I think it is effective. Take for instance the current use of the word "surrender" referencing withdrawals from Iraq. Anyone who suggests turning more of the responsibility for whatever happens over there to Iraqis is accused of calling for "surrender", even from the floor of the US Senate.

I have called the same tactic "black-and-white" thinking. Suggesting that torture is inappropriate brings the cry "So you just want to let them go!" And if it were on a more public scale some politician would run an advertisement suggesting that someone who was anti-torture was soft on terrorism, wanted to coddle those who would kill our wives, husbands, sons and daughters.

One of the more effective cries is to say those who resent the US do so because "they hate freedom, they hate democracy and they envy our way of life" instead of coming to understand why reasonable and rational folks might object to American imperialism.

I believe it is very effective with the 1/3 of the people who don't care to understand the issues and instead trust a simplistic party line and elected leadership.

Arf