I do not see how this is the same as what was used against Kavanaugh or even Sandmann.  In those cases children were being held accountable for doing things they did not even understand themselves.  There was innuendo and interpretation.    Northham was 25 and there is no innuendo about what he did.  His nickname in that yearbook was coonman.    I agree that the giant game of Gotcha politics is shameful.  But not sure that Northam is a victim of that.  He refused to shake the hand of his opponent, a black man after a debate.  Not sure if something happened at the debate that was aggregious and that is why and haven't cared enough to investigate it further.  If I were a black person and had to have this guy as the governor of my state, how would I feel?  I would need to know more to clear this guy or condemn him but If I were a black person what we already know in itself could be enough.