Powell Uses the Chewbacca Defense

One of the most difficult arguments to turn is a factually reasonable position which has emotional overtones as well - the kind of argument that John Kerry makes about Bush's foreign policy. On a Sunday Morning talk show today, Colin Powell used one of the few effective parries -- the "Chewbacca Defense".

Powell simply counters, "I don't know what Senator Kerry is talking about. He just does not make sense." What Powell is doing here is trading on his enormous reputation for reliability and fairmindedness, so that those who have heard what Kerry has to say, and hear that Powell doesn't understand it, come to the conclusion that it must be that Kerry isn't making any sense, because Powell does so. This is an impressively effective defense! As long as you are willing to give Powell credibility, you must believe that Kerry isn't making any sense to him at all -- even if what Kerry says seems reaonable to you, you come to the conclusion that Powell sees Kerry's argument for what it is, while you are too simple-minded to get it.

How does one overcome the Chewbacca Defense, when it is leveled at you? I don't know -- the most obvious approach is to destroy Powell's credibility. That takes doing. Probably the easiest way is, "Aw, that's just Powell pretending he doesn't understand to get on Bush's good side, like Powell always does, like all those clubby cabinet members do." -- a turn on Reagan's "There you go again,". That'd be my advice.