Straw Man Propaganda relies on the logical fallacy of the same name. The Straw Man fallacy uses an argument that misrepresents a position to make it appear weaker than it actually is, "proves" the misrepresentation is wrong, then concludes that the real position has been refuted. Metaphorically, it builds a man of straw (the initial argument), knocks down the man of straw (the proof), and then tells you the straw man has been knocked down (the conclusion).
An example of this is represented in the following syllogism:
- Pit bulls are an aggressive and dangerous animals.
- Pit bulls are dogs.
- Dogs are aggressive and dangerous animals.
Numbers one (1) and three (3) are connected by number two (2).
In political terms (the common venue for propaganda), one party may utilize straw man to impugn the position or veracity of his opponent by quoting the opponent's
Words out of context. An example of this in recent history is the Obama "Birther" controversy. It goes something like this:
President Obama's father is from Kenya, but the President claims he was born in Hawaii. He released his Certification of Live Birth (short form) in 2009, but this is not the original
Certificate of Live Birth (long form) that was issued when he was born. Because he did not issue the long form,
Certificate of Live Birth, President Obama must have something to hide, and the form he released must be faked. This must mean that Barrack Obama was not born in the US so cannot be eligible to be the President of the United States.
Note that the conclusion in the final sentence jumps to a premise that the first sentence does not suggest. There are a number of other possible conclusions that can be made from the information contained in the first sentence. The whole controversy rests on an emotionally charged situation, and is fueled by it.
