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swift boat

noun

Etymology

From a 2004 campaign by political group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth to challenge the legitimacy of each combat medal awarded by the U.S. Navy to presidential candidate John Kerry, and the disposition of his discharge.

Definitions

  1. A small, shallow draft water vessel used by the United States navy for counterinsurgency…

    A small, shallow draft water vessel used by the United States navy for counterinsurgency (COIN) operations during the Vietnam War; Fast Patrol Craft (PCF).

  2. to put forth sensational negative stories about a political figure as part of a smear…

    to put forth sensational negative stories about a political figure as part of a smear campaign against them, especially regarding their military record

    • Swift-boating is the new term used to describe a dirty campaign that tries to paint a war hero as unpatriotic.
    • Swift-boating's essence is a particular kind of dishonesty, or rather a particular combination of shadowy dishonesties. It usually involves a complex web of facts, many of which may even be true.

The neighborhood

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sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA