From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Character assassination is an attempt to
tarnish a person's reputation. It may involve exaggeration or
manipulation of facts to
present an untrue picture of the targeted person. It is a form of
defamation and can be
a form of ad hominem
For living individuals targeted by character assassination
attempts, this may result in being rejected by his community, family, or members of his or her
living or work environment. Such acts are often difficult to
reverse or rectify, and the process is likened to a literal assassination of a
human life. The damage sustained can last a lifetime or, for
historical figures, for many centuries after their death.
In practice, character assassination may involve double speak, spreading of rumors, innuendo or deliberate misinformation on
topics relating to the subject's morals, integrity, and reputation.
It may involve spinning information that is
technically true, but that is presented in a misleading manner or
is presented without the necessary context. For example, it might
be said that a person refused to pay any income tax during a specific year, without
saying that no tax was actually owed due to the person having no
income that year.
In politics, perhaps the most common form of character
assassination is the spread of allegations that a candidate is a
liar. Other common themes may include allegations that the
candidate is a bad or unpopular member of his family, has a bad
relationship with his spouse or children, is disrespected by his
former co-workers, or routinely engages in disturbing, socially
unacceptable behavior, such as sexual deviancy.
Charging an opponent with character assassination may have
political benefits. In the hearings for
Clarence Thomas' nomination to the Supreme Court of the United
States, supporters claimed that both Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill were victims
of character assassination.
- ^ Walkowitz, Rebecca L.; Garber, Marjorie B.;
Matlock, Jann (1993). Media spectacles. New York:
Routledge. pp. 32. ISBN