“Dinesh D’Souza and the rest of that group are an embarrassment to America. We can’t wait for them to exit our Commonwealth,” said a Virginia Democratic Party spokesman as “Blexit” came to Richmond over the weekend.
AG Mark Herring’s Odd Op-Ed Reminds Virginia Of His Own Blackface Scandal
Why call attention to yourself for appearing in a racist photo (that no one as seen) unless that photo is set to be released?
GOP Lawmakers Leave Richmond With Successes In Job Creation, Workforce Preparation, And Tax Reform
Not only did the GOP eliminate frivolous state spending, they also provided pathways towards creating a 21st century workforce, investments in K-12 and higher education, secured Amazon’s arrival in Arlington, and other pro-business programs in the 2019 legislative session.
Republicans In Richmond Tout Leadership And Results Amid Democratic Chaos And Embarrassment
The Virginia House GOP released a video earlier this week touting legislative accomplishments made during this year’s 46-day session on Bank Street in Richmond. Republicans pushed through nearly $1 billion in tax relief, K-12 and college education enhancements, government reforms, and a myriad of other measures amid the racial and sexual scandals blanketing the Commonwealth’s Democrat-led executive branch.
To recap February’s controversies:
Governor Ralph Northam (D) reportedly appeared in a photo in his 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) yearbook either in blackface or in KKK robes. He first confirmed that he was in the photo – not saying which one – then backpedaled the day following at a very odd press conference, which included an attempt to “moonwalk” in front of reporters and his wife, Pam, telling him “inappropriate circumstances.”
A yearbook photo was also released of Northam while he was a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in the early 1980s. Placed underneath his head shot was his nickname, “Coonman,” a racial epithet.
Embarking on his racial “reconciliation tour” last week, the governor gaslighted America again, calling slaves brought to America in the early 1600s “indentured servants” during an interview with CBS‘s Gayle King, chalking up his blackface photos to “white privilege.” Moreover, the first stop on his tour had to be cancelled following widespread student backlash at Virginia Union University (VUU) continuing calls for his immediate resignation.
Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax (D) now faces at least two sexual assault accusations that has Republicans in the House of Delegates proposing an investigation into the matter, and Democrats declining to participate in the bipartisan process.
Dr. Vanessa Tyson, a Scripps College professor, has alleged that Fairfax sexually assaulted her at the 2004 Boston Democratic National Convention. In her statement published by the New York Times, Dr. Tyson said she came forward after the news of Fairfax’s likely elevation to the top political position in Virginia as the governor is embroiled in racial controversy, because it “flooded” her with “painful memories, bringing back feelings of grief, shame, and anger that stemmed from an incident with Mr. Fairfax.”
Meredith Wilson, a student at Duke University in 2000, while Fairfax also attended the North Carolina college, came forth days later with allegations that she was raped by Fairfax in a “premeditated and aggressive” fashion.
Fairfax has called the accusations “false and unsubstantiated,” a “totally fabricated story,” and “demonstrably false.” The lieutenant governor has also accused staffers of the embattled governor for leaking the allegations and engaging in a “vicious and coordinated smear campaign” to derail his pathway to the governor’s office.
Attorney General Mark Herring (D) also admitted to wearing blackface, trying to look like black rapper Kurtis Blow at a party at the University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville in 1980. His admission came just a few days after he called for Northam’s resignation for appearing in racist photos.
Although the calls for Northam to step down from office are far-reaching, many have claimed that officials are backing off of Herring to resign for political reasons.
Nevertheless, amid the national embarrassment, Speaker of the House of Delegates Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) reassured Virginians that although “our diverse Commonwealth has been deeply shaken,” it nevertheless “remains economically vibrant, fiscally sound, safe and secure.”
Finishing off the 2019 legislative session on Sunday morning, Republicans were able to deliver on a key promise to return $976 million from the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) to taxpayers.
Under the plan, the Commonwealth’s standard deduction would be increased by 50 percent – the first such change for individual filers since 1989 – rising from $3,000 to $4,500 for individuals, and from $6,000 to $9,000 for couples, primarily benefiting lower and middle-income taxpayers. The plan also preserves existing state law on the deductibility of state and local taxes (SALT), provides additional tax refunds of $110 for individuals and $220 for couples, and much more.
Overall, 70 percent of rebates will go to taxpayers making $100,000 or less.
Despite providing tax relief, House Republicans were also able to secure a five percent pay raise for teachers, which will be included in the final budget.
