Drawing Racial Dividing Lines on Political Correctness

Two race-based controversies exploded over this past weekend.

Ralph Northam, well on his way to being the ex-Governor of Virginia, is getting skewered for some racially-charged acts which (allegedly) took place 35 years ago.  He’s also badly bungled the fallout in two baffling press conferences which were intended to restore confidence but did quite the opposite.  In an astonishing contradiction, speaking in his own defense Gov. Northam did far more harm than good when he backtracked from his previous statement.  Now, the Democrat is under severe pressure from several lawmakers, including members of his own party, to resign and basically disappear from the political scene altogether.

Meanwhile, across the country, comedian Bill Maher, star of HBO’s popular weekly comedy-talk show Real Time, is in serious trouble (again) for making an off-hand joke about a chicken franchise during a live sit-down interview with a Black congressman from Texas.  Maher was on camera talking to Rep. Will Hurd when he tried to lighten up what had been a serious interview by making reference to Popeye’s Fried Chicken.

Though unrelated, the two recent controversies have plunged the nation into another heated racial divide.  These scandals resurrect important questions about political correctness — and specifically who it applies to and when it’s applicable.  Given the racial insensitivity commonly associated with the political right, these incidents were unusual since Gov. Northam and Maher are on the left of the spectrum.  That assessment is indeed accurate.  Gov. Northam is the top Democratic officeholder in a purple state.  Maher, while overtly libertarian on many issues, has drifted decidedly towards the left in recent years, especially since Donald Trump’s election.

Should the same standards of behavior and a similar level of criticism apply equally to both men?  Aside from being racially charged, are these two cases similar?  Should punishments apply to both?

Here are my thoughts: