Obama's Revealing and Faulty Debate Logic

Anyone that has debated or argued in the past has probably come up against a comment just like this, "you know I'm right". This is the most debased arguement that anyone can have in any sophisticated debate. It is nothing more than third grade logic. Of course, I assume that anyone I debate thinks they are right. They are taking the position they are taking because they think it is right. Saying what is implicitly obvious doesn't in any way shape or form move the debate forward.

This brings me to this article discussing Obama's prospects as a uniter...

In the interview, for example, he argued that his proposals on health care and the economy, which call for a stronger government role and more regulation, were really about what works.

“I’m interested in solving problems as opposed to imposing doctrine,” he said. “I see a lot of convergence of interests among people who in traditional terms are considered to be divided politically.”

Now, what Obama is essentially doing here is employing the "you know I'm right" debating point. He is acting as though it is a given that more regulation and bigger government is good for our economy. That is by no means a settled matter. In fact, I would argue vigorously with him that it isn't right. Classic liberals think that what works is more regulation and more government. That is a piece of what makes them classic liberals.

The reason of course he thinks he is right, at least in my opinion, is because he is a classic liberal. He is acting like his straight down the line classic liberal solutions should be seen different because he thinks he is right. This is frankly the line of arguement taken usually by those that have no legitimate point to make. Of course, a classic liberal would believe that more government and more regulation would be right. Tell me something I don't know.

If in fact, more regulation and more government were the right thing to do, what Obama would do is point out what specifically about those proposals would benefit the country. Instead the only thing he can say about his proposals is he thinks they are right.

Its a rather revealing statement by Obama. It means he really doesn't understand the merits of the debate, but rather only assumes that if it is classic liberal it is right. Think about how tortured his logic is. He is convinced he can unite the country behind classic tax and spend policies, policies that have always been divisive in the past. He thinks he can do this because he is convinced he is right. This, I suppose is the new kind of politics he is talking about.