There are a whole host of social habits available to elite journalists and political actors which marginalize liberal or dissident voices. One of them is the use of anonymous sources to spread rumors about populist politicians. Another example is using vague terms, such as 'bloggers', 'progressives', or 'some' as straw men instead of referring to specific people making specific political claims.
All of us to some extent are guilty of generalizing, and generalizing is just a way of recognizing patterns and explaining them to the world. But taken to an extreme, this is simply a political weapon used by dominant political actors. George Bush uses straw men precisely in this manner, as Liz Cox Barrett noted. Read this passage.
There is a certain attitude in the world, by some, that says that it's a waste of time to try to promote free societies in parts of the world... And I fully understand that that might rankle some, and be viewed by some as folly. I just strongly disagree with those who do not see the wisdom of trying to promote free societies around the world... I - I simply do not agree with those who either say overtly or believe that certain societies cannot be free. It's just not a part of my thinking... there is a attitude among some that certain people may never be free - they just don't long to be free or incapable of running an election. And I disagree with that. And the Afghan people, by going to the polls in the millions, proved - proved that this administration's faith in freedom to change peoples' habits is worthy.
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