How Not to Answer A Question
Somestimes You Have To Say "Yes" Or "No"
By Erick Posted in 2006 — Comments (12) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Ted Strickland is running for governor in Ohio. Despite being married, he's been plagued recently by lots of people saying he is gay. So a reporter, on a talk show, finally asks Strickland, to his face, if he is gay or not.
Let me just say that as a political consultant who has been doing consulting for ten years, I try to make candidates understand that sometimes they cannot give evasive answers. They must start with either a "yes" or a "no." Now, I don't really care whether Mr. Strickland is gay or not, but I will save this clip and use it for the rest of my life when showing candidates how not to answer a question. See it below.
He may not be gay, but there sure is a creepiness factor to him.
Be sure to read Scott Pullins for more.
« When Negative Ads Backfire — Comments (4) | Where's Tammy? — Comments (13) »
How Not to Answer A Question 12 Comments (0 topical, 12 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Even making a statement like "I THINK my wife loves me and I THINK she has been faithful to me" probably isnt a smart move.
he could possibly have been thinking was, "Quick -- don't...offend...ANYBODY...!!"
Talk about trying to stay on-message at all costs.
-----------
Even those who learn from history are surrounded by those doomed to repeat it.
"Honey, I'd love to spank that boy's behind for what he said."
...sure isn't shy about taking it to him.
from what Scott Pullins has on his website is looks like Strickland is going after two key constituencies in a big way.
If you can't say "yes" or "no" then you haven't truly answered the question. He said things on the blog were all false but then goes to something about a Xerox. I think if he gets caught he can backtrack and say his "false" comment was about that and not the gay thing.
Based on the McGreevey experience I don't know if people can say that whether he's gay or not doesn't matter. What matters is lying and the creation of an alternate life/identity. Those aren't good qualities in an elected official.
If he can't answer a yes or no question before he gets into office, there is no way he will after he gets there. And you just saw the way he went around that baby--all the way around that one--in a big way. He never answered the question. I've been blessed to be in love more than once in my life. I'll bet he has too. He said a whole lot about his wife, but not so much about himself. His body language is the big indicator. He doesn't want to answer the question truthfully. Yes or no, buddy? It's not hard. Do you like boys or don't you? Reading the body language alone, I'd say he does. As to whether or not he's acted on it is anyone's guess. As to why he cares if anyone knows, well, it is Ohio. It's not far enough East for him to have enough people in the state to rally behind him and get him elected.
I feel for his wife.
"I'm just beginning...The pen's in my hand...Ending unplanned"
Blackwell is such a terrible candidate though, he will not win.
He minimizes the voting machines to African-American precincts, yet he also embraces his skin color by courting AA voters.
Anyone with a little sense will see through this and vote to defeat Blackwell.
I'd heard that Daily Kos purged all the voting machines people, but are they still talking about that at Democratic Underground or something?
--
"In this day and age, you're not going to get a fair shake in the media" -- Lance Armstrong
to a whole new level. Didn't he ever learn "no" or "yes" are answers?