Note that tw is unable to refute or even address the facts and information I've laid out. All he can address is the "tone" -- an entirely subjective aspect, addressing HOW I've said something but not WHAT I've said.
The rest of tw's post is directly pointed at me and not my argument, even though it was presented by a non-American, non-UT person in the Wall Street Journal and my part was a three-sentence introduction.
An ad hominem argument, also known as argumentum ad hominem (Latin, literally "argument against the person") involves replying to an argument or assertion by attacking the person presenting the argument or assertion rather than the argument itself. It is a logical fallacy.