Sure "The American People" is a meaningless phrase. Much like arguing a point by saying "Everyone I know". Does that mean "the American people I know" on Crack?
But meaningless phrases are much easier to swallow than the flat out lying phrases used all the time. The one that gets me the most is "The intelligent voting public". That crap is easily put to rest not by a phrase, a sentence or even a word, but only one letter! "W"
Reminder to some of you who may want to argue this regards the last election. Less than one third of eligible voters voted for Barack Obama.