Evaluation of Example 12: Romney's Taxes
Passage:
Sen. Harry Reid claimed Romney hasn't paid his
income taxes, and demanded Romney disprove this unsubstantiated
allegation … What makes this a farce is Reid has not released
his own income tax records …”
Thomas Sowell, “The Paul Ryan Choice,”
Index-Journal 94 no. 108 (16 Aug. 2012), 6A.
Analsyis:
The counter-charge that Senator Reid has not released
his own tax records is irrelevant to the accusation that Mr. Romney has not
paid income taxes. The ad hominem circumstantial (and tu quoque)
fallacy occurs since the writer is accusing Senator Reid of a misdeed
like that of Senator Reid's allegation against Mr. Romney.
Senator Reid claims Mr. Romney did not pay incomes taxes.
Senator Reid has not provided his own income tax records.
Senator Reid's accusation is dubious.