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John Oliver identifies three key techniques Trump (and Fox and Friends) uses to deflect, protect himself from criticism and avoid consequences:
'De-legitimizing the media'
Crying 'fake news'.
'Whataboutism'
The practice of changing the subject to someone else's wrongdoing.
This technique is extensively used on Fox News (skip to 7:18 for examples)
Trolling.
Trump doing things / saying things that have no purpose or benefit other than to upset his perceived enemies. (skip to 10:50 for classic example on Fox News)
I thought the 'whataboutism' technique was illuminating in that I wasn't aware there was an actual name for it. It's a version of deflection that KellyAnne Conway used almost exclusively.
It's also WIDELY used on here all the time.
Trying to excuse one persons actions by deflecting to someone else.
Also used by Sean Hannity (15:54) to deflect from the Roy Moore scandal, and also widely used by Trump supporters on here: check out the Roy Moore threads.
I thought his segment was spot-on. And yes, I am constantly calling out whataboutism on this board. It's hard to make it to the second post without some trumpee saying what about Hilary? What about obama? when the topic is trump.
I have also heard several of Trump's defenders on tv - just heard that guy Paris on CNN over the weekend- using whataboutism and referring to the Clinton administration, citing Hilary. Hey dumbasses, there is no clinton administration. She lost, remember?
I thought his segment was spot-on. And yes, I am constantly calling out whataboutism on this board. It's hard to make it to the second post without some trumpee saying what about Hilary? What about obama? when the topic is trump.
I have also heard several of Trump's defenders on tv - just heard that guy Paris on CNN over the weekend- using whataboutism and referring to the Clinton administration, citing Hilary. Hey dumbasses, there is no clinton administration. She lost, remember?
I have also heard several of Trump's defenders on tv - just heard that guy Paris on CNN over the weekend- using whataboutism .....
kellyanne conway has elevated it into bizarre performance art. as others have noted, she'll grab on to one word in an interview and spin it into full-blown whatabout. it would be nice if in interviews the network would flash in large bold letters "whatabout!" every time she does this but...... i doubt that will happen.
'Whataboutism'
The practice of changing the subject to someone else's wrongdoing.
This technique is extensively used on Fox News (skip to 7:18 for examples)
I thought the 'whataboutism' technique was illuminating in that I wasn't aware there was an actual name for it. It's a version of deflection that KellyAnne Conway used almost exclusively. It's also WIDELY used on here all the time.
Trying to excuse one persons actions by deflecting to someone else.
Also used by Sean Hannity (15:54) to deflect from the Roy Moore scandal, and also widely used by Trump supporters on here: check out the Roy Moore threads.
How about it. B-but-but! ... (your red-herring here)
The president is shifty, his spokespeople are shifty, and some of the posters here are doing the same thing. They can not defend the indefensible.
"Look at that shiny object over there!"
If people have to resort to such tactics continually they can not be trusted (and that goes for president Flim-Flam bigly). They are up to no good.
kellyanne conway has elevated it into bizarre performance art. as others have noted, she'll grab on to one word in an interview and spin it into full-blown whatabout. it would be nice if in interviews the network would flash in large bold letters "whatabout!" every time she does this but...... i doubt that will happen.
What they should do is just stop interviewing her, as she has nothing rational to say.
So, Trump uses the same techniques that every other politician does? Hold the presses.
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