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The word '''''swiftboating''''' is an [[United States|American]] neologism used [[pejorative|pejoratively]] to describe an unfair or untrue political attack. The term emanates from the [[Swift Vets and POWs for Truth]] (formerly "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," or SBVT) and its widely publicized,<ref name="annenberg">{{cite web | title =University of Pennsylvania National Annenberg Election Survey| publisher =PollingReport.com| date =conducted August 9–16, 2004| url =http://www.pollingreport.com/wh04misc2.htm| accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref> then discredited, campaign against 2004 US Presidential candidate [[John Kerry]].<ref name="vetsattack">{{cite news | title =The Vets Attack| publisher =Newsweek| date =2004-11-15| url =http://www.newsweek.com/id/55728| accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref>
The word '''''swiftboating''''' is an [[United States|American]] neologism used [[pejorative|pejoratively]] to describe an unfair or untrue political attack. The term emanates from the [[Swift Vets and POWs for Truth]] (formerly "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," or SBVT) and its widely publicized,<ref name="annenberg">{{cite web | title =University of Pennsylvania National Annenberg Election Survey| publisher =PollingReport.com| date =conducted August 9–16, 2004| url =http://www.pollingreport.com/wh04misc2.htm| accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref> then discredited, campaign against 2004 US Presidential candidate [[John Kerry]].<ref name="vetsattack">{{cite news | title =The Vets Attack| publisher =Newsweek| date =2004-11-15| url =http://www.newsweek.com/id/55728| accessdate = 2007-03-30 }}</ref>


Since the political [[smear campaign]]<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/dissent/v056/56.2.casey.html |title=No redemption song: The Case of Bill Ayers |last=Casey |first=Leo |month=Spring |year=2009 |work=Dissent |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |volume=56 |number=2 |pages=107–111 |issn=0012-3846 |doi=10.1353/dss.0.0041 |quote=In recent elections, the patriotism and good names of Democratic war hero candidates, from John Kerry to Max Cleland, had been impugned so successfully that a neologism for such smears—to 'swift boat'—was coined out of the assault on Kerry.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Campaign Finance Reform: The Political Shell Game |first1=Melissa M. |last1=Smith |first2=Glenda C. |last2=Williams |first3=Larry |last3=Powell |first4=Gary A. |last4=Copeland |publisher=Lexington Books |year=2010 |pages=72, 83 |isbn=0739145665}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=January 2012}} conducted by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth against John Kerry, the term "swiftboating" or "Swift Boating" is now commonly used to refer to a severe political attack of a personal nature, or even a harsh attack on a candidate's policies. Swift Boat veterans and media pundits objected to this new use of the term.<ref>Smith ''et al'', 2010, p. 105</ref>
Since the political [[smear campaign]]<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://muse.jhu.edu/login?uri=/journals/dissent/v056/56.2.casey.html |title=No redemption song: The Case of Bill Ayers |last=Casey |first=Leo |month=Spring |year=2009 |work=Dissent |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |volume=56 |number=2 |pages=107–111 |issn=0012-3846 |doi=10.1353/dss.0.0041 |quote=In recent elections, the patriotism and good names of Democratic war hero candidates, from John Kerry to Max Cleland, had been impugned so successfully that a neologism for such smears—to 'swift boat'—was coined out of the assault on Kerry.}}</ref> conducted by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth against John Kerry, the term "swiftboating" or "Swift Boating" is now commonly used to refer to a severe political attack of a personal nature, or even a harsh attack on a candidate's policies. Swift Boat veterans and media pundits objected to this new use of the term.<ref>Smith ''et al'', 2010, p. 105</ref>


== Historical origins ==
== Historical origins ==

Revision as of 03:56, 3 February 2012

"Swiftboat" redirects here. For the naval vessel, see Fast Patrol Craft.

