Which type of propaganda technique is illustrated by the statement about Hobie Cat's investment in the Special Olympics?

The statement about Hobie Cat's investment in the Special Olympics demonstrates the non sequitur technique because it presents an argument or statement that does not logically follow from the premises. Non sequitur involves making a conclusion that is unrelated to the initial argument or that lacks a direct connection to the topic at hand. In this context, while Hobie Cat's investment may be a positive action, it does not directly address or provide reasoning about the effectiveness or importance of the product being promoted, thereby creating a disconnect in logic. This means that the mention of the Special Olympics serves as a distraction from the actual argument intended by the statement, aligning perfectly with the characteristics of a non sequitur.

In contrast, the other options reflect different propaganda techniques. For instance, appeal to authority would involve citing an expert or influential figure to support a claim, while bandwagon appeal would encourage people to join in because others are doing so. Red herring would divert attention from the main issue using a related but irrelevant topic. None of these align as closely with the use of non sequitur as the described scenario does.