I think he means that the name dropping is used by someone (e.g. Glenn Beck) who wants to bypass your bullshit detector by attaching an authority figure to the

I think he means that the name dropping is used by someone (e.g. Glenn Beck) who wants to bypass your bullshit detector by attaching an authority figure to the bullshit they're trying to pass off as important, relevant, or supportive of their view. Whether or not the authority figure attributed is the actual author is irrelevant, it's the intention behind the use of this appeal to authority. To grossly paraphrase George Carlin (who was referring to racial epithets[0]): There's nothing wrong with the mis-attribution of a quote, it's the fraudulent use of a famous authority figure by a trickster you ought to be concerned about. [0] from Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics, "They're Only Words" (track 14)