'Why not call him a race traitor?' Internet shames Virginia GOP for dog whistle attack on Dem candidate

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.

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.