I have always admired and esteemed @chrislhayes, but that became something like adoration just now when he used “question begging” correctly.

The discussion was about the high rates af Af-Am mortality in the COVID crisis. Chris referenced the “explanation” that they have higher rates of co-morbidities, like hypertension and diabetes, and called it “question begging,” correctly. Why? Follow along with me!

The question is: Why do African-Americans have such disproportionately terrible health outcomes? If your “answer” is, because they tend to have much more prexexisting diseases, the what you’re saying, in essence, is “it’s because they have terrible health outcomes!”

You haven’t answered the question, you’ve just restated the premise. You’ve begged the question!