President Obama's Abuse of False 'False Choices'

This version of the "false choice" is a completely new thing. The original false choice (or false dichotomy, as philosophers call it) involved arguing that there were only two valid choices, one of which the speaker supported, and then declaring that the choice the speaker supported was the most palatable of the two. If the speaker can't prove that there are, in fact, only two choices, this argument is fallacious. Bill Clinton used to call Republicans out on their use of this "false choice" in their rhetoric constantly.

The false choices Obama rails against seem to come from two groups of people rather than from one person trying to make a coherent argument. Of course, in some contexts this kind of false choice actually exists. It's especially prevalent in the media, where cable news is addicted to the idea that there are exactly two positions on any issue. So the use of this new false choice device is partly an acknowledgement of a new reality, though obviously someone could misapply it to a situation it doesn't fit.

Kevin S. of OH 8:39PM April 26, 2011