Second, argue that topical counterplans are illegitimate. The negative's counterplan provides another reason to support the topic-they are telling you to vote affirmative for another reason. The negative fails to meet their obligation in the debate. The negative, by definition, is supposed to be against the topic. The negative has failed to do this in this debate and should lose.
Topical counterplans permit abusive strategies.
The negative could run our plan but ban the use of number 2 pencils and claim these pencils are bad. Only keeping the topic involved stops such negative strategies. Note-arguing that topical counterplans are illegitimate will not work on many judges who feel that topical counterplans are okay. Thanks to Craig Koen for asking this question.