58% of African Americans in VA say Northam should stay

[Cattledog]

NBC Nightly News poll

[SammyWinstonJack]

1. K&R

[walkingman]

2. I think it is important to listen to Blacks when it comes to this issue. They tend to be able to see

past a lot of the mania. Everyone knows what Northham did is wrong but I do think that it is important to think about what comes next. Just my humble opinion, I live in Texas so I prefer to try and deal with our BIG mess.

[Blue_true]

6. Yep.

The group that gets it right most often is African American voters.

[theophilus]

3. I am not an African American, but I will say

that I agree. He should stay if he states his repentance and then goes about mightily doing works worthy of that repentance. Rev. Barber's measured remarks might have had some influence. I do think that Mr. Fairfax needs to leave if an investigation indicates his guilt and then Gov. Northam should appoint a great African American Woman to be LG. Etc.

[Cha]

13. I agree since the majority of

Black Americans in Virginia think Northam should stay.

Link to tweet

Speaking of Rev Dr Barber

Link to tweet

[democratisphere]

4. Smart voters know a great Governor when they see what he really

stands for and it has nothing to do with racism.

[PeeJ52]

5. I'm beginning to think there isn't a white guy in Virginia over 50 who hasn't done what Northam did.

Let Virginia decide. I'm hoping if he stays, he works extra hard for change in the state.

[former9thward]

7. What does "Let Virginia decide." mean?

There is no mechanism for letting Virginia decide. People can't vote on this. Polls have gone against the governor in the state by a 2-1 margin. He is ignoring everything and saying he is going to stay. Virginia can't decide.

[PeeJ52]

10. They can try impeaching him if it's so bad...

otherwise they have to live with it until his term is up. We're living with tRump aren't we? He's 10 times as bad. Like I said, hopefully he governs and makes changes for the better for all Virginians.

[LanternWaste]

53. I think you're constraining both the premise and the mechanism far too tightly. Again.

"Virginia can't decide."

As that as an objectively false statement.

[leftynyc]

54. I'm not in the least bit interested

in what the republicans in VA think. They would want him gone if he used the wrong condiment. If they want to try and impeach him, they can do that.

[former9thward]

58. Who said anything about Republicans?

[KayF]

8. higher support among blacks than among whites

on whether to resign

The poll, conducted Wednesday through Friday, finds residents split over Northam’s fate, with 47 percent wanting him to step down and 47 percent saying he should stay on. Northam counts higher support among black residents — who say he should remain in office by a margin of 58 percent to 37 percent — than among whites, who are more evenly divided.

[former9thward]

9. Any Democrat who gets 58% of the AA vote in VA will lose an election.

The governor is term limited so maybe he doesn't care about that but it is likely there will be blowback against others.

[vdogg]

45. Not if they also get 47% if the white vote.

That'd still be a majority in VA.

[former9thward]

49. Please show me a state race in VA where a Democratic candidate got 58% or less and won.

[vdogg]

51. I'm referring specifically to this poll.

47% white vote plus 58% black vote should still equal a win, especially when you're not even taking into account Latinos.

[EffieBlack]

57. I love how people get real interested in what black people think when they believe it bolsters their

own point of view ... otherwise, black folks opinions are just an aberration and it needs to be whitesplained to them why they're wrong.

Look no further than last week when it seemed that most black voters wanted Northam gone ... and we were treated to all manner of "what they need to understand is ..." lectures.

[peggysue2]

11. I was surprised by that poll

It's good news for Northam and certainly provides a backstop until the Justin Fairfax situation can be resolved. But I thought I also read that Virginia's Black Caucus was still calling for Northam's resignation. I wonder about the 'why' of the disconnect?

And yes, I would think that Rev Barber's recent comments has helped to defuse the initial anger, advising a broader look at Northam and his policy positions today rather than where the man was 35 years ago. That being said, there's no denying that presser Northam gave was disastrous, about as bad it could get.

It's been a rollercoaster ride of revelations and reactions.

