February 4, 2019

Sensitive question re: Justin Fairfax accusation

As reluctant I am to give this any oxygen while we know so little, I am very puzzled by this situation and would like to hear what others here think.

Apparently, the young woman approached the Washington Post last year, but the Post couldn't confirm her allegation and, therefore, did not report it. I seems that she made no other efforts to follow up on her allegation or to make it public.

But over the weekend, according to the right-wing website, she posted a veiled but obvious accusation on her Facebook page (obvious enough to make clear whom she was talking about but veiled enough to avoid a libel charge) and then gave permission to a friend to capture a screenshot of it, showing her name and photo, and send it to the right-wing website. But she has since declined to go public or to discuss the allegation with the media.

I am very, VERY wary of questioning the credibility of any woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted, so I am treading very lightly here. But, on the other hand, I am also concerned about baseless allegations - particularly against black men, who are consistently viewed with much more suspicion and given considerably less benefit of the doubt.

Does it seem odd to anyone else that someone has allowed an allegation to float into the conversation without making an actual accusation that can be addressed or subjecting herself to any accountability, putting just enough out there to raise questions that really can't be answered? Does the way she went about this make sense? Is there are reason that, if she wants the information to come out and doesn't mind having her name and face identified with it that she did it this way (Facebook page, screen grab, etc.)?

This is a complicated situation and more can come out that would change my take on it, but right now, it just seems odd.

I'd appreciate people's thoughts on this.

February 4, 2019

Northam reminds me of Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense

He doesn't seem to know he's no longer viable.

February 4, 2019

ABC: Northam calling an urgent top level meeting tonight (including Justin Fairfax)

https://twitter.com/abc7Richard/status/1092205386805981186

February 3, 2019

Has it occurred to anyone that the GOP found the photo and thought it meant Northam might not be so

bad, after all.

"Hey. Check out THIS picture! He may be more like us than we thought. We can probably work with this guy. And if he gets to be a problem for us, we'll just throw the picture in his face and use it to distract from our own problems. Hell, even Steven King was never stupid enough to parade around in blackface with a guy dressed up in a Klan outfit. Sure, it's possible the Dems will force him out, but there's a good chance he can hang on because we ARE talking about Virginia and a whole lot of white Democrats will defend him to the death. Win Win for us."

February 3, 2019

Even Northam doesn't think he's atoned for his racist acts, so please stop claiming

he's somehow redeemed himself by voting for civil rights legislation and not engaging in openly racist acts in the past few decades.

Northam himself acknowledges that he must NOW devote "time and serious effort to heal the damage" his behavior has caused, that he is "ready to do that important work," and he suggested a FIRST step to take.

So, PLEASE, people - stop trying to convince us that Northam has already atoned for his behavior and therefore, we must now all forgive and forget. Even Northam doesn't believe that, so you surely shouldn't expect anyone else to fall for it.

February 3, 2019

When 280 characters speak volumes

https://twitter.com/adamcbest/status/1091824779567513600

February 2, 2019

DNC Chair calls on Northam to resign

https://twitter.com/meridithmcgraw/status/1091794127329677319

February 2, 2019

To those insisting that the Northam mess is part of a Republican plan, has it occurred to you

that, if this is part of a plan, they couldn't have managed it without Northam's breathtaking cooperation.

But more important, such a plan doesn't work well for them if Northam resigns - and a rather boring, centrist, milquetoast governor gets replaced with a young, dynamic, up-and-coming breath of fresh air who happens to be black.

If, on the other hand, he stays, they not only have the benefit of a major swing state being in the hands of a weakened Democratic governor whom no Democratic presidential candidate (or just about any other Democrat, for that matter) want to touch with a 100-foot pole, a damaged statewide Democratic political machine and demoralized Democratic electorate (not a great scenario for keeping Virginia blue next year) AND an unlimited supply of "whataboutism" (complete with a charming photo) to throw in our faces whenever we try to call Trump and the Republicans on their racism.

So, please spare us the "Anyone calling for Northam to step down is playing right into the Republicans' hands." Those of us who want him out know that it is not only the morally correct thing to do, but also the only politically wise move. If, on the other hand, you are resisting Northam's resignation, it is YOU who are helping to lay the groundwork for a GOP dream come true.

February 2, 2019

There's a difference between wearing dark makeup to actually imitate a particular black person and

wearing blackface to generally mock black people.

NOT NECESSARILY RACIST


UNQUESTIONABLY RACIST


NOT NECESSARILY RACIST


UNQUESTIONABLY RACIST

February 2, 2019

Jeff Sessions was rejected for a judgeship by the U.S. Senate for being too racist-WAAY back in 1986

According to the New York Times: The nomination was opposed because of a number of racially insensitive statements Mr. Sessions was accused of making while serving as United States Attorney in Mobile, Ala. The nominee denied making racial statements, but both Democratic and Republican senators had expressed concern over his attitude toward members of minority groups and his prosecution last year of three blacks who were eventually acquitted on charges of voting fraud.

One of the statements that led to his rejection - and for which he expressed regret - was that he had thought that members of the Ku Klux Klan "were O.K. until I found out they smoked pot.''