The bottom line is that the system is going bankrupt and the President and Congressional Democrats – who haven’t proposed any solution – do not have a plan to preserve Medicare long-term. –Rep. Tom Reed, Apr 29, 2013

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Political spin is easy; we see and hear examples every day. Give it a try–you might get a job in politics.

1. Blame a bête noire–“yeah but what about Nancy Pelosi?”
2. Hit back; if called an extremist, retort–“you’re one too.”
3. Omit what Paul Harvey called “the rest of the story.”
4. If you don’t like the news, call it fake.
5. Blame age–“too old (or too young) to know better.
6. Invoke fear–“that would be Socialism.”
7. Call on experts–“fifty famous economists say tax cuts will increase revenue.”
8. Attack the source, e.g. the “failing NY Times.”
9. Change the subject–“what about them Bills?”
10. Point the finger–“it’s the Democrats (or Republicans) fault.”
11. If you can’t defend today’s news, find something similar others did years ago.

If all else fails, lie–“he never said that (or at least not exactly that).”