[Cha]

14. Hi Peggysue.. I found this tweet to make sense..

Link to tweet

Speaking of Rev Dr Barber

Link to tweet

[peggysue2]

35. Makes sense for sure

A Republican takeover would be disastrous for the AA community. And everyone else. Northam's pledge to work on all things civil rights' related is also good to hear. I suspected if he stayed he would turn himself inside out to prove himself a better man than he was in his 20s.

Who knows? This may turn out a plus for everyone--a Governor turbo-charged to prove himself worthy and a citizenry benefitting from that supreme effort.

Stranger things have happened. Almost every day at this clip.

I think this is a true example of making lemonade out of lemons. We shall see.

On the other hand, anyone ignoring the words of Rev. Barber is . . . foolish to say the least.

[Cha]

36. Yes, well said! Lots of twists

and turns in the Virginia political scene.. we couldn't even imagine this turn of events when Gov Northam's past history was first revealed and his subsequent speeches.

Yes, stay tuned! Hoping for the very best outcome for Virginia and the country

[phylny]

12. I was at lunch today with five other women - all of us white, all of us older,

all of us progressives. We all said we would defer to our African American brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth to drive the narrative, because we felt we had no right to.

[Desert grandma]

15. Alright then!

This should end the discussion.

[Charlotte Little]

16. I'm going to be the controversial opinion here

But I don't think that 58% of AA in VA should decide this one. I'm a firm believer in white people fixing this shit. White people should be responsible and take action to root out all racism. It's on US to fix it and not on AA to forgive us because they are afraid of the alternative. That's heartbreaking.

So, I'm not going to cheer the notion of Northam staying just because black voters in VA are petrified of the GOP taking power. The VA Dems need to figure out how to get Fairfax out, appoint a new Lt. Governor and then get Northam out. He considered moon-walking on live TV FFS. He is still clueless and shouldn't be in public office. There has to be a suitable Dem replacement out there.

And white people should do better. Much, much better.

[JI7]

17. maybe they don't trust white people who mostly vote republican

and the purity types who claim to be liberal progressive etc but are ok with the shit that republicans do to minorities because at least their conscience is clear.

[Charlotte Little]

19. I'm sure they don't trust white people

I mean, why should they? And I'm not a purist in the least. I don't want Northam out until they find a way to get a Dem in. So, I'm not suggesting that Northam go and the Republicans take over. That would be tragic.

But it will also be tragic if Northam stays with 42% of AA wanting him gone. That's a lot of hurt to ignore. And it won't be forgotten.

Dems need to fix this and Northam goes.

[JI7]

20. what is going on in georgia and other parts of the country is far worse

northam will be gone after his term is over but in the meantime he is supporting the right policies.

[Charlotte Little]

22. I'm sure there is another DEM

who would support those same policies.

I know I'm hard-lined on this, but I was moved today by what Nina Turner said. She's right. She just is. And it can't be ignored.

Start watching at 2:12 and keep watching - or just skip to 6:45 and watch from there:

[JI7]

23. Haha nina Turner? didn't she vote for jill Stein ? how about replacing the gov of georgia who STOLE

the election from a black woman by replacing him with the black women who actually won it ?

[Charlotte Little]

25. Even if you don't like Nina Turner

Her opinion as a black woman matters.

Shame on you.

[JI7]

26. the opinions of those who supported jill Stein don't matter

[Charlotte Little]

29. Uh

Nina Turner's opinion that you don't think matters is shared my 42% of black Americans living in VA.

Want to argue that they don't matter?

[JI7]

30. I said nina Turner does not matter to me

[Charlotte Little]

32. What she said in that segment

represents what many black Americans are feeling.

Dislike her all you want. But you can't deny her words.

[JI7]

34. she has no credibility with me

[ExciteBike66]

46. I know nothing about Turner, but you must acknowledge that 58% of AA in VA

disagree with your opinion.

Why should the opinion of 42% outweigh that of the 58% in this matter?