Primed to increase security in schools across the Commonwealth and protect students, teachers, and staff from harm during emergencies, the GOP also worked to pass a myriad of legislation that created a multi-year blueprint for improving school safety.
Parts of the legislative package would require school counselors to spend at least 80 percent of their time counseling students, mandates that school officials set forth annual safety training in public elementary and secondary schools, develop a case management tools for school threat assessment teams, and provide approximately $12 million to fund school safety initiatives, including additional money for school resource officers (SROs), infrastructure improvements, and technology upgrades.
Built on the 24-point priority recommendation plan from the Select Committee on School Safety, Speaker of the House Cox called the work “groundbreaking.”
The statehouse also passed legislation to lift the age cap on autism health coverage. Under current Virginia law, insurers must cover treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from ages two through 10, which has placed a difficult burden on families as the average age of diagnosis is between six and seven years of age, according to a report from VCU’s Autism Center of Excellence.
Striking away ASD as the only medical condition subject to coverage limitations based on the age of the patient, the GOP-led legislation means that approximately 10,000 Virginians with autism will have expanded access to healthcare, requiring health insurers to cover treatment regardless of the patient’s age.
While the chaos from the Democratic executive branch may have rendered a stain on the “Virginia Way,” Republicans showed that leadership matters, providing good governance for the Commonwealth’s citizens.
Handful Of Priority Recommendations From Select Committee On School Safety To Become Law
Following last February’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida, the General Assembly passed some of the security enhancing priority recommendations provided by Virginia’s first select committee commissioned in 155 years.
‘March On The Mansion’ Calls For An ‘End To Racism And Infanticide’ And Governor Northam’s Resignation
Hundreds of people have indicated they may protest at the Capitol Building in Richmond this Saturday after weeks filled with controversy from Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s support for the “infanticide bill” and racist photos.
Republican Derails Democrat’s Raucous Racism Rant Over Sanctuary Cities Bill
A bill banning sanctuary cities in Virginia caused fireworks on the floor of the House of Delegates today after a Democratic lawmaker charged the GOP-led bill’s directives as “dog whistle politics.” The contention led to a top Republican legislator unequivocally charging the Democratic Caucus to “clean up their own house first” if they “want to talk about racism.”
The situation comes as both Governor Ralph Northam (D) and Attorney General Mark Herring (D) are battling against calls for their resignation after appearing in “blackface” decades ago.
The legislation taken up during Tuesday’s session involved S.B. 1156, patroned by State Senator Dick Black (R-Loudoun), which would prohibit any locality from adopting any ordinance, procedure, or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws. The measure, which would outlaw the establishment of sanctuary cities in the Commonwealth, is identical to last year’s H.B. 1257, which failed to become law.
Black’s bill passed the House with a 51-47 vote, but its fate remains uncertain after Governor Northam vetoed the similar measure after the end of the 2018 General Assembly session.
Though, the legislation is not the highlight of this story.
Delegate Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington) rose to make a point about the bill banning sanctuary cities.
“Let’s be clear. Let’s be very clear,” he said shakily. “This bill is really about dog whistle politics, created to stoke fear of ‘the other.'”
Delegate Lopez said the Republican legislation would “send the worst kind of message about Virginia.”
Responding to the seemingly-uncalled-for remarks, House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) spoke to the implication that he said “many of us have grown tired of.”
“Just because we favor something as simple and clear as the rule of law – that we are racist – that was just what was uttered on this floor with the term ‘dog whistle politics,'” he said.
“For the last week,” Gilbert continued, “we have heard, by implication, suggestions that [Republicans] are racist, in some respect or another, and I am tired of it.”
Pointing to the left-leaning side of the aisle, the majority leader charged, “If our friends in the Democratic Caucus want to talk about racism, they need to clean up their own house first…and we’re waiting for you to do that.”
Gaslighting Governor Northam Blames ‘White Privilege’ For Racist Photos
As embattled Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) attempts to rehabilitate his image in the week and a half since his extraordinary racial controversy began, he continues to show the Commonwealth and the nation at-large that he can no longer effectively govern. During an interview with Gayle King on “CBS This Morning” that aired Monday, not only did Northam call African slaves brought to colonial Virginia “indentured servants,” but now chalks up his racist photos to “white privilege.”
The fallout comes after a photo was released depicting Northam dressed either in blackface or in a Ku Klux Klan robe and hood in his 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook. Shortly after the photo went viral, Northam confirmed that it was him depicted in the photo, but would not say which one he was dressed as – a man in blackface, or a man wearing KKK robes.
That night, he published a video statement explaining his remorse.
