Look, I don’t like Northam’s politics, and can come up with any number of reasons not to support him. But this picture isn’t on the list.
If the blackface / KKK thing were an accurate reflection of his true views, I would agree that it’s disqualifying. But there is no reason whatsoever to believe that.
A long time ago, in his youth, he did something stupid. Is there anybody who didn’t?
Jeez, guys, if we disqualify from public office everybody who did a really dumb thing somewhere between the ages of 15 and 25, we’ll have no government at all.
Northam didn’t hurt anybody in any way. He didn’t steal. He didn’t cheat on his taxes. He didn’t sell illegal drugs. He didn’t destroy property. He didn’t even break the law. Hell, if he had, he’d be getting better treatment.
But to today’s mob sensibilities, he did something much worse....35 years ago, he did something that was, at the time, moderately offensive. Compounding the original act, he had the misfortune that, as society has evolved, we find now find his sin to be highly offensive. Further compounding the whole thing, there’s a photographic record.
Even though I’d never support most of his political positions, I actually feel sorry for the poor schmuck.