The leftie bugabears, for the most part, don't exist. The lefties and MSM look and look for evidence, but it isn't there. So when something looks like it MIGHT prove their point, they pounce it it and say: See! It's OBVIOUS!
Problem is, it was never there in the first place.
people will always see what you ask them to look for.
......and the dumbing down of Americans pushed by the left makes it easier day by day to accomplish the shell game you describe, "Look here, not there."