His statement is a classic example of the "straw man" fallacy, in which a debater creates a caricature of his opponent's argument and attacks it. This way, the dolt was able to sidestep the real problem, which was that the district had fallen behind its peers in acquiring computers. The more sentient school board members recognized that this would put students at a disadvantage. The computers were bought, but the dolt was reelected.
We are loath to admit it, but facts and critical thinking, the bedrock of cogent, honest argument, have never been particularly popular in America. We are a nation of consumers who see facts as a commodity to be processed, packaged, and presented according to our tastes. Any fact that leaves a bad taste is rejected; any half-truth or bald-faced lie that conforms to our preferences is gobbled up without question.
The Internet has only amplified the din. Even the most specious arguments are granted legitimacy simply for having been made. Every opinion, however uninformed, is seen as inherently valuable. No argument is too preposterous or dishonest to share. If you are shameless enough to stand up and say it, someone is bound to agree and pass it along.
It's how Rush Limbaugh, who recently signed a $300 million contract to build and destroy legions of straw men every day, can claim he is a spokesman for the working class. It's how Sarah Palin can be talked about as a serious candidate for president, and how a weepy basket case like Glenn Beck can be held up as the "only sane voice in the media."
