Hey, I have a GREAT idea!

If Democrats feel they must circle the wagons around an embattled Democratic elected official, and fight like hell for him despite his flaws because any Democrat is better than any Republican, why don't they kick out the governor with the proven, documented, admitted racist past who has shown himself to be completely incapable of handling himself in a crisis and then circle the wagons around the black Lieutenant Governor with a squeaky clean history marred only by one unproven, uncorroborated, highly suspicious allegation against him?

I mean, if we're going to pick one of the two to fight for, why not, this time, pick the black guy, protect him, defend him and fight like hell for him?

I think this is a great plan.

Deal?

Ralph Northam seems to have evolved at least a couple of times in his life

According to at least one person, he proudly discussed having attended a desegregated high school and how that sensitized him to issues of race and justice.

And then, somehow, between high school and med school, he "evolved" (actually, devolved) from a supposedly sensitive kid who thrived in a racially diverse environment to "Coonman," a blackface wearing companion of KKK-impersonators.

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.

Northam reminds me of Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense

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

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

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."

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.

When 280 characters speak volumes

DNC Chair calls on Northam to resign

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.