The word swiftboating is an American neologism used pejoratively to describe an unfair or untrue political attack. The term emanates from the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth (formerly "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," or SBVT) and its widely publicized,[1] then discredited, campaign against 2004 US Presidential candidate John Kerry.[2]

Since the political smear campaign[3] conducted by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth against John Kerry, the term "swiftboating" or "Swift Boating" is now commonly used to refer to a severe political attack of a personal nature, or even a harsh attack on a candidate's policies. Swift Boat veterans and media pundits objected to this new use of the term.[4]

Historical origins

The term "swift boat" itself refers to a class of US Navy vessel used during the Vietnam War. In 2004, a political 527 organization called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (later called Swift Vets and POWs for Truth or SVPT), composed of Vietnam veterans who served on swift boats, formed with the intent of opposing the presidential candidacy of John Kerry. Kerry himself had served for four months as a swift boat commander in Vietnam. The group produced a series of television ads and a bestselling book[5] that challenged Kerry's military record and criticized his subsequent antiwar activities as a member of Vietnam Veterans Against the War. The unsubstantiated charges against Kerry by the SVPT gave rise to the term "swiftboating" to describe political tactics that are described by The New York Times as "the nastiest of campaign smears".[6][7][8][9][10] FactCheck.org analysed the claims and observed, "the veterans who accuse Kerry are contradicted by Kerry's former crewmen, and by Navy records", and noted, "At this point, 35 years later and half a world away, we see no way to resolve which of these versions of reality is closer to the truth."[11]

Objections to term

The use of this term as a pejorative has caused objections from conservatives who object to the implied criticism of the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth.[12] At least one conservative commentator has denounced its repeated negative usage as "a hate term."[13] A group formed for the purpose of opposing John Murtha's reelection to Congress, Vets for the Truth, posts at its website a definition of "swiftboating" as "exposing the lies, deceit and fraud of self-glorifying public officials or candidates for office who exaggerate their military service by lying about their feats of heroism and combat wounds." [14]

In a 2006 Veteran's Day interview, John O'Neill, spokesman for Swift Vets and POWs for Truth commented on the term's usage: "I think that's a word [swiftboating] people will use for however they want to. I have always thought that having left wingers go to bed at night, and put their little children to bed, and [saying] Be good little children or the Swiftboats will get you!... that has never particularly worried me..."[15]

Many Swift Boat veterans have expressed regret and dismay that the term "Swift boat" has come to represent a political attack or association with the group that conducted the "political chicanery" during the 2004 presidential election.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "University of Pennsylvania National Annenberg Election Survey". PollingReport.com. conducted August 9–16, 2004. Retrieved 2007-03-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "The Vets Attack". Newsweek. 2004-11-15. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
  3. ^ Casey, Leo (2009). "No redemption song: The Case of Bill Ayers". Dissent. 56 (2). University of Pennsylvania Press: 107–111. doi:10.1353/dss.0.0041. ISSN 0012-3846. In recent elections, the patriotism and good names of Democratic war hero candidates, from John Kerry to Max Cleland, had been impugned so successfully that a neologism for such smears—to 'swift boat'—was coined out of the assault on Kerry. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  4. ^ Smith et al, 2010, p. 105
  5. ^ O'Neill, John. Unfit for Command. Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing. ISBN 0-89526-017-4. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b Zernike, Kate (2008-06-30). "Veterans Long to Reclaim the Name 'Swift Boat'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  7. ^ The 2004 Campaign: VIETNAM RECORD; Lawyer for Bush Quits Over Links to Kerry's Foes. New York Times
  8. ^ Manjoo, Farhad. True Enough: learning to live in a post-fact society. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-470-05010-1. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  9. ^ PBS Ombudsman; PBS; July 13, 2007
  10. ^ BBC News, US & Canada. "Glossary: US elections". BBC News. Retrieved 29 Nov 2011. Swift-boating The name given by Democrats...
  11. ^ FactCheck.org (August 22, 2004). "Republican-funded Group Attacks Kerry's War Record". Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  12. ^ Rosen, Mike (2006-10-26). "Story is none too 'swift'". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2007-04-30. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
  13. ^ Tyrrell, R. Emmett Jr. (2006-06-04). "Swiftboating has become a hate term". CNN. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
  14. ^ McMichael, William H. (2006-08-14). "Former SEAL wages campaign to defeat Murtha". Army Times. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
  15. ^ Moore, John (2006-11-16). "Behind the Scenes: Swift Boat Veterans vs. John Kerry". Useful Fools. Retrieved 2007-11-14.
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