red herring | ˌred ˈher.ɪŋ | noun
- The red herring fallacy changes the focus of an argument.
- Arguers commit the fallacy of red herring when they introduce an irrelevant issue that has the effect of distracting from the question at hand.
I call this “the sleight of hand maneuver” as it happens so slickly it is often unperceivable to the audience.
Source: Reason in the Balance: an inquiry approach to critical thinking.