Meanwhile in Virginia... The Swiftboating of Mark Warner has started...

The article says the Republicans are attacking him on raising taxes after he said he wouldn't. Clearly there was a reason for it - and Warner obviously made the case for it as he left office with an 80% approval rating. This suggests that this won't fly. Given that approval rating VA likely seems that tax increase as needed and a prudent thing to do.

This is very typical politics. What next - "The Republicans are saying that Hillary Clinton is the wife of Bill Clinton" - the Republicans are swiftboating Hillary?

That was even mentioned back when he was considering running back in 2005 or 2006. Raising taxes is not a sin, a crime or immoral. It is sometimes needed and better than cutting essential programs. Given that the tax was in 2004, the year before his term ended, - it had to be considered the right thing to have done - by the people of VA - if he was at 80% approval afterward.

It was an increase in the sales tax and the cigarette tax.

This is a typical political attack - it is in this case true - there was a tax increase. However, it was one of many things done to try to close a budget gap. Even the media matters articles have dealt only with mischaracterizations. But all the facts are public - and the defense is why he raised the taxes that he did.

This is not lying about someone's service and engaging in character assignation. There is no lie and there is no character assignation here.

What the Repubs forget to mention is that they controlled they controlled both houses of the Virginia Legislature. They were the ones that passed the laws that Warner signed.