Sentence:  Listen to Florida Democrat Peter Deutsch last night on Crossfire: "Let me just talk a little bit about... the worst statements I have ever heard probably in my life about anything. I mean, almost a <WSD>blood libel</WSD> by the Republicans towards Al Gore, saying that he was trying to stop men and women in uniform that are serving this country from voting." .... You don't just toss around charges that the possible next president of the United States is conspiring to take the vote away from American soldiers overseas. Given the volatility of the moment and the divisions already existing in American society "it really is" almost like a <WSD>blood libel</WSD>. "Almost." 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  More generally, any canard or virulent lie about someone.