Full coverage of the 1st Republican debate of the 2024 presidential campaign season from Milwaukee.

By Grace Lovins and Serena Balani
10/25/2023 • 08:51 AM 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.
: projectionsee definition - accusing an opponent of using the same underhanded tactics or committing the same misdeeds the accuser is guilty of.
: The speaker accuses other wealthy politicians of running up the national debt, when he has voted for legislation and debt ceiling increases that ran up the national debt.[1][2]
: passing the bucksee definition - shifting blame onto someone else for self-exoneration or to direct attention away from those really at fault.
: For NJ's credit rating being downgraded 11 times under Christie to former governors.[3]
: adding qualifierssee definition - adding an extra word or phrase to a response, which makes it ultimately meaningless, but still leaves the desired impression.
: The speaker saying he "had an opportunity" to vote against spending packages, is not to saying he voted against spending packages.
: exaggerationsee definition - stretching the truth to make something seem more powerful or meaningful than it actually is.
: Actual estimates of spending power range from a loss of $7,400 to a gain of $5 in real disposable personal income.[4]
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: The 2017 bill Scott helped write produced a $60 tax break for the poorest households, $780 for middle-income, and about $50,000 for the top 1%.[5]
: passing the bucksee definition - shifting blame onto someone else for self-exoneration or to direct attention away from those really at fault.
: For trillions in federal spending to just Covid-19.
: glittering generalitiessee definition - vague, emotionally charged language used to evoke strong feelings or associations, while lacking in any specifics.
: About saving the American Dream by, not running from something, but running to something — to a vision of what it means to be an American, and passing the keys to a broken car, not to the people who broke it, but to a new generation to fix it.
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: Military spending on average was slightly higher under Obama ($3 to 2.9 trillion), the economy had already largely recovered before 2016, and U.S. oil production rose more rapidly under Obama.[6][7][8]
: euphemismsee definition - replacing language that is accurate but may be offensive to your target audience with language that is more palatable or appealing.
: Using "that gave ... the right to life" rather than saying "that repealed Roe vs. Wade."
: passing the bucksee definition - shifting blame onto someone else for self-exoneration or to direct attention away from those really at fault.
: For trillions in federal spending to the past administration and Covid-19.
: oversimplificationsee definition - treating a complex problem or subject with false simplicity by omitting or ignoring complicating factors or details.
: labelingsee definition - pigeon-holing a person or group into a simplistic, stereotypical category and assigning names and/or beliefs to that category.
: Pence characterizes Ramaswamy as an unqualified rookie.
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: During the Covid-19 pandemic, states and localities, NOT the federal government, locked down the economy.[9]
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: DeSantis himself, not federal bureaucrats, issued stay-at-home orders for the entire state of Florida.[10]
: labelingsee definition - pigeon-holing a person or group into a simplistic, stereotypical category and assigning names and/or beliefs to that category.
: Ramaswamy characterizes all his opponents as inauthentic puppets and himself as an authentic patriot and revolutionary.
: adding qualifierssee definition - adding an extra word or phrase to a response, which makes it ultimately meaningless, but still leaves the desired impression.
: The speaker saying the climate change "agenda" is a hoax, is not saying that he thinks climate change itself is a hoax.
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: No deaths have been linked to bad climate change policies, while approximately 2 million deaths have been linked to climate change.[11]
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another person or group to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive traits to the opponent.
: Christie uses Ramaswamy's opening statement to identify him with Obama.
: slogansee definition - a brief, striking phrase that people will remember, typically designed to evoke emotional appeals and reinforce a specific message or idea.
: "If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman."
: passing the bucksee definition - shifting blame onto someone else for self-exoneration or to direct attention away from those really at fault.
: To China and India for curbing emissions (when the U.S. has higher per capita emissions than both countries).[12]
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Biden's subsidies for renewable energy do appear to be working.[13]
: false equivalencesee definition - implying that two things are essentially the same, when they only have anecdotal similarities.
: Between his electability in Florida and his electability in a national race.
: euphemismsee definition - replacing language that is accurate but may be offensive to your target audience with language that is more palatable or appealing.
: Using "a culture of life" rather than saying "banning abortion after six weeks of pregnancy."
: 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.
: Democrats in Congress support abortion up to the moment of birth, IF the mother’s health or life is at risk.[12]
: half truthsee definition - a statement that is essentially true, but lacking critical information and presented as the whole truth.
: DeSantis brings up a botched late-term abortion, without mentioning the abortion he cites was performed in 1955 by a family member with a hanger, when abortion was still outlawed.[14]
: euphemismsee definition - replacing language that is accurate but may be offensive to your target audience with language that is more palatable or appealing.
: Saying that he's going to "stand on the side of life" or "support the cause of life" rather than saying he "would sign a 6 week abortion ban federally."
: honor by associationsee definition - defending or championing cultural sacred cows in order to transfer the respect, authority, and prestige associated with those symbols onto oneself.
: The speaker invoking his faith in Jesus Christ and quoting biblical scripture aligns him with the moral authority and reverence associated with Christianity and its teachings.
: baseless claimsee definition - a bold statement that is presented as accepted or established fact, with no discernable evidence to support the claim.
