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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.
: DeSantis accuses other wealthy politicians of running up the national debt, when he has voted for legislation and debt ceiling increases that have contributed to the national debt.
: adding qualifierssee definition - inserting carefully chosen words or phrases into a statement that preemptively narrows or nullifies its meaning while preserving its surface impression.
: Scott saying that he "had an opportunity" to vote against spending packages doesn't necessarily mean he voted against spending packages—just that he had the opportunity to do so.
: false claimsee definition - a statement that is directly contradicted by fact and can be easily proven untrue.
: The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 provided an average tax break of about $60 for the poorest households, $780 for middle-income households, and about $50,000 for the top 1%.
: glittering generalitiessee definition - vague, emotionally charged language that evokes strong feelings or associations, while offering few, if any, specifics.
: About saving "the American dream" by "running to something" and "passing the keys" to a new generation to fix it—while offering no concrete policies, no clarity on what is being run from or toward, and no explanation of how or what will actually be fixed.
: name-callingsee definition - using emotionally charged, derogatory terms or labels to describe opponents and create negative associations that shape how they are perceived.
: The term "rookie" dismisses Ramaswamy as inexperienced and unqualified, encouraging the audience to disregard him as a serious candidate.
: name-callingsee definition - using emotionally charged, derogatory terms or labels to describe opponents and create negative associations that shape how they are perceived.
: The phrase "super PAC puppets" diminishes Ramaswamy's opponents as inauthentic tools of wealthy donors, inviting the audience to dismiss their positions outright.
: guilt by associationsee definition - discrediting an opponent by linking them with a person, group, or entity viewed negatively by the target audience.
: Christie uses Ramaswamy's opening statement to link him to Barack Obama, transferring any negative perceptions of Obama the audience might have onto him.
: false equivalencesee definition - implying that two things are essentially the same, despite being significantly different, by focusing on anecdotal or superficial similarities.
: Between DeSantis's electability in Florida and his electability nationwide, overlooking the possibility that Florida voters are not representative of the rest of the country.
: euphemismsee definition - replacing language that is accurate but may be offensive to the target audience with language that is more palatable or appealing.
: The phrase "a culture of life" can signal opposition to abortion without directly mentioning banning or restricting abortion.
: 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 that it occurred in 1955, when abortion was illegal and performed outside the medical system.
: honor by associationsee definition - defending or championing cultural sacred cows to transfer the respect, authority, and prestige associated with those symbols onto oneself.
: Pence invokes his faith in Jesus Christ and quotes biblical scripture, aligning himself with the moral authority and reverence associated with Christianity and its teachings.
: 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.
: While states like CA, NY, and IL do permit abortion up until the day of birth, they do so ONLY IF there are fetal abnormalities or risk to the life or health of the mother, not “on-demand.”
: euphemismsee definition - replacing language that is accurate but may be offensive to the target audience with language that is more palatable or appealing.
: The language "100% pro-life" and "fight for life" can signal staunch opposition to abortion without directly mentioning abortion.
: innuendosee definition - implying something negative or controversial without explicitly stating it, leaving the audience to infer the intended meaning.
: By emphasizing only 38-week or later timeframes, Haley creates the impression that Biden and Harris support unrestricted late-term abortions, without explicitly stating it.
: glittering generalitiessee definition - vague, emotionally charged language that evokes strong feelings or associations, while offering few, if any, specifics.
: About attributing a supposed crime wave to a "national identity crisis" and invoking "family, faith, patriotism, hard work," and a "tonal reset from the top"—while offering no concrete solutions for gun violence, crime, or mental health.
: whataboutismsee definition - discrediting a criticism by accusing hypocrisy to shift the focus away from oneself and onto others.
: Ramaswamy shifts the focus from the accusation that Trump is driven by vengeance and grievance by accusing Christie of the same—neutralizing the criticism by turning it back onto Christie.
: guilt by associationsee definition - discrediting an opponent by linking them with a person, group, or entity viewed negatively by the target audience.
: Ramaswamy labels Christie as an MSNBC contributor, transferring any negative perceptions of the network the audience might have onto him.
: adding qualifierssee definition - inserting carefully chosen words or phrases into a statement that preemptively narrows or nullifies its meaning while preserving its surface impression.
: Scott saying school parents are being called domestic terrorists "under this DOJ" doesn't necessarily mean the Department of Justice was the one doing it—just that the name calling happened during its tenure.
: false dichotomysee definition - giving the impression that only two opposing options exist while ignoring all the other alternatives.
: Between considering relevant past events or focusing solely on future issues, implying that voters must choose one or the other rather than weighing both when making decisions.
: guilt by associationsee definition - discrediting an opponent by linking them with a person, group, or entity viewed negatively by the target audience.
: DeSantis frames any critical acknowledgment of the events on Jan 6th, 2021, as aligning the critic with Democrats, casting any criticism of Jan 6 as party disloyalty.
: innuendosee definition - implying something negative or controversial without explicitly stating it, leaving the audience to infer the intended meaning.
: By emphasizing that "Kamala Harris will have no right to overturn the election," Pence implies that Harris might attempt to overturn the election, without explicitly making the accusation.
: false dichotomysee definition - giving the impression that only two opposing options exist while ignoring all the other alternatives.
: Between protecting Ukraine's borders or protecting the U.S. southern border, implying that the two are mutually exclusive and ignoring the possibility that both can be addressed simultaneously.
: false dichotomysee definition - giving the impression that only two opposing options exist while ignoring all the other alternatives.
: Between aiding Ukraine or securing the U.S. southern border, implying that one cancels out the other and ignoring the possibility that both border security and foreign aid can coexist.
: cherry pickingsee definition - presenting only evidence that supports a conclusion while ignoring or withholding a broader portion that contradicts it.
: Pence appears to be comparing apprehensions from the highest month during Trump's term to the lowest to claim a 90% reduction, while not mentioning the median or average.
: slogansee definition - a brief, striking phrase designed to be memorable, evoke emotional appeal, and reinforce a specific message or idea.
: "We need education, not indoctrination" reduces a complex issue into a simple, binary contrast, making it emotionally charged, memorable, and easy to repeat.
: common folksee definition - connecting with an audience by giving the impression that you understand and share their everyday struggles and concerns.
: By highlighting his small-town roots, family challenges, and personal experience with hard work, Burgum demonstrates relatability and empathy to the struggles of ordinary people.
: appeal to traditionsee definition - suggesting that moving away from or abandoning a long-standing practice could have detrimental or even dangerous implications.
: Ramaswamy argues for a return to a set of ideological "common ideals," suggesting that the modern societal emphasis on diversity has been harmful to national unity and prosperity.