Name this historical political speech that displays ambivalence?

August 28, 2019 11:47 AM

For the life of me I can't remember the context or author of a historical political speech about something controversial--perhaps alcohol or gambling--in which the speaker outlines an identical subject twice in both a positive and negative way, claiming to support the positives but derides the negatives, ignoring that it is the same subject. Perhaps satirically or ironically?

I seem to remember the basic construction being "if by ____ you mean ___ , then I am against it! "But if you mean ____ , then I am for it!" There is a small chance it was part of a modern skit or other context, but I don't believe so.

posted by Phyltre to Law & Government (5 answers total)

There's an episode of Yes Minister (or Yes Prime Minister) where the minister demonstrates to his private sectetary Bernard that, with the right sequence of poll questions, anyone can be manipulated into declaring themselves for or against conscription.
posted by rjs at 12:07 PM on August 28, 2019 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Noah S. Sweat's Whiskey Speech.
posted by zamboni at 12:25 PM on August 28, 2019 [9 favorites]

Best answer: Do you mean the "if-by-whiskey speech," delivered by Noah Sweat, on legalizing alcohol in Mississippi?
posted by sevensnowflakes at 12:25 PM on August 28, 2019 [7 favorites]

Seven snowflakes has it. It's it's own fallacy now.
posted by heigh-hothederryo at 12:27 PM on August 28, 2019

I'd never heard of Sweat's speech before, but now I've got to say it would make a terrific audition monologue.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:35 PM on August 28, 2019 [3 favorites]