CNN labeled embattled Virginia Democrat Gov. Ralph Northam as a
Republican in a chyron during a segment about his apology after his
1984 medical school yearbook page that showed him dressed either in
blackface or in a KKK robe.
(Twitter)
CNN -- the network that promotes the hashtag #FactsFirst -- mislabeled embattled Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam as a Republican on Friday during a segment about the Democrat's apology for his racist 1984 medical school yearbook photo.
The
photo showed two men holding beers -- one dressed in blackface, the
other in a KKK robe -- but Northam never made clear which one was him.
The
CNN chyron that mistakenly called Northman a Republican aired Friday
during "Anderson Cooper 360," the nightly show hosted by Anderson
Cooper. The segment focused on a video in which Northam apologized for
the nearly 35-year-old photograph.
“My fellow Virginians, earlier
today I released a statement apologizing for behavior in my past that
falls far short of the standard you set for me when you elected me to be
your governor. I believe you deserve to hear directly from me,” Northam
said in a video he posted on Twitter.
“That photo and the racist
and offensive attitudes it represents does not reflect that person I am
today or the way that I have conducted myself as a soldier, a doctor,
and a public servant. I am deeply sorry,” he continued. “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.”
While
the CNN chyron stated Northam’s party affiliation incorrectly, Cooper
identified the Virginia governor’s political affiliation accurately
prior to the error.
But the error was included without acknowledgement in Cooper's tweet of the segment:
The unearthed photo of Northam, who admitted being one of the men in the picture, sent shockwaves across the country.
Fox
News obtained a copy of the 1984 yearbook page from the Eastern
Virginia Medical School library. Northam graduated from the school that
year. The Virginian-Pilot, the Washington Post and the Richmond
Times-Dispatch also reported they independently confirmed the
authenticity of the page.
The quote on the page says, “There are more old drunks than old doctors in this world so I think I’ll have another beer.”
Fox News obtained a copy of 1984 yearbook page from the Eastern Virginia Medical School library in Norfolk.
Politicians on both sides said Northam should step
down from his position, including presidential hopefuls Sen. Kamala
Harris, D-Calif., and Julian Castro.
“Leaders
are called to a higher standard, and the stain of racism should have no
place in the halls of government,” Harris tweeted. “The Governor of
Virginia should step aside so the public can heal and move forward
together.”
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., who launched his 2020
presidential candidacy earlier in the day, said the photo has eroded
confidence in Northam's ability to lead the state.
"These
images arouse centuries of anger, anguish, and racist violence and
they’ve eroded all confidence in Gov. Northam’s ability to lead. We
should expect more from our elected officials. He should resign," Booker
tweeted.
Northam’s statement didn’t indicate whether he will be resigning amid the controversy.