The deliberate and obvious exaggeration used for effect.
But, what happens when people apply political correctness to a hyperbole? You get Joe Biden moments. Is Biden a hidden racist? Maybe or maybe not, but to the politically correct observers...his use of hyperbole is a betrayal of some deep inner truth of the man's soul.
It is this inappropriate application of political correctness to hyperbole that allows democrats/liberals to pillory their opposition with outrageous accusations.
Should Biden apologize? No, I don't think he should as it was clearly hyperbole. It was not a gaffe. The gaffe is in the folks who are failing to grasp the concept of hyperbole or are trying to force the imposition of political correctness on the use of hyperbole.
So if political correctness cannot be applied to obvious hyperbole...how can we use that idea to insulate ourselves from the PC argument?
Truth has a factual limit. A lie has no limits so a liar may as well stretch it as far as he likes. Hence, Biden and hyperbole.
It's the blatant reality of a double standard (not PC). It's so ugly (and they're expecting a lot more of this from the Obama-Biden camp) that they wanted to go on record (now that they've indemnified themselves, they will skirt the issue leading up to the election).
You are of course correct and right on.
Hyperbole sells weight loss pills and Oil of Olay.
Extrapolating your thought, political correctness, all political correctness should be disregarded. Those who insist on the application should be shamed to their face and ostracized.
Biden knew exactly what he was saying. And he wasn’t just speaking to the blacks. He was also speaking to the brainwashed whites in this country. Bottom line is “If you vote for a republican you’re a racist.” It worked in 2008 and they hope it’ll work in 2012. It’s all they had then and it’s all they got now. Sadly, it may work again.