kw: opinion, politics, logical fallacies
The old fallacy of guilt by association has taken a new twist. You know, "So and so has evil friends, so he must be evil also." The argument typically has force only if there are several of these evil associates, particularly if they outnumber the "non-evil" ones.
Former Congressman Foley is no doubt the evil friend to all Republicans these days. However, rather than a few or several evil friend implicating one person, one person is implicating an entire body of about three hundred members. Let's see, is the part-for-the-whole metaphor a metonymy? I forget, but it takes the old fallacy to new levels!
Members of both parties need to recall that Jesus said, "It has been said of old that the fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But I say to you that each shall die for his own sin." It is entirely predictable that desperate members of both parties will get their arguments exactly backwards, flailing for a few votes. Pity.
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