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The health care debate and the ad hominem attack
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Ad hominem comes from the Latin meaning “against the man (or person)”. It is one of many recognized logical fallacies. When arguing, if someone attacks the person instead of the argument, that does not disprove the argument. It does not address the substantive argument, therefore it is illogical.
The recent town halls and responses to the town halls have provided textbook examples of ad hominem attacks. Take for example, Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) and Steny Hoyer’s (D-MD) recent op-ed (both politicians unfortunately have ties to Maryland, although Pelosi can be disowned as California’s problem now). They take issue with “un-American attacks” by opponents of Obama’s health care plan.
Dan Gainor provides an interesting analysis of the double-standard the media has when the Right protests. Opponents to Obama’s health care proposal are wrongly characterized as a “mob”. From eyewitness reports of Senator Cardin’s town halls in Towson and Hagerstown, there were no incidents requiring arrests (except for the person holding the sign referring to death of Obama and his family who was detained by Secret Service). People acted peacefully outside the locations. Now, shouting out responses and talking over Cardin and other politicians is certainly rude and impolite, but were they yelling ad hominem attacks?
So, some may ask, when conservatives call Obama and his followers “socialists” or “fascists,” are those ad hominem attacks? I would submit that they are not, because socialism and fascism are ideologies, and a way of characterizing the positions of the opposition. The opposition can then respond that what they are proposing is not socialism, or that it is socialism, so what? I am sure that there are examples of ad hominem attacks by opponents of Obama’s health care plan. If you witnessed such attacks, please comment below.
In a prior article, I hoped that we could get down to debating the issues on the merits, now that Obama's honeymoon is over. Yet, we are still witnessing personal attacks, mainly from Obama's supporters, which are given credence by the mainstream media. The opponents of health care reform are not entirely blameless, but they cannot be categorically discounted as a fringe element. Unfortunately, it looks like ad hominem attacks meant to discredit opponents will continue to define our national debates.
For more info: Wikipedia, Pelosi-Hoyer op-ed, Dan Gainor, End of Obama's honeymoon, Towson Health Care Town Hall.
Dilip Paliath has a general law practice in Towson. For more information, see www.paliath.com.
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