BP or the Obama administration?

[ProSense]

The media pundits are criticizing the administration's response. They claim the administration has left BP in charge.

Most Americans view BP as negligent and many do not believe they company executives are trustworthy.

Question: Given all the response to the crisis and based on the media's claim that the administration has been hands off, are we to assume that the efforts underway in the Gulf (cleanup, response and resources) are the result of BP's forthrightness?

[noamnety]

1. false dichotomy. (nt)

[ProSense]

2. Why?

From the perspective of the media: If BP is in charge and the adminstration has been hands off, who will the media credit for the success or failure of any operation?

[noamnety]

4. Because the answer is both.

BP walked into the bar drunk, the administration knew it, served them more booze, and handed them a set of car keys.

[ProSense]

5. That doesn't answer the question.

Who is leading the effort?

[noamnety]

6. It answered the question quite accurately.

It's just not the answer you're willing to hear.

[ProSense]

7. No, it absolutely doesn't address he question.

Here is the question in the OP: "are we to assume that the efforts underway in the Gulf (cleanup, response and resources) are the result of BP's forthrightness?"

"Both" is not a response.

[noamnety]

8. The screwups in the gulf are the result of both BP and the administration's actions.

Both are negligent. The answer is not exclusively one or the other, despite your subject line implying otherwise.

[ProSense]

9. You are still not answering the question

"are we to assume that the efforts underway in the Gulf (cleanup, response and resources) are the result of BP's forthrightness?"

I'll take it that you do not want to.

[noamnety]

10. Phrased as a false dichotomy, it doesn't have a yes/no answer.

That's how logical fallacies are - when you misstate the terms of a debate, the CORRECT answer isn't necessarily a True/False answer.

On the plus side, it sounds like you would be quite comfortable with NCLB-type test questions. :)

[obxhead]

3. I think it's moot, they're both inept and negligent at this point.