swiftboat

to distort history for political purposes, especially in a vicious personal attack

The upcoming ABC documentary 'The Path to 9/11' is expected to swiftboat the Clinton administration, accusing it of ignoring the terrorist threat.

by JwW September 7, 2006

Swiftboated

exposure of a false hero by people who are fimiliar with claimed heroic acts

John claimed to have saved a life in the local tragic fire. However, after noting that John was aat the time, actually in a bar 20 miles away by the bartender, John was Swiftboated by several other people the entire week following the fictitious claim.

by Mike52 Fleming October 28, 2006

swiftboat

to attack an anti-war politician on the basis of their military service record

"Man, did they swiftboat Murtha."

by galatea January 14, 2006

swiftboating

The process of smearing a military veteran's service record for political purposes. Named after the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, who discredited John Kerry's war record during the 2004 U.S. presidential election.

He was a popular candidate, until the swiftboating started.

by SmileyScout January 21, 2006

swiftboated

To be unfairly and inaccurately attacked relentlessly in the media

They swiftboated the Gold Star mom on the news by questioning her credibility when she refused to back off with her antiwar protest in the presidents back yard.

by Mike Levy September 3, 2005

swiftboated

to be smeared by the president or his administration in a tastless and slanderous way.

They're gonna totally swiftboat this soldier's mom the way they did kerry.

by zeroklk September 2, 2005

swiftboating

A political ploy whereby allegations, falsehoods, exaggerations, or distortions are publicized to discredit a person or entity and have the intended effect that public attention is drawn to the ensuing controversy about the veracity of the allegations and away from some other political embarrassment.

Questions about Kerry’s military service and whether he deserved purple heart medals was swiftboating the public’s attention from whether or not Bush was AWOL.

by Nels Christianson October 14, 2006