A Voter’s Guide: 10 Facts about Midterm Elections
9. Straw Men Abound
A straw man argument is a logical fallacy based upon a purposeful misrepresentation of another’s argument. Rather than saying a candidate wants to reform Social Security in order to make it more sustainable, opponents will say that candidate wants to take meals away from the elderly. When the left talks about cutting military spending, the right accuses them of wanting to make America weaker. Political issues are complex. Neither party will openly advocate for policies they believe are bad. If you hear one side making strong charges about the policies of the other, dig a little deeper—you’re probably hearing a straw man argument.
