching up his story, according to multiple resources.
“A Virginia Democrat who has spoken with Gov. Ralph Northam has told The Associated Press that the governor now does not believe he was in a racist picture in his 1984 medical yearbook and has no immediate plans to resign,” the Associated Press reported early Saturday morning.
“Virginia State Senator Louise Lucas’ office told Fox News that Northam reached out to her to say that he is not in the photograph and that he would not be resigning,” Fox News added.
Wait, now Northam is saying that it wasn’t him?
Didn’t he apologize for the photo yesterday? ?
I don’t know about y’all, but I think I’d remember putting on blackface.#saturdaymorninghttps://t.co/ZeaSuWWgc1— Holly Figueroa O’Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) February 2, 2019
It’s unclear whether Lucas is the same “Virginia Democrat” who spoke with the AP.
“The New York Times reported that he had spoken to multiple state Democrats, and had also been calling former classmates at Eastern Virginia Medical School to get more information about the picture,” Fox’s report continued.
What’s clear, as noted by those on the left and right, is that Northam’s changing stories make no sense.
The brouhaha initially started Friday afternoon when a news publisher released photos from the Democrat governor’s Eastern Virginia Medical School senior yearbook that show him and a friend photographed together with one wearing blackface, and the other wearing KKK robes.
The publisher also obtained another image that reveals that one of young Northam’s nicknames at the time had been “Coonman.” The other had been “Goose.”
Look:
BREAKING: Multiple publications have confirmed that a picture has emerged of Virginia Democrat Governor Ralph Northam appearing in a KKK and blackface photo in his 1984 yearbook at Eastern Virginia Medical School pic.twitter.com/PigroV4lsB
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) February 1, 2019
Hey “Coonman” #Northam, I think it’s about time you refund Planned Parenthood their $3 million, as you won’t be able to do what they hired you to. pic.twitter.com/jnSYZkK7yp
— ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ Mathematically Impossible (@thepatriotusa_1) February 2, 2019
In response to the backlash that ensued, the governor first released a written statement apologizing for his past but essentially vowing to remain on the job by stating his “absolute commitment to living up to the expectations Virginians set for me when they elected me to be their Governor.”
“Earlier today, a website published a photograph of me from my 1984 medical school yearbook in a costume that is clearly racist and offensive,” he wrote. “I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now.”
Later Friday evening he released another statement — this time via video — apologizing again for his past behavior but doubling down on his commitment to remain on the job.
Watch:
That Northam would turn around and deny being in the blackface photo — and this after he already apologized twice for the photo’s existence — was beyond stunning to many.
Even CNN was forced to take of note the striking contrast between what he had said Friday and what he was reportedly telling Virginia Democrats.
“I think it’s fair to be blunt and call it a complete contradiction of what he said last night, and what he is now — according to reporting — telling Virginia Democrats that it’s not him in the photo, and that he doesn’t plan on resigning,” CNN reporter Dan Merica bluntly stated Saturday afternoon.
He added that Northam planned to hold a press conference at 2:30 pm later that afternoon.
Watch:
It should be noted that the governor’s sudden about-face occurred after every other left-wing politician and organization, including even Planned Parenthood, had begun calling for his resignation.
Look:
There is no place for @GovernorVA’s racist actions or language in our democracy, or our country. He should resign immediately. pic.twitter.com/zTfWx8ehd9
— Planned Parenthood (@PPFA) February 2, 2019
Gov. Northam should resign. Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax should step in and begin a new day for Virginia.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 2, 2019
The photo is racist and contrary to fundamental American values. I join my colleagues in Virginia calling on Governor Northam to do the right thing so that the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia can heal and move forward.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 2, 2019
These images arouse centuries of anger, anguish, and racist violence and they’ve eroded all confidence in Gov. Northam’s ability to lead. We should expect more from our elected officials. He should resign.
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) February 2, 2019
There aren’t two sets of rules for our friends and our foes: Right is right and wrong is wrong. Americans deserve to be respected by their leaders, and racism cannot be excused in our government or anywhere else. Having seen the photo, I believe Governor Northam should resign.
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) February 2, 2019
Leaders are called to a higher standard, and the stain of racism should have no place in the halls of government. The Governor of Virginia should step aside so the public can heal and move forward together.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 2, 2019
There is no place for racism in America. Governor Northam has lost all moral authority and should resign immediately, Justin Fairfax is the leader Virginia needs now.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) February 2, 2019
— VA House Democrats (@VAHouseDems) February 2, 2019
“The Governor must now make the right decision” for Virginia. Those were the wise words of Rep. Bobby Scott, sr. member of congress from Virginia re the shockingly racist photo we all saw today. I believe that for the good of his state and the country the Governor should resign.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) February 2, 2019
It’s as if the governor is attempting to sidestep the inevitable — his resignation from office — by spinning a tall tale. The problem is nobody seems to believe him, including even members of the Democrat Party of Virginia.
“We made the decision to let Governor Northam do the correct thing and resign this morning – we have gotten word he will not do so this morning,” the party tweeted Saturday morning.
“We stand with Democrats across Virginia and the country calling him to immediately resign. He no longer has our confidence or our support. Governor Northam must end this chapter immediately, step down, and let Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax heal Virginia’s wounds and move us forward.”
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.
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