Let me help you make the distinction with an example Barack obama has big ears and looks dumb when he smiles that s an attack about him the person Barack obama abuses his presidential authority when he has american citizens executed without trial via drone strike that is a criticism about him in his capacity as president of the united states of course it is directed him the person who is president but it s not a personal attack if I said JP morgon looks dumb and I bet he sucks at ukulele that would be a peronal attack if I say I don t think JPgordon is a good admin that is not a personal attack