Senator Cruz asks Senator Feinstein a question about why she thinks it’s okay to infringe upon the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans with her newly introduced anti-gun bill and, in addition, would she enforce that kind of infringement on other rights. Feinstein doesn’t answer the question at all but feigns an answer with a technique known in debating as an Appeal to Authority.

An Appeal to Authority basically means that you don’t have an answer or don’t want to tell the truth so you boast about your experience and authority as evidence that you are thinking correctly and telling the truth, therefore, whatever answer you would give is beyond reproach… even though you don’t actually give one. It’s considered arrogant and childish and is often used when you don’t want to admit the truth.