Rhetorical moderation was deliberately crafted to persuade the uncommitted

Evidence

In contrast to the contentions in the authors’ version of the article that in e qual ity was undesirable but not a reason for continuing rent controls, Stigler observed that the foundation’s version implied that in e qual ity was a blessing. He concluded that the moderating phrases in the essay were “indispensable in giving the tone of objectivity we seek” and helped them “to convince the openminded, not those who already favor our position.” — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion, 424

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the literature on how think tanks strategically frame doctrines to appear objective — echoes the ‘tone of objectivity’ as a persuasion technology seen in the law-merchant pieces on reputation signaling. — connects to: Friedman rejected the MPS’s deliberate-moderation rhetoric for confrontation — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion: Reinventing Free…, 472