swiftboated

Veterans attacked credibility

Swiftboated means to have one's reputation or record attacked through a coordinated, often misleading campaign—especially targeting a perceived strength.

The term comes from the 2004 U.S. presidential campaign, when Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacked John Kerry's Vietnam War service, which had been central to his candidacy.

He got swiftboated by attack ads questioning his business record.

political

negative campaigning

Attacking opponents during elections

opposition researchInvestigating adversaries for damaging information
dirty tricksUnscrupulous competitive sabotage
October surpriseLast-minute campaign revelation

partisan · electioneering · PAC · Kerry · veterans · political warfare · wedge issue

smeared

defamed

Harmed through false statements

slanderedDamaged by false statements
vilifiedSpoke evil of
malignedFalsely disparaged

denigrated · disparaged · besmirched · tarnished · attacked · libeled · impugned · discredited · dishonored · disgraced

disinformation

propaganda

Biased information for influence

falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
distortionTwisting from original state

fabrication · deception · lie · hoax · disinformation · misinformation · innuendo · rumor · falsified · twisted

Opposites

truthfulness/fairness of scrutiny

swiftboatedfact-checked

Confirmed as accurate

substantiated · verified · held accountable

treatment of reputation

swiftboatedvindicated

Cleared of accusation

exonerated · rehabilitated · defended · cleared · championed

political tactic type

swiftboatedendorsed

Officially approved or supported

Family

swiftboating, swiftboat, swiftboats

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Mostly American · Abstract · Negative · Rated PG