COMMENTARY | Yahoo! News' "The Ticket" political blog ran an article on the GOP's recommendation that touts President Barack Obama as a flip-flopper. That's one example of political garbage speak. As the campaign season heats up, more of it will happen and you need to know how to spot it.
Flip-Flopper
An NPR story defines flip-flops as "the political U-turns that candidates make when they need to change their positions." The problem is that changing one's mind on an issue can show the politician has gained new information and insight, and is not too locked into dogma to correct an opinion. A person who acknowledged the world to be round was not a flip-flopper; he just realized the world was not flat and adjusted his opinion. If he changed his opinion back to flat-Earth just to please the masses he'd be a flip-flopper.
Some People Say
If a source makes a statement and uses "some people say" as the source you can be sure it's a "load-a of bologna." Look for specific, reputable expert sources, not vague implications that many unknown people might believe something. Consider this: Robert Peary visited the North Pole and did not find Santa Claus; but "some people say" Santa Claus has a workshop there. Fox News is known for using the "some people say" strategy, as shown in the documentary Outfoxed.
Distracting Personal Attacks
Attacking a person instead of a fact or stance is a distraction. Lander University describes these methods are called ad hominem attacks. "You can't believe this video of the crime is accurate because the person shooting the video is a known drunk" is an example. It ignores the real point (the video camera is not drunk) by shifting focus into a personal attack (calling the videographer a drunkard.)
Opinion Disguised As News
My articles are commentary. If a commentary source will not admit the source is probably offering opinion disguised as news. Examine Bill O'Reilly's "No-Spin Zone" where he constantly tells people to "shut up," as seen in Outfoxed. His show is not news.
Be vigilant when watching for political trash so you do not fall in and get covered in its stench.
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