Argumentative techniques

Technically attacking your opponent and not their argument is an “ad hominem“. Example: You are dumb so I don’t have to listen to your completely valid argument you stinky person.” Straw man-ing is when you take the other person valid point and mutate it into something which is only vaguely similar but much easier to attack.

Two current political examples:

Arguement: I think the war in Iraq is unjustified
Straw Man: So you’d rather have Sadaam in power?
Arguement: We should raise the minimum wage
Straw Man: Why do you hate small business?