Straw Man

This fallacy is committed when the arguer distorts an opponent's position, directs arguments at this distorted position, and claims to have defeated the opponent's real argument.

Ms. Smith has argued against prayer in the public schools. Obviously she advocates atheism. But atheism is what they have in Russia. Atheism leads to the suppression of all religions and the replacement of God by an omnipotent state. Is this what we want?? Of course not. Ms. Smith's position is nonsense.

The student committee has presented us with an argument favoring alcohol privileges on campus. What do the students want? Is it their intention to stay boozed up from the day the enter as freshmen to the day they graduate? Do they want a chain of bars across the campus? Such a proposal is ridiculous!