Full coverage of the first Obama vs. Romney presidential debate of the 2012 campaign season.

By Alex Picone and Tara Jons
07/14/2015 • 03:31 PM EST

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: Click or tap on any techniquesee definition - the definition will be displayed here.
that appears in bold to show its definition.
: slogansee definition - a brief, striking phrase that people will remember, which typically acts on emotional appeals.
: "Trickle-down government."
: Lehrer echoes Romney's slogan.
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Romney's proposed tax cuts make it mathematically impossible to keep taking in the same revenue, even when you also account for growth.[1]
: adding qualifierssee definition - adding an extra word or phrase to a response, which makes it ultimately meaningless, but still leaves the desired impression.
: Romney denying having a massive tax cut "that adds to the deficit," is not saying he won't have a massive tax cut.
: adding qualifierssee definition - adding an extra word or phrase to a response, which makes it ultimately meaningless, but still leaves the desired impression.
: Romney denying putting in place a tax cut "that adds to the deficit," is not saying he won't put in place a massive tax cut.
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Romney's tax plan will indeed reduce the share paid by high income individuals.[2]
: accuse of lyingsee definition - reacting to undesirable truths simply with accusations of lies and lying.
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Romney's tax plan will indeed raise taxes on middle-income families.[2]
: appeal to compromised authoritysee definition - insisting something is true because an expert on the issue says it's true, when that expert has a vested interest in the outcome.
: Five of the six other studies Romney cites are from people or groups with ties to Romney's campaign.[3]
: post hocsee definition - proclaiming that because something occurred after X, it was caused by X, when no causal relationship at all may exist.
: Taking credit for lowering taxes 18 times, when 11 of those 18 times were just renewals of tax breaks that already existed.[4]
: appeal to compromised authoritysee definition - insisting something is true because an expert on the issue says it's true, when that expert has a vested interest in the outcome.
: The "National Federation of Independent Business" is actually a lobbying group funded in part by Crossroads GPS and the Koch brothers.[5]
: half truthsee definition - a statement that is essentially true, but lacking critical information and presented as the whole truth.
: Romney warns that Obama will raise taxes, without mentioning he would only raise them on the top 3%.[6]
: euphemismsee definition - replacing language that is accurate but may be offensive to your target audience with language that is more palatable or appealing.
: Using "emergency measures," rather than saying "corporate bailout."
: Romney points out the logical contradiction with Obama choosing to extend the Bush tax cuts in 2010, but proposing to raise taxes now.
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Historical data actually shows that when the top tax rates were at their highest, unemployment was at its lowest.[7]
: appeal to compromised authoritysee definition - insisting something is true because an expert on the issue says it's true, when that expert has a vested interest in the outcome.
: The "National Federation of Independent Business" is a lobbying group funded in part by Crossroads GPS and the Koch brothers.[5]
: dysphemismsee definition - replacing neutral language with more derogatory or unpleasant terms, to instill a negative association.
The term "corporate welfare" used to describe tax breaks for the oil industry.
: half truthsee definition - a statement that is essentially true, but lacking critical information and presented as the whole truth.
: Obama mentions a special deduction for companies moving overseas, without mentioning it's the same standard deduction for any business that relocates anywhere, not just overseas.[8]
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: Of the $90 billion Obama provided to green energy, 60% of it was directed to state and local governments and utility companies, not green energy companies.[9]
: hearsaysee definition - an often malicious statement from a third party that cannot be substantiated.
: Romney challenges Obama's half truth about getting a deduction for shipping jobs overseas.
: adding qualifierssee definition - adding an extra word or phrase to a response, which makes it ultimately meaningless, but still leaves the desired impression.
: Romney support for no changes to Medicare "for current retirees and near retirees," is not saying he doesn't support changes to Medicare for everyone else.
: appeal to anonymous authoritysee definition - insisting something is true because an unnamed expert, study, or generalized group (like 'scientists') say it's true.
: There was "a survey done" of small businesses, without identifying who did the survey.
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: Many of the people that will "lose" their current insurance under Obamacare, will get insurance under Obamacare.[10]
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: Health care spending (not premiums) grew slower than at any time in the last 50 years.[11]
: half truthsee definition - a statement that is essentially true, but lacking critical information and presented as the whole truth.
: Romney states that people won't be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions under his plan, without mentioning that's only if they already have health coverage.[12]
: Obama now challenges the "preexisting conditions" half truth.

Total number of techniques detected over the 1:32:51 runtime of this video clip:


References
1. "Romney's Impossible Tax Promise". FactCheck.org. Published: August 03, 2012.

3. "Ryan says six studies say the math works in Romney tax plan". Politifact. Published: October 15, 2012.

4. "Obama's 18 small business tax cuts - explained". CNN Money. Published: September 24, 2012.

5. "NFIB Exposed: 'Voice Of Small Business' Is A Front, Group Charges". The Huffington Post. Published: September 26, 2012.

6. "What Is Obama's Tax Plan?". Forbes. Published: October 29, 2012.

7. "Tax Cuts Don't Lead to Economic Growth, a New 65-Year Study Finds". The Atlantic. Published: September 16, 2012.

8. "Is there a corporate tax break that ships jobs overseas?". Politifact. Published: September 16, 2014.