: Consensus is the opposite of leadership.
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: 70% of Americans support a 28-week ban, not a 15-week ban on abortion.[12]
: 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.
: States like CA, NY, and IL have abortion up until the day of birth, IF there are fetal abnormalities or risk to the life or health of the mother.[12]
: euphemismsee definition - replacing language that is accurate but may be offensive to your target audience with language that is more palatable or appealing.
: Saying "fight for life" rather than saying "ban abortion."
: innuendosee definition - implying something without actually saying it, which can't be refuted because it wasn't actually said.
: Haley seems to imply that Biden and Harris might be in favor of abortions at 38 weeks or later.
: adding qualifierssee definition - adding an extra word or phrase to a response, which makes it ultimately meaningless, but still leaves the desired impression.
: Democrats "talking about" defunding the police, is not alleging that Democrats are defunding the police.[15]
: baseless claimsee definition - a bold statement that is presented as accepted or established fact, with no discernable evidence to support the claim.
: Local prosecutors are to blame for the rise in violent crime.[16]
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Many states prisons are already operating at or above operational capacity.[17]
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: Hunter Biden is facing 10 years maximum, not mandatory minimum.[18]
: glittering generalitiessee definition - vague, emotionally charged language used to evoke strong feelings or associations, while lacking in any specifics.
: About addressing a mental health epidemic by acknowledging the national identity crisis, with the remedy being a tonal reset from the top about what it means to be an American and remembering who we really are.
: half truthsee definition - a statement that is essentially true, but lacking critical information and presented as the whole truth.
: DeSantis mentions that crime is at a 50-year low in Florida, without mentioning that it's been at a 50-year low in Florida every year since 2008.[12]
: baseless claimsee definition - a bold statement that is presented as accepted or established fact, with no discernable evidence to support the claim.
: Local prosecutors are responsible for the rise in violent crime.[16]
: whataboutismsee definition - discrediting a criticism by accusing hypocrisy, in order to shift the focus away from oneself and onto others.
: Ramaswamy shifts the focus from Trump being motivated by vengeance and grievance to Christie being motivated by vengeance and grievance.
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another person or group to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive traits to the opponent.
: Ramaswamy uses criticism of Trump to identify the critic with MSNBC.
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another person or group to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive traits to the opponent.
: Ramaswamy again identifies Christie with MSNBC.
: adding qualifierssee definition - adding an extra word or phrase to a response, which makes it ultimately meaningless, but still leaves the desired impression.
: The speaker saying school parents are being called domestic terrorists "under this DOJ," is not alleging that the school parents are being called domestic terrorists by the DOJ.[12]
: false dichotomysee definition - giving the impression that there are only two opposing choices or options, while ignoring any middle ground exists between the two extremes.
: Between deciding the next president based on past history or future goals, while ignoring that both can be taken into consideration.
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another person or group to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive traits to the opponent.
: DeSantis uses the appraisal of Jan 6th to identify the appraiser with Democrats.
: guilt by associationsee definition - using an opponent's links to another person or group to assign the other's beliefs, misdeeds, or other unattractive traits to the opponent.
: Burgum uses the appraisal of past events to identify the appraiser with Biden and China.
: innuendosee definition - implying something without actually saying it, which can't be refuted because it wasn't actually said.
: Pence seems to imply that Kamala Harris might try to overturn the election if Biden loses in 2024.
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: EU Institutions have provided over 77 billion euros to Ukraine, while the U.S. has provided 23.8 billion euros.[19]
: false dichotomysee definition - giving the impression that there are only two opposing choices or options, while ignoring any middle ground exists between the two extremes.
: Between providing military aid to Ukraine and securing the U.S. southern border, while ignoring the option of doing both.
: false dichotomysee definition - giving the impression that there are only two opposing choices or options, while ignoring any middle ground exists between the two extremes.
: Between providing military aid to Ukraine and securing the U.S. southern border, while ignoring the option of doing both.
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: 87000 IRS agents were never hired, but are due to be hired over the next decade, with the majority not as revenue agents.[20]
: cherry pickingsee definition - presenting only evidence that confirms your position, while ignoring or withholding an often more significant portion that contradicts it.
: A 90% reduction in illegal immigration during Trump's term is only possible if Pence is comparing apprehensions for the 1 month with the most apprehensions to the 1 month with the least, while ignoring the average.[21]
: slogansee definition - a brief, striking phrase that people will remember, typically designed to evoke emotional appeals and reinforce a specific message or idea.
: We need education in this country, not indoctrination in this country.
: misleading claimsee definition - a statement with a few elements or kernel of truth, which can easily be proven deceptive or fundamentally untrue.
: There is no evidence that critical race theory was being taught in Florida’s K-12 schools.[11]
: common folksee definition - connecting with an audience by showing that you understand and share their everyday experiences and concerns.
: appeal to traditionsee definition - suggesting that moving away from or abandoning long-standing practice could have detrimental or even dangerous implications.
: Of affirming God, recognizing of only two genders, extolling fossil fuels, rejecting affirmative action, embracing closed borders, parental choice, the nuclear family, capitalism, and the Constitution.

