The Republican Party of Virginia attacked Democratic gubernatorial candidate and current Virginia Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam on Wednesday by saying he had "turned his back on his own family's heritage" by supporting the removal of Confederate monuments.
"Ralph Northam has turned his back on his own family's heritage in demanding monument removal," the Virginia GOP wrote in a tweet.
The party also wrote that Northam's decision to back Confederate monument removal "shows [he] will do anything or say anything to try and be [Virginia's governor]."
Northam, who grew up in Virginia and served as a United States Army physician for eight years, quickly shot back that he felt "fine about turning my back on white supremacy," and he challenged his opponent, Republican Ed Gillespie, to do the same.
I feel fine about turning my back on white supremacy. How does @EdWGillespie feel about the president's position? https://t.co/zhx2nWCGpH— Ralph Northam (@Ralph Northam) 1503511647.0
The Virginia GOP's tweet also drew a quick backlash from other Twitter users, who accused the party of using racial dog whistles to insinuate that Northam is a race traitor because of his rejection of the Confederacy.
Check out the top reactions below.
@VA_GOP @RalphNortham Heritage=losing commanders, a flag and racism? My heritage is my family, my friends, food, tr… https://t.co/35zlnZlx66— Greg Morris (@Greg Morris) 1503505965.0
@VA_GOP @RalphNortham So he's just like these descendants of Lee, Jackson and Davis? https://t.co/3rVIQL1fGc— Kevin M. Kruse (@Kevin M. Kruse) 1503509829.0
@VA_GOP @RalphNortham So if I'm a gun-toting fiscal conservative who finds this whole "betraying your heritage" KKK… https://t.co/PDtdC0abeO— Ryan Schmid (@Ryan Schmid) 1503508380.0
@VA_GOP @RalphNortham That's one of the clearest racist dog-whistles I've ever seen. Why not just call him a race traitor?— Mary Ellen is staying home 🖤🤍💜 (@Mary Ellen is staying home 🖤🤍💜) 1503508369.0
