I don't like Northam. His defense of abortion is abominable. I'm certainly not going to defend his racist yearbook page. But, I'll issue the same warning to the GOP that many in the GOP tried to issue to the Democrats during Kavanaugh: dredging up people's past from 35 years ago, and imposing standards that don't allow for anyone to have ever made a mistake, will not work our favorably in the end.
That said, Northam's case is especially egregious. He was in medical school. He certainly should've known better. Youth isn't really a relevant excuse for Northam. How could anyone in that age range not realize the inappropriateness of that kind of dress and behavior?
I understand the whole concept of "now they have to play by their own rules" but that's a poor substitute for actual fairness or a set standard. It's a truly loathsome picture. Northam and his party will have to decide if he's going to continue to be the Governor in Virginia. I think every one of these types of cases should be handled individually since there are always different facts, different histories, etc. In other words, context, patterns of behavior, time elapsed, etc should be criteria.
Personally, I have a hard time with social justice mobs devouring people - - even if it is someone I do not like, and have no use for, like Ralph Northam.
