The high road is full of bumps, and the low road is a swamp.
After all, why should Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, be bullied to resign because a 1984 medical school yearbook photo brought to light that he once wore blackface to perform a Michael Jackson moonwalk? Meanwhile, we tolerate continuing evidence of racism from the likes of Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, and even our Republican president?
Why was Democrat and Minnesota Sen. Al Franken stampeded to resign after being accused by several women of touching and kissing them without their consent, even though his alleged behavior fell far short of similar charges made against candidate Donald Trump (whom we’ve since learned paid off a porn star and a Playboy bunny to remain mum about their affairs with him)?
No, it’s not appropriate behavior for Democrats and inappropriate for Republicans, or vice versa. It’s not OK for anyone. Especially presidents.
Northam made his own situation more complicated by changing his story, and now he is discovering just how unforgiving his party can be, even after the opposition party pulled out the blackmail hand because Northam championed the easing of state abortion restrictions.
On Friday, Northam seemed to make a gallant effort at making amends when news broke that his medical school yearbook featured a photo of a man in blackface next to a man in a Ku Klux Klan robe. Northam apologized forthright, saying, “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. This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine, and in public service.”
But in less than a day, he was sounding like a Republican, walking it back. He wasn’t the man in blackface or the man dressed as a klansman, he said. So why did he apologize in the first place if he hadn’t known he did something to apologize for? Now he admits that he “darkened” his face with shoe polish to dress as Michael Jackson for a dance contest in the same year, 1984, and – complete with white glove – moonwalked.
That’s a challenging dance step, no matter what your color or gender. But we’d be a lot more impressed with far less whiplash hypocrisy – in all politicians. In the meantime, Gov. Northam: Take the high road and walk into the sunset.