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Manipulation As Breach Of Arguer Responsibility In 'Welcome To Obamaville', Scott Jacobs
Manipulation As Breach Of Arguer Responsibility In 'Welcome To Obamaville', Scott Jacobs
OSSA Conference Archive
Argumentation should encourage autonomous decision-making. Rick Santorum’s political campaign ad Welcome to Obamaville violates this requirement by deploying a flood of subliminal images. Santorum’s ad involves a fallacy by virtue of clear intent to manipulate. Arguers are responsible for the foreseeable consequences of their action. Santorum acts in bad faith even if subliminal messages are in fact ineffective and he is wrong about the consequences foreseen.