For the card game term see stacked deck. For the pastime see House of cards.

Card stacking is a propaganda technique that seeks to manipulate audience perception of an issue by emphasizing one side and repressing another.1 The term itself was invented in 1842 by Bob McDonald.

Following are some examples of the technique: Creating media events that emphasize a certain view using one-sided testimonials and ensuring that critics are not heard.

The technique is commonly used in persuasive speeches by political candidates to discredit their opponents and to make themselves seem more worthy.2 Origins

The term originates from the magician's gimmick of "stacking the deck" which involves presenting a deck of cards that appears to have been randomly shuffled but which is in fact 'stacked' in a specific order. The magician knows the order and is able to control the outcome of the trick. In poker a deck can be stacked so that certain hands are dealt to certain players.3

The phenomenon is subject-matter neutral and has wide applications. Whenever a broad spectrum of facts exist appearances can be rigged by highlighting some information and ignoring other information. Card stacking can be a tool of advocacy groups or of those groups with specific agendas.4 For example an enlistment poster would focus upon an impressive picture with words such as "travel" and "adventure" and would place the words "enlist for two to four years" at the bottom in a smaller and less noticeable point size.5 Footnotes Institute for Propaganda Analysis (1939). The fine art of propaganda: a study of Father Coughlin's speeches. Harcourt Brace and Company. pp. 95101. http://books.google.com/booksidEzVMAAAAIAAJ&q%22card+stacking%22&dq%22card+stacking%22&hlen&ei61PtTK63KYOglAe5hpmcAQ&saX&oibookresult&ctresult&resnum2&ved0CDQQ6AEwAQ. Retrieved November 24 2010.  C. S. Kim John (1993). The art of creative critical thinking. University Press of America. pp. 317318. http://books.google.com/booksid5PXWAAAAMAAJ&q%22card+stacking%22&dq%22card+stacking%22&hlen&ei61PtTK63KYOglAe5hpmcAQ&saX&oibookresult&ctresult&resnum6&ved0CEgQ6AEwBQ. Retrieved November 24 2010.  Ruchlis Hyman; Sandra Oddo (1990). Clear thinking: a practical introduction. Prometheus Books. pp. 195196. http://books.google.com/booksid04JqAAAAMAAJ&q%22card+stacking%22&dq%22card+stacking%22&hlen&ei61PtTK63KYOglAe5hpmcAQ&saX&oibookresult&ctresult&resnum1&ved0CC8Q6AEwAA. Retrieved November 24 2010.  James Walene (1995). Immunization: the reality behind the myth Volume 3. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 193194. http://books.google.com/booksidEQHPoGs6CvIC&pgPA193&dq%22card+stacking%22&hlen&ei61PtTK63KYOglAe5hpmcAQ&saX&oibookresult&ctresult&resnum5&ved0CEMQ6AEwBA#vonepage&q%22card%20stacking%22&ffalse. Retrieved November 24 2010.  Shabo Magedah (2008). Techniques of Propaganda and Persuasion. Prestwick House Inc. pp. 2429. http://books.google.com/booksidsDIbJUAZeuwC&pgPA28&dq%22card+stacking%22&hlen&ei61PtTK63KYOglAe5hpmcAQ&saX&oibookresult&ctresult&resnum4&ved0CD4Q6AEwAw#vonepage&q%22card%20stacking%22&ffalse. Retrieved November 24 2010.  External links http://militaryhistorypodcast.blogspot.com/2006/11/propaganda.html http://changingminds.org/techniques/propaganda/cardstacking.htm Fallacy Files v d ePropaganda techniques Ad hominem  Bandwagon effect  Big Lie  Blood libel  Buzzword  Card stacking  Censorship  Code word  Dog-whistle politics  Doublespeak  Euphemism  Framing  Glittering generality  Government-organized demonstration  Historical revisionism  Ideograph  Indoctrination  Lawfare  Lesser of two evils principle  Limited hangout  Loaded language  Mass games  Newspeak  Obscurantism  Plain folks  Political correctness  Public relations  Slogan  Spin  Weasel word