Whyte claims that in discussion of policy or propositions that discussion of one's motives are irrelevant. I think that people are interested in the motives of those who make arguments when they suspect that the arguments being advanced are not the real reasons for their support of a position.
Bush's motives for the Iraq war are suspect when the publicly touted justifications turn out to be false.
Whyte himself engages in speculations about motives when discussing those whose beliefs or arguments he disagrees with. Sauce for the goose...
Whyte's incosistency shows that he doesn't subscribe to the arguments he makes in his own book.