“I am deeply sorry. I cannot change the decisions I made, nor can I undo the harm my behavior caused then and today. But, I accept responsibility for my past actions, and I am ready to do the hard work of regaining your trust,” he said.
However, at a very odd press conference the following day, he walked back his admission, claiming that he was not in the photo, but then told a tale of when he did appear in blackface at a 1984 dance contest in San Antonio, Texas, dressed as Michael Jackson. Northam said he had “shoe polish” on his “cheeks” as a part of the costume.
“I have always liked Michael Jackson,” he said, noting that he did win the contest. He added that he “learned to do the moonwalk.”
The governor, after being asked by a reporter if he could still moonwalk, then grinned and looked to his right and left to find room to attempt to show off his dance. His wife, Pam, then said to him “inappropriate circumstances” as he was surrounded by a crowd of stunned reporters.
Dodging widespread calls for his resignation, protests in front of the Executive Mansion in Richmond, and even disappearing from the public eye for a few days, he then began his “I’m sorry” tour to explain his actions and announce that he will take on the responsibility of racial reconciliator for the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2022.
During the interview, King asked Northam, “what have you learned that you didn’t know before.”
“Well, several things, starting with I was born in white privilege and that has implications to it and it is much different the way a white person such as myself is treated in this country,” he said.
“Did you not know that you were born into white privilege?” King asked, interrupting the governor.
“I knew I was, Ms. King, but I didn’t realize, really, the powerful implications of that,” Northam explained. “And again, talking to a lot of friends, that has come crystally clear to me this week. I’ve also learned why the use of blackface is so offensive. And yes, I knew it in the past, but reality has really set in.”
When asked whether or not he knew appearing in blackface was offensive in the past, Northam said that he believes “we’re all on a learning curve.”
“Certainly, Ms. King, I am not the same person now at age 59 that I was back in my early 20s,” he added. “This is a week that has been very eye-opening to me.”
Therefore, Governor Northam did not know it was offensive to don blackface. Not only did he not know it was offensive in 1984, but he apparently did not know it is still offensive in 2019.
It is quite tough to actually analyze the entire situation that has embroiled Virginia’s governor. When it comes to “crisis communications 101,” Northam has written the complete annotated anthology of what not to say and what not to do.
To recap: he admitted to appearing in a racist photo, did not say if he was either dressed as a cartoonish blackface character or in the uniform of a white supremacy group, he then recanted saying that was not him in the photo, he changed his story, he told reporters he won a dance contest dressed in blackface as Michael Jackson, he almost moonwalked in front of national reporters, his wife told him not to moonwalk, he showed off his historical ineptness, and then chalked this all up to white privilege.
Questioning Virginians’ sanity for his own mistakes? If gaslighting needed a clear definition – here it is.
Furthermore, the question that has still yet to be fully answered is why Northam admitted to being the photo in the first place. In another part of the interview, he said he did it out of “shock” when seeing the photo, but that answer leaves a lot to be desired.
As well, his nickname while a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in the early 1980s was “Coonman,” a racial epithet. Why would he be called that unless it had a meaning?
Why wasn’t he asked about that in the CBS interview?
What is truly unbelievable, rather, what is truly fiction-turned-fact, is that literally every person in his own party is calling for him to resign, which is actually quite a conservative statement. There is most likely not one current elected Democratic office holder who has said he should stay in office.
To give a bit of perspective on that, let’s be honest here.
One can find a Democrat to support anything: Venezuela’s Maduro, Syria’s Assad, boycotting In-N-Out Burger, taxing cow farts, infanticide, blaming plastic straws for climate change, removing troops from Guam because the island will “tip over,” anything. But, there is not one Democrat supporting him on this.
Every day governor Northam remains in office is another day the Commonwealth of Virginia continues to be a punchline for skits on “Saturday Night Live,” a comedic comparison to the political process, and an erosion of the “Virginia Way.”
He needs to leave, immediately.
Fairfax Scandal Deepens As Staffers Resign, Accusers Look To Testify
Although Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax (D) presided over the Virginia State Senate during Monday’s session on Bank Street in Richmond, the effects of his scandal have deepened as four of his aides have resigned amid the sexual assault controversy. Currently, Fairfax is battling back against two accusers, one who said he sexually assaulted her in 2004, and one who said he raped her while in college in 2000.
