When politicians don't answer questions

I gave a talk on the campus of SMU in Dallas last week and I got the question I always get: "Why is it so hard to get politicians to answer a question anymore?"

Well, here is why:

In this age of sophisticated information management and consultant-driven politics where everyone has a media coach and a strategy guru, it is all the vogue in public relations to tell your client, "Here are a couple of answers. No matter what you're asked, just give these answers."

Well, I hate to hurt your feelings, candidates, but you're paying good money for bad advice.

I don't give advice myself, but here is a news bulletin: Our viewers are pretty smart. When you don't answer a question, they know it, and they don't like it. They think you're slick (at best), evasive and even oily.

Bulletin number two: No one ever got elected because people thought they were evasive.

As a rule, I never ask the same question more than twice. I don't have to. A non-answer becomes an answer, and it never reflects well on the non-answerer ...

... Which brings me to bulletin number three: If you want to come on "Face the Nation" and look bad, be my guest!

Former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn was always my favorite "Face the Nation" guest because sometimes when I would invite him to be on the broadcast, he would just say, "Thanks, but I really have nothing to say this week."

Sam Nunn was not just a fine senator, he also won every political race he ever entered.

[NinthSt78]

Slightly off the track, not everyone sees questions and answers in the same sort of way. For example, "Is your mommy there?" The right answer might be a dangerous answer. The wrong answer might be safer. All things considered, though, I think I like the Sam Nunn answer best.

[umish]

NO politician will ever answer a question asked, he will answere what he wants the populice to hear....Dump congress and the senate and start all over with one rule.......no lawyers can be a politician.

[Hala_c]

The problem lies moreso with the press. Unfortunately the MSM no longer 'presses' for any real and substative answers.

Long live Orwellian double-speak, a.k.a. NEWS!

[JusWondering]

Hala_c, I really must say I disagree. A Person that refuses to answer a particular question, simply won't. Good example is Michelle Bauchman, and just about any question asked of her. She will rant and rave about everything; all the while intentionally getting further, and further from the question asked. There simply isn't enough time any more to make some one as this answer a question. Air time is truly expensive as you well know.

[canislupus16]

Perry and Bachmann are among the worst offenders. Yet, worse than the politicians who don't answer are mamby-pamby interviewers who don't follow up and force an answer, and they are plenty. The Republicans have been skating all through the GOP debates so far.

[JusWondering]

canislupus16, How does one force an answer from those that refuses, and know they can. Who votes these non-answering know it all's into the game any way; The interviewers or us? You know we live in a time now where blaming every one but the one who is too blame, Is the norm. Maybe it's time for us to change what were willing to except.

[longtree-2009]

even if they answer, they don't necessarily perform to that answer when elected. they say what the audience wants to hear or they answer to put themselves in the best light. they want to get elected or remain in office, the individual politician comes first as they want the job, to keep the job, and then the rest of the world. everyone says or does what they have to in order to gain their goal or keep it. there is no deep mystery about it bob.

[monachello]

Bob, you have our permission to sit and wait as long as it takes for a serious political candidate to answer a serious policy question with substance, especially in an area of policy in which he or she claims to disagree with their opponent. You also have our permission to respond to a comment made by a politician with either of these statements as appropriate: "the statement you just made makes no sense" or "there are no facts to support what you just said." Please do your job as a journalist. Shame on your colleagues if they don't follow your example.

[CyYouNow]

Thank you Bob for today's "Advice" ... I became particularly frustrated when Herman Cain did not answer your question today about the effect of his 9-9-9 plan on the auto industry. But then in a way by not answering the question as asked, he gave us more info than we would have guessed.

This plan would encourage people to "buy used... not new" per Cain's own words... as the tax would be on new items only. When you asked him how that would affect the auto industry (Bravo!) he replied that it would serve to "use up the existing stock of used cars"... failing to answer the question as asked. Does taxing new goods only encourage people to buy new thus requiring new goods to be made?... I don't THINK so. And aren't we trying to get the older, gas-guzzling cars off the road and lower consumption? How exactly does this stimulate the economy to discourage buying new??? If this applies to housing purchases as well... what will that do to new home sales? Ergo.. the wealthy can afford to buy new shiny stuff and pay the 9% tax while the lower income people can just make due with used goods. What kind of plan is this? Sounds like more of the same of what we've got. 9-9-9 was dead in the water at this point for me.

He talked about how his daddy just worked harder to get that Cadillac rather than expecting something from someone else. Hello Herman... this is not your daddy's economy. I wish you would have pointed this out. I guess he just wanted to make sure we knew his daddy had a Caddy.

Perhaps Herman has been in the corporate ivory tower too long and doesn't know what is going on on the street. If he did he might not think the "Occupy" groups are just jealous of people who have things they don't... like A JOB ;)

[tsigili]

When the liberal media is baiting the GOP candidates, not only should the candidates avoid being baited, they should reverse attack the media journalists, who they recognize are being less than fair, and representing the opposition.

That is precisely where Mr. Scheiffer stands. He is an unabashed Democrat, and he makes no bones about it, and he never apologizes for being unfair, and biased.

[CyYouNow]

Since when is asking a question "baiting"? Or does that just apply to the GOP candidates? I guess you would prefer them to stick to the talking points memo...

[nor-one]

Sorry folks. You don't want true answers. The whole US political system is based on and fed by BULL *****. If politicians told you the truth you'd never vote for them. If they told you what they really thought of you, you'd form a lynch party.Their advise to everyone is pull yourself up by your boot straps like they did! Once you become a millionaire(like them) the real lies start. Especially about how they got thers! Check how they vote when it comes to the military/industrial comples and the banks! Sorry but if you give these people power they will use it on YOU.

[JusWondering]

OOOOKKKK ?? Next please..

[ddog88]

Dick Cheney said it best, F-U! When a politician is that honest, it's comforting.

[JusWondering]

vsmit, your comments are a perfect example of a childish mentality that so many claiming to support the right wing possess. As a result so many end up voting against their own self interest...