By your definition of rebuttal, you’re absolutely right – to be clear, the subject I’m really talking about here is where there is a legitimate case against the organisation or individual, not where there is a plain fallacy circulating.

That said, accusations are often laid at the door of public bodies which they then respond to (or choose not to respond to). It’s not necessarily that they’ve dropped a clanger, but the perception develops that they have, and the traditional responses (issue a press notice, give a line to a journalist etc) can come across as stuffy or defensive.

This is where some of the community tools of social media, together with a more open, human approach, can help to break down the rather siege mentality of accusation< ->rebuttal.

If you have dropped a clanger and you claim you have not, that is not a rebuttal, it is somewhere between sophistry and a lie. A rebuttal is, IMHO, where you respond to a slur with the truth.