Right. That's what rhetorical authority is. But we're talking about this guy named Stewart Baker, who just so happens to have authority as a senior officer of

Right. That's what rhetorical authority is. But we're talking about this guy named Stewart Baker, who just so happens to have authority as a senior officer of the executive branch of the United States Government. This is also a type of authority. It is not the relevant type of authority when discussing whether or not a statement is an ad hominem.