Political scapegoating is the process of blaming a political party or group for a negative outcome, even if there is no evidence to support this belief. This can be a powerful tool for political manipulation, as it can be used to rally support for a particular party or policy.

All of the options provided are examples of political urban legends. These are stories or beliefs that are widely circulated but have no basis in fact. They can be used to spread misinformation and influence public opinion.

Political urban legends can have a significant impact on public policy debates. They can lead to the adoption of policies that are not based on evidence, polarize public opinion, and undermine public trust in government and political institutions.

There is no single solution to combating the spread of political urban legends. However, a combination of education, critical thinking skills, and support for independent journalism and fact-checking organizations can help to reduce their impact on public policy debates.

The decision to go to war in Iraq in 2003 was influenced by the political urban legend that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. This belief was later found to be false, but it had a significant impact on the decision-making process.