That was it nothing to distract the senses from the message.

VOA: special.2009.08.16

Can you talk about something else?Distract me so I won't turn around.

VOA: standard.other

And usually those attempts to distract attention are driven by a concern that the person attempting to distract is losing the debate on the substantive issues.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Gaggle aboard the Press Bus en route Davenport, IA

That should distract you from the social collapse that will be going on all around you.

FORBES: Magazine Article

And basically to distract, I think, attention from that and to change the subject.

NPR: White House Approach to Iran Stirs Concerns