Note: This “Moore to the Point” commentary aired on NewsTalkSTL on Tuesday, April 26th. Audio included below.

“Projection” is defined as “the unconscious transfer of one’s own desires or emotions to another person.” This past weekend, on “State of the Union,” Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said the following: “What are the Republicans doing? They’re saying let’s fight the culture wars. They have no ideas on the economy other than to impose pain on American families and small businesses. That’s not an idea. What they want is power for themselves.”

My immediate reaction to this statement was to chuckle and characterize it as projection.

This, my friends, is called "projection." https://t.co/bS0fkEGzsW

— Susie Moore (@SmoosieQ) April 25, 2022

But then, is this really an “unconscious transfer” on the part of Senator Warren?  Or is it a deliberate attempt to accuse Republicans of doing the very thing that Democrats are doing?

Perhaps the more appropriate term is “gaslighting.” What are telltale signs of gaslighting? Telling blatant lies; denying having said something in spite of proof otherwise; actions not matching words; and…projection.

That’s why discernment is key when consuming political news. Do the messenger’s actions match their words? Do they stand up to scrutiny? As to Senator Warren’s words here, I’d say that’s a big fat “No.”