Seth Gordon is renowned for his astute observations on media and politics, frequently offering perceptive criticisms of the ways in which these domains manipulate information. He noted a prevalent practice in political circles—the meticulous selection and presentation of data to support particular agendas—in one noteworthy statement.

Think of politicians as expert cooks who can use any ingredients to produce a dish that looks good on the surface but may not taste quite right on closer inspection. To make their meal (argument) more palatable to the tastes of their audience, they are fully aware of which spices (data points) to include or omit. This skill enables them to create narratives that support their political objectives, frequently ignoring the subtleties and complexity of actual problems.

Gordon's remark is indicative of a larger worry regarding honesty and openness in the use of data in politics. In order to make sure they are receiving a clear picture of the facts, citizens should critically assess the information that politicians present, even though they may emphasize certain points or minimize others.