[Charlotte Little]

47. Because as many members on DU have pointed out

The 58% are likely saying he should stay because they fear the alternative - a GOP-lead state. They voted for Dem policies and want to keep them. And they should be able to keep them.

But why do they have to be fearful when the Dems can fix this? There is a way to do it so that a Dem remains in place. But Northam's ego is in the way of that (thus far).

Why does his ego matter more that the 42% of VA AA who are rightfully angered and appalled by his past adult-aged actions?

Let's not make this a "Welp! A majority of black Virginians say he can stay, so stay he will. Move on!" moment.

[ExciteBike66]

48. Oh, I get it now,

I agree that AAs might be even more supporting of that option.

[uponit7771]

38. +1, I don't see how it's better for black folk to turn the state over to people who support a racist

... like Red Don

[JI7]

18. they can probably see what is happening and the risk of a Republican is not worth it

[dsc]

21. They have the most skin in the game

and thus should be the drivers of any decision. As unhappy as I am with both the photo and his subsequent news conference, I am not a citizen of VA nor am I African American. I thought he should go. I still think that he is unfit but am willing to defer to those who have the most skin in the game.

[rogue emissary]

24. Polls can be wrong.

I'm an African American that lives and vote in Virginia. Your opinion that he should step down is shared by many.

[dsc]

27. they can

and 58% great numbers for a Democrat in that community.

[Stand and Fight]

28. I agree with them. n/t

[MichMan]

31. Was this an online or phone poll?

How do they know what race people really are ?

[Polly Hennessey]

33. Of course he should.

[TexasBushwhacker]

37. Okay, I'm white

But if we're more comfortable with having a Democratic racist or a Democratic accused rapist as the Governor of Virginia rather than a Republican, that's fucked up.

[uponit7771]

39. Northam not racist, prolly far from it and Fairfax is owed due process minimum by the DNC

[allgood33]

40. I agree with the 58%. They speak from the heart and head. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

41. I found this to be very surprising. I so wish this problem had an easy answer.

I am still of the mind that he should remove himself. I can't really get past the fact that he knew how hard it was to get shoe polish off his face before he entered a dance contest in black face.

I'm glad this is not my decision to make. It's all just so unseemly.

[customerserviceguy]

42. I'm curious

to see if the number sampled is sufficient enough to make the margin of error pretty low.

I can't read the minds of black folks in VA, but I would imagine that they've dealt with plenty worse than what Northam did a few decades ago, and if they've decided to forgive him and accept his pledge to work towards racial conciliation, then I can certainly live with that. Also, it would take pressure off of Lt. Gov. Fairfax to resign, and would allow the investigation that he has requested to proceed, which he clearly believes is important to clear his name, if that can be done.

[OneBro]

43. With the risk of getting a republican governor, . . .

. . . it's now just shy of being a no-brainer that Democrats would want Northam to stay. But for that risk, . . .

[flamingdem]

44. Glad to hear this

and I agree

[MineralMan]

50. I think he'll stick it out.

I'm not sure how I feel about that, though.

The whole Virginia thing is embarrassing for Democrats, though. I'm sorry that happened, for sure.

[lynintenn]

55. Maybe the devil you know is better than the devil you do't know

[theboss]

56. We ask Black Democratic Voters to eat a lot of dirt, don't we?

It's sort of amazing not only what we ask of them (Vote at 70 percent clips! All the time!) versus what we offer them in return (This is the last time multiple executive office holders in a state will have dresses in blackface. Maybe!)

[ehrnst]

59. What dirt do we ask black Democratic voters to eat? (nt)

[ehrnst]

61. Not going to reply? (nt)

[bullwinkle428]

60. If I'm a 2020 candidate, I'm not letting Northam get within 100 miles

of me. I'm sure it's not a big deal, though - not like Virginia is a swing state.

[Blue_Tires]

62. He should, unless Richmond wants to kick out everyone

who ever associated themselves with blackface...