RavenSky
The Doctor's Wife
I partly agree with Tom, but also note that it IS a "current day issue". Yes, the specific incident happened when he was 25, but he had to know that photo existed. He chose public life knowing it was always a possibility of it coming out. In my opinion, he should have confronted its existence head-on when he entered public life. Something along the lines of "So many of us were raised with this sort of casual racism. At the time, even at 25 years old, my privileged background blinded me to the wrongness of my action, and the hurt it caused then - to the too few minorities at my University - and ever since to anyone of conscience who sees the photo. But in the years since, I have grown; and here is how... I apologise, and vow to continue the pursuit of policies for equality in public office."
Might it have dearil his career before it started? Maybe. But as noted constantly, people tend to be forgiving when they see genuine contrition and change of heart. I suspect that he would have continued his political career without this hanging over his head.
Instead, he waited until a right-wing rag published the photo, THEN asked for forgiveness... THEN took it back and claimed it wasn't him while still acknowledging he donned blackface in college. Then showed clearly that he still doesn't think it that big of a deal with his cracks about moonwalking, etc. All of this is current behavior, not in the past.
