How not to persuade

I would like to thank The Spokesman’s editors for a recent editorial by U.S. Rep, Tom Marino, R-Pa., concerning his support of presidential candidate Donald Trump (“Trump will return country to its people”). However, my gratitude is thoroughly apolitical, for it comes from deep inside my 21-year-high-school-English-teacher heart. This article will now serve in my classroom as the epitome of how never to write a persuasive text.

First, based on its title, this piece was a prime example of a non-sequitur rhetorical fallacy. Even though the title focused clearly on Trump, the article itself mentioned the name “Trump” literally only once. However, “Obama” was written three times, and “Clinton,” 10.

In addition, because of the aforementioned numbers, this article was nothing more than an extended ad hominem attack, attacking the character of the other major party candidate and providing literally no evidence to support its main premise alluded to in its title.

Finally, because of the author’s clear political party bias, his credibility is immediately called into question, thereby undermining any attempts at appeals to ethos.

Sadly, I expect such empty, misleading rhetorical drivel within our national political arena. However, credible journalism should certainly hold itself to much higher standards, even on the op-ed pages.

Robert Archer

Spokane