Number of techniques detected in the 2:02:17 runtime of this video clip:


References
1. "How Each House Member Voted on the Tax Bill". The New York Times. Published: December 19, 2017.

2. "Roll Call 69 | Bill Number: H. R. 1892". U.S. House of Representatives. Published: February 09, 2018.

3. "S&P Downgrade Of NJ Credit Deals Fresh Blow To Gov. Chris Christie". International Business Times. Published: September 10, 2014.

4. "Fact-checking the first Republican primary debate". The Washington Post. Published: August 24, 2023.

5. "Two Years of Evidence Show 2017 Tax Cuts Failed to Deliver Promised Economic Boost". Joint Economic Committee. Published: January 28, 2020.

6. "Trump’s False Military Equipment Claim". FactCheck.org. Published: August 28, 2023.

7. "Did Trump Create or Inherit the Strong Economy?". Joint Economic Committee. Published: February 04, 2020.

8. "How The Oil Industry Fared Under The Last Nine U.S. Presidents". OilPrice.com. Published: October 31, 2020.

9. "Why There’s No National Lockdown". The Atlantic. Published: March 31, 2020.

10. "Florida Governor Orders Statewide Lockdown". NPR. Published: April 01, 2020.

11. "Fact-Checking the First Republican Debate". The New York Times. Published: August 23, 2023.

12. "FactChecking the First GOP Debate". FactCheck.org. Published: August 24, 2023.

13. "Biden’s Green Subsidies Are Attracting Billions of Dollars to Red States". The Wall Street Journal. Published: January 23, 2023.

14. "The full story behind the abortion anecdote DeSantis used at debate". Tampa Bay Times. Published: August 26, 2023.

16. "Violent crime and public prosecution". Munk School of Global Affairs Public Policy. Published: October 20, 2022.

17. "State Prison Overcrowding and Capacity Data". University of Nebraska Omaha. Published: May 03, 2020.

19. "Ukraine Support Tracker". Kiel Institute for The World Economy. Published: July 31, 2023.

20. "Fact-Checking the Misleading Claim About 87,000 Tax Agents". The New York Times. Published: November 06, 2022.