Clem Snide's definitions

Swift Boating

Noun: A well orchestrated campaign of character assassination and disinformation instigated by a concealed proxy.

"...Once (Cindy) Sheehan could no longer be ignored, the Swift Boating began. Character assassination is the Karl Rove tactic of choice, eagerly mimicked by his media surrogates, whenever the White House is confronted by a critic who challenges it on matters of war. The Swift Boating is especially vicious if the critic has more battle scars than a president who connived to serve stateside and a vice president who had "other priorities" during Vietnam.

"The Swift Boating of Cindy Sheehan" By Frank Rich. New York Times Op-Ed 8/22/05
http://www.iht.com/protected/articles/2005/08/21/news/edrich.php

by Clem Snide July 18, 2008