Original sentence: Although the Swift Boat Veterans were ostensibly an independent group, their actions worked to the benefit of Kerry's opponent, George W.By using credible-sounding sources to make sensational and difficult-to-disprove accusations against an opponent, the campaign leverages media tendencies to focus on a controversial story.Its appropriateness as a description of political debate has been questioned by some conservative commentators.Its attack ads against Senator Kerry in the 2004 presidential election campaign featured Vietnam veterans claiming that their fellow veteran Kerry was unfit to lead.Mostly used as a pejorative, the term has gained currency among some liberal writers.Specifically, this form of mud slinging is controversial, easily repeatable, and difficult to verify or disprove because it is generally based on personal feelings or recollections.Swiftboating frequently refers to a campaign that uses viral marketing techniques to sell the allegations.The charges were mostly unverifiable but disseminated widely, which led to swiftboating's reputation for being a controversial but highly effective form of smear campaign
Edited sentence: Arguably, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth believed that their portrayal of John Kerry was, in fact, spontaneous and truthful.By using credible-sounding sources to make sensational and difficult-to-disprove accusations against an opponent, such a campaign leverages media tendencies to focus on a controversial story.It frequently refers to a campaign that uses viral marketing techniques to sell the allegations.Many conservative commentators regard the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth as nobly-motivated patriots and object to the use of the term "swiftboating" by liberals as a synonym for character assassination.Mud slinging.The term "swiftboating" is typically used by people who considered the Swift Boat Veterans' ads to be part of a well-orchestrated smear campaign organized for the benefit of Kerry's opponent, George W.Those who share this opinion would have little motivation to use the term "swiftboating" in a pejorative way