analysis

The stubborn allure of conspiracy theories
How astroturfing creates the illusion of authenticity and consensus
FLICC: The five common tactics of science denial

interviews

Want to help us continue our work? All donations are tax deductible.
support this project

Full coverage of the 2016 Tim Kaine vs. Mike Pence Vice Presidential debate.

By Jon Wright Fay
10/07/2016 • 12:00 AM EST

Don't know how to use this page?

: Click or tap on any techniquesee definition - the definition will be displayed here.
 that appears in bold to show its definition.
: common folksee definition - connecting with an audience by giving the impression that you understand and share their everyday struggles and concerns.
: By sharing his small-town upbringing and his family's immigrant roots, Pence connects his personal history to the struggles and concerns of ordinary people. more...
: half truthsee definition - a statement that is essentially true, but lacking critical information and presented as the whole truth.
: Pence mentions his positive economic data while in office, without mentioning that Kaine was in office during an economic downturn, while he was during an economic recovery.[1]
: slogansee definition - a brief, striking phrase designed to be memorable, evoke emotional appeal, and reinforce a specific message or idea.
: "Do you want a 'you're hired' president or a 'you're fired' president?" leverages a pop culture catchphrase to make it instantly recognizable, memorable, and emotionally resonant. more...
: straw mansee definition - misrepresenting an opponent's position or argument to make it easier to attack, usually by exaggerating, distorting, or just completely fabricating it.
: Trump and Pence not wanting to raise the minimum wage is NOT them calling for eliminating the minimum wage.[2]
: Pence highlights Kaine's repeated use of slogans.
: fault as virtuesee definition - portraying a weakness or undesirable trait as a strength by highlighting any positive aspect of it.
: Pence suggests Trump's history of tax avoidance and bankruptcy filings—which could be viewed as dubious business practices—instead is proof of his financial savvy and brilliant business acumen. more...
: honor by associationsee definition - defending or championing cultural sacred cows to transfer the respect, authority, and prestige associated with those symbols onto oneself.
: Pence defends law enforcement by aligning himself with the values of service and sacrifice embodied by this revered institution, while suggesting Kaine is unfairly persecuting it. more...
: straw mansee definition - misrepresenting an opponent's position or argument to make it easier to attack, usually by exaggerating, distorting, or just completely fabricating it.
: Clinton and Kaine wanting to make it easier for many undocumented immigrants to obtain legal status, is NOT a policy of open borders.[3]
: appeal to decencysee definition - involves portraying the opponent's criticism as inappropriate, indecent, or underhanded, rather than engaging with the substance of the criticism.
: adding qualifierssee definition - inserting carefully chosen words or phrases into a statement that preemptively narrows or nullifies its meaning while preserving its surface impression.
: Pence denying that Trump said things "in the way [Kaine] said he said them" doesn't necessarily mean Trump didn't say those things—only that Kaine's version differed in some minor or obscure way. more...
: whataboutismsee definition - discrediting a criticism by accusing hypocrisy to shift the focus away from oneself and onto others.
: Kaine shifts the focus from a controversial remark Clinton made on the campaign trail to controversial remarks Trump made—redirecting scrutiny onto his opponent. more...
: straw mansee definition - misrepresenting an opponent's position or argument to make it easier to attack, usually by exaggerating, distorting, or just completely fabricating it.
: Trump said NATO is "obsolete," NOT that it should be dissolved.[5]
: straw mansee definition - misrepresenting an opponent's position or argument to make it easier to attack, usually by exaggerating, distorting, or just completely fabricating it.
: Pence called Putin a "stronger leader," and Trump, "a leader, far more than our president," but neither called Putin a "great leader."[6]
: appeal to decencysee definition - involves portraying the opponent's criticism as inappropriate, indecent, or underhanded, rather than engaging with the substance of the criticism.
: bandwagonsee definition - portraying a claim or position as correct, inevitable, or morally right by implying it has widespread or overwhelming popular support.
 the American people
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: The $400 million are funds that were owed to Iran for their purchase of American military equipment in 1979 that was never delivered.[7]
: virtue wordssee definition - using emotionally appealing words that align with the target audience's value system to elicit approval or support.
: Words like "strength" and "strong" sound decisive and powerful, but without specifics they function only as rhetorical shorthand, substituting an aura of toughness for substantive policy detail. more...
: straw mansee definition - misrepresenting an opponent's position or argument to make it easier to attack, usually by exaggerating, distorting, or just completely fabricating it.
: Pence said Putin was a "stronger" leader than Obama, NOT that Putin was a "better" leader than Obama.[6]

Number of techniques detected in the 1:32:53 video runtime:

PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES

13 OCCURRENCES

adding qualifiers:  
bandwagon:  
common folk:  
fault as virtue:  
honor by association:  
slogan:  
straw man:          
virtue words:  
whataboutism:  

DISINFORMATION TACTICS

2 OCCURRENCES

half truth:  
misleading claim:  

SUMMARY

15 OCCURRENCES

Pence60%
Kaine40%

References
1. "Kaine vs. Pence on Unemployment". FactCheck.org. Published: August 05, 2016.

3. "Trump: 'I've been proven right' about Clinton wanting open borders". Politifact. Published: October 12, 2016.

5. "Kaine wrongly says Trump backs end of NATO". Politifact. Published: October 10, 2017.

6. "Tim Kaine recalls Mike Pence comment on Vladimir Putin". Politifact. Published: October 05, 2016.

8. "FactChecking the VP Debate". FactCheck.org. Published: October 05, 2016.