“Swiftboating” the Swift Boaters

Special to FreeRepublic ^ | 23 February 2008 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

[Congressman Billybob]

I know this is on a subject of keen interest to most Freepers. I had to add a little explanation of the process that's well familiar here on FR, but my readers outside these pages might need more information,

John / Billybob

[coloradan]

Notwithstanding the deceptions from the left, “Swiftboating” is to tell the truth about someone, by means of named and verifiable sources, so as to destroy the candidacy of a particular person. Not one thing the Swiftboat Vets told about Kerry was false.

[Just mythoughts]

There was also a dash of hypocrisy. When the Times editorially endorsed McCain in the Super Tuesday primaries, this hatchet job article was in the pipeline.

So are you saying that McCain wasted his money hiring the democrat -top -gun- lawyer? Appears to me the supposed hit piece was more like a negotiated settlement not a hit piece because there was no there there. Idle gossip over ancient events.

[Navy Patriot]

A big THANK YOU from the Navy, Billybob.

Well written as usual.

[Doctor Raoul]

BTTT

[I see my hands]

"Kerry’s narrow loss of the presidency"

As I recall W won the election with the largest popular vote margin in presidential election history. Maybe I remember wrong?

[oldbill]

You do.
Bush won by 3 million.
Nixon beat McGovern by 18 million.

[cookcounty]

Swiftboating, verb, telling inconvenient truths about Democrats, based on multiple named witnesses. As contrasted with manufacturing stories from "anonymous sources."

[dayglored]

> Notwithstanding the deceptions from the left, “Swiftboating” is to tell the truth about someone, by means of named and verifiable sources, so as to destroy the candidacy of a particular person. Not one thing the Swiftboat Vets told about Kerry was false.

Another aspect of "swiftboating" that I think plays an important part in how the verb is used and perceived, is that it includes an element of long-standing grudge. That is, the Swift Boat Veterans had been slandered by Kerry 30-some years before he ran for President -- the injury and offense done those many years before had not abated.

So I think it's worth noting that "swiftboating" necessarily includes some amount of "giving what they got coming to them, at last".

That applies to the NYTimes in this instance as well, though the timeframe is different. They've nursed a grudge against conservatives for a long time, and their attack on McCain reeks of it. But similarly, I think their ombudsman probably has had ample opportunity to correct the NYTimes, and is getting no small pleasure in giving them their comeuppance.

Any comment? In addition to "destroying with truth", does "swiftboating" imply a long-held hurt that may finally be addressed?

[chopperman]

....It was not a surprise to me when the an overwhelming majority of Kerry’s fellow swift boat commanders, and an overwhelming majority of his commanding officers, came forward to say his career was much less than he proclaimed it to be....

There, fixed it.

[I see my hands]

Thanks for the spot.

[jazusamo]

BUMP and Ping!

[Eagles6]

"Swiftboat: to tell the truth about a person or institution, and cause (justly deserved) harm."

I like it.

[MitchellC]

Ping

[MitchellC]

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[Friend_from_the_Frozen_North]

I should preface this by noting that I'm not a big fan of John McCain but I think that Rush was right on this one. John McCain should have known better than to ever trust the New York Times!

My grandparents used to say that a leopard doesn't change it's spots and a zebra doesn't change it's stripes. The New York Times doesn't change either; John McCain was a fool to ever trust the indorsement of the NYT! They were setting him up for this (or another) hit piece. They deliberately sat on the piece that Drudge reported about the semen-stained blue dress because Bill Clinton's sex life was his private business.

Now they make up something that is so flimsy as to be nearly invisible and they think the Conservative will turn on John McCain? I have news for them - the Conservatives have nearly all made up their minds one way or the other already. They will vote for him or they won't but snide, sneaky, deliberate lies will not turn those who are for him to be against him, or those who are opposed to him to vote for him, but they just might convince a few of those who were "on the fence" to jump off on his side.

If this one hadn't been "in the pipeline" they would have "invented" something. That's what the liberal media does - does anyone remember the phony story about officer evaluation reports on GWB that destroyed Dan Rather's career and credibility?

Liberals can't help it - it's what they do! They LIE!

[smoothsailing]

Swiftboating, as it applies to John Kerry...

Swiftboating as it applies to the ....

to tell the truth about a person or institution, and cause (justly deserved) harm

(Thanks John)

[zot]

does anyone remember the phony story about officer evaluation reports on GWB that destroyed Dan Rather's career and credibility?

It is thoroughly documented in

To Set The Record Straight

[Eleutherios]

The daily does of deceit and dishonesty
served up by the NYT almost defies belief.

Thank God for the courage of the honorable Swiftboaters
... then in ‘Nam and again against Kerry.

And those Orwellian twisters of language at the Slimes
again undertake to pervert the historical record
because THEY fancy themselves the newspaper of record.

Lordy, how i hope there really is a final accounting!

[Cacique]

btt