Dr. Vanessa Tyson, a Scripps College professor, has alleged that Fairfax sexually assaulted her at the 2004 Boston Democratic National Convention. In her statement published by the New York Times, Dr. Tyson said she came forward after the news of Fairfax’s likely elevation to the top political position in Virginia as the governor is embroiled in racial controversy, because it “flooded” her with “painful memories, bringing back feelings of grief, shame, and anger that stemmed from an incident with Mr. Fairfax.”
Meredith Wilson, a student at Duke University in 2000, while Fairfax also attended the North Carolina college, came forth last week with allegations that she was raped by Fairfax in a “premeditated and aggressive” fashion.
Fairfax has called the accusations “false and unsubstantiated,” a “totally fabricated story,” and “demonstrably false.” The lieutenant governor has also accused staffers of embattled Governor Ralph Northam (D) for leaking the sexual assault allegations and engaging in a “vicious and coordinated smear campaign” to derail his pathway to the governor’s office.
In a raucous press conference in the crowded capitol rotunda, Fairfax reiterated “how important it is for us to listen to women,” but an NBC News reporter caught Fairfax saying “f*** that b****” as he tried to discredit Dr. Tyson during a private meeting last Monday night.
In a recent press release from Nancy Erika Smith, Watson’s attorney with New Jersey-based Smith Mullin, P.C., comments rang out against Fairfax as she claims that he wishes to quash the allegations and defame his accusers in “secret” meetings.
“After Dr. Vanessa Tyson and Meredith Watson reported that Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax raped them, Fairfax said he wanted ‘due process’. Impeachment hearings would have provided just that. It turns out that Mr. Fairfax does not want due process; he wants to assault the character of his victims in secret, not in public, and certainly not under oath,” she said.
Smith stated that Watson and Dr. Tyson are asking for a hearing to testify to the alleged crimes Fairfax committed, expressing that they “reject a secret and delayed proceeding.”
Regardless, Virginia’s second in command is resisting widespread pressure from nearly all elected leaders, both Democrat and Republican, to step down from his post.
As the scandal continues to garner the national spotlight, two of Fairfax’s three government aides, policy director Adele McClure and scheduling director Julia Billingsley have left his staff, as well as employees from his political action committee, executive director Dave Mills of We Rise Together and fundraiser Courtney McCargo.
PAC communications director Lauren Burke and chief of staff Larry Roberts, however, still remain in their posts.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Mills, interestingly, is the husband of State Senator Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) who is now being considered as a serious contender to replace Fairfax as lieutenant governor should he resign or be removed from office.
His removal from office via the introduction of articles of impeachment weakened yesterday following Delegate Partick Hope (D-Arlington) announcing on Twitter late last week, “On Monday, I will be introducing articles of impeachment for Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax if he has not resigned before then.”
After Delegate Hope said he sent draft language for articles of impeachment to his colleagues, he received an “enormous amount of sincere and thoughtful feedback which has led to additional conversations that need to take place before anything is filed.”
Although Fairfax continues to call for an FBI investigation into the sexual assault allegations, it is unclear why he is proceeding that route. As a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, he must know that the FBI has no jurisdiction in the matter because the alleged incidents are neither federal crimes, nor is the investigation within the agency’s extent of background checks for certain federal officials.
A spokesperson for Fairfax has also relayed that the lieutenant governor has voiced skepticism about a legislative investigation, stating that he “believes that an inherently political process is not the most likely path for learning the truth.”
With the job of lieutenant governor being a part-time position, Fairfax’s joined San Franciso-based law firm Morrison & Foerster in early 2018. Following the scandal, however, the firm placed him on paid leave.
“We take the allegations against Justin very seriously. As a firm, we believe that it is important to seriously listen to any allegation of sexual assault or harassment, and to treat all persons making such allegations with respect and sensitivity,” the firm’s Chairman Larren Nashelsky said.
Fairfax’s growing sexual scandal is just one-third of the situation surrounding the Commonwealth’s Democrat-led executive branch.
Governor Northam reportedly appeared in a photo in his 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) yearbook either in blackface or in Ku Klux Klan robes. He first confirmed that he was in the photo – not saying which one – then backpedaled the day following at a very odd press conference, which included an attempt to “moonwalk” in front of reporters and his wife, Pam, telling him “inappropriate circumstances.”
Attorney General Mark Herring (D) admitted to wearing blackface to look like black rapper Kurtis Blow at a party at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1980. His admission came just days after he previously called for Northam’s resignation for also appearing in racist photos.
Virginia’s Senior Congressional Democrat Quashed Fairfax Sexual Assault Allegation
Congressman Bobby Scott was made aware of the sexual assault allegation against Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax in December 2017 and January 2018, but did absolutely nothing.