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Perhaps I misunderstand what you mean, but isn't this the exact opposite of an appeal to authority? The claim is that she's not qualified because she's not a credentialed economist.

(I'm not familiar enough with Ms. Warren's background to have a substantiated opinion either way, though I certainly don't doubt her intelligence.)

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It’s an appeal to the authority of the economics establishment. Because Sen. Warren doesn’t teach at one of few named Economics institutions she is not allowed to speak on matters of economics.

Nokinside made an appeal to authority when he described Senator Warren's qualifications.

BurningFrog is arguing that that is not correct because Senator Warren is not an authority in the first place.

You could still argue that she is correct; but (assuming BurningFrog's judgements on her qualifications), that arguement must be on the merits of her arguements, not her qualifications.

She is qualified to speak on the matter. not as a credentialed economist, but as a legal scholar and a legislator.

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