← Back to archive

Ted Olson, an attorney for Bush in the hanging chad case said Trump doesn’t have a case.

Historical archive only. New interaction is disabled.

Original Question

He said Trumps arguments have to do with unfounded allegations of voter fraud and not defective ballots, as was the case in Florida in 2000.   I believe this is a fallacious argument because in both instances it is a matter of legitimacy.   

Answers

2

"He said Trumps arguments have to do with unfounded allegations of voter fraud"......this is false


"and not defective ballots,"....this is ambiguous, defective how? there is an ambiguity fallacy


You could say, Person A says "a lawyer said....therefore it's true" It would be an argument from authority fallacy


If person A, "there wasn't ballot fraud....here's one lawyer that agrees"....confirmation bias


As Dr. Bo said, you haven't posted an argument like....


Voter fraud is illegal....Trump says there's voter fraud. Lawyer from "bush chad case" says there's no evidence of fraud...So Trump is wrong...


Then fallacy could be argument from authority, maybe confirmation bias.


 

There is no argument here; it is just a legal opinion. So no fallacy.


From what you wrote, Olson appears to just be stating a fact - a difference between the two cases. If he said (or implied) that simply because Trump's case does not have to do with defective ballots then it is not "legitimate," he would be wrong legally/factually.

Logically Fallacious book by Bo Bennett

Want the full book?

Get the complete guide to logical fallacies by Bo Bennett.

Buy the Book

Master Logical Fallacies Online

Take the Virversity course and sharpen your reasoning skills with structured lessons.

View Online Course