Swiftboating
Setting the record straight. We have indeed heard several players in this election bringing up the dreaded accusation of ’swiftboating’ and I’m happy to see Henry P. Wickham Jr. doing a fine job setting the record straight and ‘reclaiming’ the word from those who would seek to tarnish and degrade it.
Redefining ‘Swiftboating’ and Rewriting History
If the words “swift” and “boat” must be combined and turned into a verb, then let us insist on its proper use. The word as a verb originates from the campaign undertaken in 2004 by the Swift Boat Veterans in response to the John Kerry presidential candidacy. The word means, or should mean, the exposure of a fraudulent autobiography of one seeking political office or public influence. It is the correction of a personal and professional record that has been selectively and dishonestly compiled, as the Swift Vets did so effectively to that of John Kerry.
I suppose “swiftboating” would be personified in the comments of one Hillary Clinton in reference to her bravery in he face of sniper fiore, landmines, mustard gas and Godzilla attacks in Bosnia?
This is why I should be a campaign manager. If you’re going to lie about a situation which could so obviously be exposed as a lie at least make it entertaining.
thompaine
April 21, 2008 at 9:25 am