Is Obama health plan being 'swift boated?'

WASHINGTON, May 16 (UPI) -- A Barack Obama adviser during his U.S. presidential campaign is raising money to counter what he says is the "swift-boating" of Obama's healthcare reform.

David Plouffe sent out an e-mail appeal to supporters Saturday, Politico reports.

"As we speak, the same people behind the notorious 'swift boat' ads of 2004 are already pumping millions of dollars into deceptive television ads," he said. "Their plan is simple: Torpedo healthcare reform before it sees the light of day by scaring the public and distorting the president's approach."

Conservatives for Patients Rights, which has launched an ad campaign aimed at Obama's proposal for health care reform, has hired CRC Public Relations. The Virginia firm worked for Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

The Swift Boat campaign tried to undermine Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam War record during the 2004 presidential campaign, adding a term to political language in the process.