White Democrat refuses to shake hands with Black Republican

Republican E.W. Jackson, left, and Democrat State Sen. Ralph S. Northam,
candidates for Virginia Lt. Gov.

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Democrat Racism

White Dem Lt. Gov. nominee refuses to shake hands with Black GOP opponent

Virginia Lieutenant Governor candidate Ralph Northam (Socialist Democrat - VA) refused to shake hands with his Republican opponent, EW Jackson during an on-air appearance in Hampton Roads, VA last week. 

Jackson appeared on "Mornings on the Mall" on WMAL in Washington DC Monday morning and I asked him about the incident:

"It was insulting, but, on the other hand, I thought it was consistent with the way he behaves. Because, this spot he's been running, saying that I believe that a child born with birth defects is born that way because of their parents' sin is just a damnable, palpable, despicable lie. I don't believe that. I never said anything like that. And it's that kind of dishonesty that, to me, says this is not the kind of person that needs to be holding state-wide office. Not shaking my hand really just confirmed that. "

Ken Klukowski has a report detailing reaction from black civil rights leaders over the insulting snub reports Breitbart News.

Dr. Alveda King—the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. and one of America’s most prominent and respected civil rights leaders—said in a statement to Breitbart News:

I was saddened to learn today that Lt. Gov. candidate Ralph Northam refused to shake the hands of his opponent E.W. Jackson at the end of a television debate.  I am deeply burdened by the loss of civility in politics today. 

As one who has been elected to office as a Democratic Georgia State Representative, served as a Republican presidential appointee and who has often voted as an Independent, I have often said that we would all be better off without the political squabbles that tend to divide us. Refusing to shake hands with your opponent in front of a television audience takes the loss of civility to a new low. I would hope that his refusal to shake hands had nothing to do with the color of his opponent’s skin. 

In a troubled economy, people are looking for leaders who can bring everyone together to solve the problems that confront us all. It is my hope that in these last hours of the race, Ralph Northam will recognize his inappropriate behavior and offer an apology to E.W. Jackson and to all those he hopes to represent.

Dr. King’s reference to skin color is because Northam is white, while Jackson is African-American.

Ken Blackwell from the American Civil Rights Union—who has been elected to public office more than a dozen times and also received presidential appointments and Senate confirmations to several federal offices—also offered his reaction exclusively to Breitbart News, saying:

The Founders of the American republic understood that democracy only works when both sides can at least be civil to their opponents. Virginia voters need to decide if that disqualifies Ralph Northam from being lieutenant governor of the Old Dominion.  

Republican Earl Walker Jackson, Sr. is a Marine Corps vet, a Christian
minister and lawyer in Virginia.