To present a distorted picture to earn acceptance of something thats generally unacceptable, whats the word?

Question

I am looking for word/phrases that people do this kind of manipulation through media channels including internet, tv, opinions, letter to the editor etc. If someone can provide history of the word/phrase they recommend, that would be good as well.

Answer 1

The popular term for manipulating messages via the media is "SPIN".

In public relations, spin is a usually pejorative term signifying a heavily biased portrayal in one's own favor of an event or situation. While traditional public relations may also rely on creative presentation of the facts, "spin" often, though not always, implies disingenuous, deceptive and/or highly manipulative tactics. Politicians are often accused of spin by their political opponents.

Because of the frequent association between "spin" and press conferences (especially government press conferences), the room in which these take place is sometimes described as a spin room. A group of people who develop spin may be referred to as "spin doctors" who engage in "spin doctoring" for the person or group that hired them.

Answer 2

Semantics.

Semantics is the use of words in a way that makes meaning ambiguous.

Its like not wanting to sound negative, so you choose positive words that convey something else. Example: "Supports Gun Control" instead of "wanting to get rid of guns."

Answer 3

How about "To pull the wool over one's eyes," meaning "to blind to the facts and deceive"? It appears to be an American coinage of the late 1800s, although a similar phrase, "to spread the wool over one's eyes," appeared in the 1830s.

The standard story about "to pull the wool over one's eyes" traces the phrase to the wigs commonly worn by men (especially judges and attorneys) in the 18th century. A judge fooled by a clever lawyer, it is said, would be said to have the "wool" (slang for a wig) pulled over his eyes, blinding him to the facts of the case. "To pull the wool" of an opponent over his eyes would mean to get the better of him through trickery.

Or how about "Hoodwink," also meaning "to trick or deceive"? It harks back to the original meaning of "wink," which was "to close one's eyes firmly," not the brief "wink" we know today. To "hoodwink" in the 16th century was to blindfold with a hood (as in preparation for execution), a tactic also commonly used by thieves. The figurative use to mean "blind someone to the facts" first appeared in the 17th century.

Answer 4

sugarcoat - to make something more appealing

color, gild, gloss (over), gloze (over), varnish, veneer, whitewash. Idioms: paper over, put a good face on