Doublespeak argument

A doublespeak argument is a valid argument that is not the true source of the arguer's position. A doublespeak argument may be used because the true reasoning behind a position is not popular or convincing. Such an argument is fallacious because even if the argument were defeated, the arguer's position would remain.

Examples

A tobacco company may oppose a cigarette tax because it threatens to reduce smoking and therefore reduce their profits. The company's public argument, however, may be that smokers are poorer than the general population, so a tobacco tax unfairly burdens the poor. But the tobacco company's real concern is not the well-being of the poor, evidenced by how it already addicts said poor to a costly product that will end up killing many of them. But the "hurts the poor" argument may evoke more sympathy than the "hurts our profits" argument.

A person may oppose the use of condoms because of a moral belief that sex should only occur between married couples for the purpose of procreation. If, however, the target of this person's arguments are people who may already be inclined to have premarital or recreational sex or may simply not agree with such moral beliefs, the condom opponent may instead argue that condoms cannot be trusted because they are not 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy and STDs. Yet the opponent of condom use would continue to oppose condom use even if condoms were 100 percent effective, as the opponent's concern is not rooted in preventing pregnancies or making premarital or recreational sex safe.

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