I was watching an interview of Betsy Devos not answering questions and responding to the interviewer with talking points. She never did answer the question. It reminded me of Kellyanne Conway. She’s an absolute master of not only not answering questions but giving responses minutes long covering a multitude of her chosen talking points.
Ask a simple question. Don’t get an answer. I saw Pompeo get asked a simple question by a Democratic congressman at a committee meeting. It was a yes or no type of question that with his training and education he should have been able to answer. Nope. Didn’t do it. The answer would not have been flattering to the President even though it would have been truthful. Pompeo danced all around with his response and it was easy to tell that he knew what the correct response was. But allegiance to the Ducé comes first!
Asking for a friend.
It occurs to me that journalists, and I mean real journalists, need a different approach in asking questions of anybody associated with the Ducé Administration. I have some suggestions. J will stand for journalist. R will stand for respondent.
J. I know this will be hard but I want you to try and answer the question that you’re being asked. Okay?
R. Wha, wha, wha, blah, blah, blah, whaaa, blah. (3 min.)
J. Okay, couldn’t even answer that question but we’ll just let that one go and ask a new one. < Asks a question. >
R. Wha, wha, wha, blah, blah, blah, whaaa, blah. (5 min.)
J. Well, those were some nice talking points. There the same ones that you mentioned when we started off with me asking you if you could answer the question you were asked. Let’s try again. < Asks same question. >
R. Wha, wha, wha, blah, blah, blah, whaaa, blah. (6 min.)
J. You see, you didn’t answer the question that you were asked. Let’s try again. < Asks same question. >
R. Wha, wha, wha, blah, blah, blah, whaaa, blah. (8 min.)
J. Perhaps English isn’t your first language. Can you understand the words that I’m using?
R. Wha, wha, wha, blah, blah, blah, whaaa, blah. (5 min.)
J. Aaannnnd you got in your talking points again without answering that question either.
R. Wha, wha, wha, blah, blah, blah, whaaa, blah. (5 min.)
J. You’re just spouting talking….
R. Wha, wha, wha, blah, blah, blah, whaaa, blah. (6 min.)
J. We’re going to try this. I’m going to ask you a question. It’s going to be a yes or….
R. Wha, wha, wha, blah, blah, blah, whaaa, blah. (5 min.)
J. Stop interrupting me so we can….
R. Wha, wha, wha, blah, blah, blah, whaaa, blah. (5 min.)
J. ….yes or no question. If you don’t answer with a yes or a no I’m going to cut off your mic and end the interview.
R. Wha, wha, wha, blah, blah, blah, whaaa, blah. (5 min.)
J. That wasn’t a question but you got in a new talking point so at least we have that. < Asks question. >
R. Wha, wha, wha, …. (15 sec.)
Theater
Cutting off the microphone for anyone being interviewed if they don’t answer the question they’re being asked would really do a lot to advance journalism at this stage. Politicians from all of the parties have realized that their messaging is more important than answering questions that they’re asked. If a person answers a question we learn a little bit about them. Learn what their beliefs are. Learn what policies they want to introduce. Learn what they value in life. See if they are truthful. They aren’t interested in that. Instead we have theater.
Stop enabling them!
If the person doesn’t answer the question/s—show them the door!
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