Does Hillary have something to hide - why doesn't she directly answer questions posed to her?

Question

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071031/D8SK33080.html
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - In the City of Brotherly Love, there wasn't much for a sister.

Hillary Rodham Clinton's rivals ganged up on her during a two-hour Democratic presidential debate Tuesday night, putting the front-runner on defense on issues ranging from Iraq and Iran to Social Security and whether she would be electable in the general election.

Gone was the Clinton who laughed off their answers and joked about how she's lucky to be getting so much attention from all these men at her age. Clinton clearly had decided she must defend herself from rivals who are right on her heels in the leadoff voting state of Iowa and who pose a real threat to her winning the Democratic nomination.

Still, she continued her strategy of avoiding direct answers to questions: She wouldn't say how she would address Social Security; she declined to pledge whether she would stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, or say whether she supports giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

moon - when I cite an article I USUALLY cut & paste the pertinent parts of the article so that people don't have to click on my link if they don't want to.

Answer 1

Gone are the cackling days of old. The new internet improved Clinton must adhere to scrutiny as each and every other does. Bill could hide in closets and under skirt tails yet Mrs. C is virtually a lamb (wolf in sheep's clothing) up for the slaughter.
To quote "YOU can't handle the truth..." Jack yells at Cruise & the Demi... What once was a day of code of honor amongst thieves is quickly biting Madamn in the asp. Can no longer kill or provide suicide letters for them.

Politician's never really answer a question. Both sides of the aisle. No wonder they start as Lawyers to begin with. Yap yap. Following HRC is like Where in the World is Waldo?
Believe me I keep tract of everything. ALL over the map she is. Not a good sign.

My political nose smells fear and warrants here. As in China, HSU is going crazy in jail (attempted suicide no less?!) and so many campaign violations no one can count. See record keeping is a small problem. She has none. Poof! They all disappear. As they have for nearly 30 yrs. DO you think they could wise up and come up with a better plan? Seriously, how stupid are they anyway?

Last quote from the Clinton camp, Halloween nite. I stand behind each Governor who believes they really need to do this. How's that for an answer? re: the driver license debate

Answer 2

There is a relative easy answer, I think.
Have you ever noticed, that "Professional Politicians", seldom ever give a definite answer to many questions?
I have 'watched' and been( in the past) involved in politics, for over 50 years, and have noticed that the "TURKEYS / The Best Politicians That Money Can Buy", DO NOT give a direct answer, anytime there is a Chance to change directions, IF a higher BRIBE-ooppps, 'political contribution' comes along!!!
For Hillary to give a definitive answer to any question, would be a commitment on her part to act in a pronounced manner / way, and she 'well remembers' the "I did, before I didn't" episode.

Answer 3

she no actual experience in anything. She's junior senator of NY by riding on the coattails of her hubby's defiling the oval office.

People call her the smartest woman, I have a cousin who is a petrochemical engineer that is an intelligent woman. She has no use for Hitlery. Hillary see the world through the eyes of an absolutist. She wants to change the fundamental structure of the federal government from Republic to fascist dictatorship with her at the helm. She is as delusional as Al Gore but likely more dangerous.

I am no fan of any of the leftists in the offing as they represent the antithesis of where we truly need to head to restore the Republic.

Answer 4

It doesn't come with the territory. Candidates are told and taught not to give a direct answer so that answer doesn't come back to haunt ( happy Halloween by the way ) them later. I have always felt that if you can't answer it directly, you are playing a game, working the middle ground, leaving lots of wiggle room to change the answer and modify it later. It is true that many questions require complex answers, but with all the coaching they get, and all the information they have, they should be able to hit a direct answer in 15-20 seconds. To me, it just shows how indecisive they are, or want to be, and hope that if they give some pre-rehearsed gobble degook, the public will just say, "huh, duh, what? Oh well her hair looks nice so I will vote for her".

Answer 5

She's trying to play the middle ground and already campaigning for the general election. She doesn't want to answer any question directly because the answer could be used against her later. But Her non answers will come back to haunt her as well. She seemed indecisive, waffling, and sometimes incoherent. I think she lost a lot of face last night. Biden and Edwards seemed to be trying to act more like Republicans, which might help them improve their numbers.

Answer 6

It's easy to make promises. Anybody can do that. In reality, budgetary items must be supported by Congress along with the other legislative items listed in that article, so only an idiot or a liar would promise anything knowing the reality on those.

In so far as Iraq goes, who's to say what you are going to decide once you are President and getting those daily military and intelligence briefings. It ain't pretty, and the reality is whoever is elected is going to be all about trying to save face and cut losses where possible, and you can only hang that mess on the 43rd President's head.

What I got out of the article is that others would like to set her platform, and she's knowledgeable enough about the workings of Congress and the Presidency to know what a pragmatic platform would be, so maybe... you should find out what she is promising instead?

Answer 7

In last night's debate, we finally saw Clinton on edge. Did you see how she glared at John Edwards when he was talking about her double speak? All presidential candidates hate to give straight answers, because it might come back to bite them when they need to sway the other way on an issue. This was highlighted by Tim Russert toward Hillary several times, and once to Obama.

Kudos to the other candidates for bringing up what I feel is most worrisome about Clinton - her credibility. Her unwillingness to open up the archives about her role in her husband's presidency speaks volumes. Come on, are we supposed to believe it takes 12 years to organize an archive and release documents? Please.... And her flip-flop on the issues - notably Iraq and Iran. She seems willing to tow the republican line, and democrats need to confront her on that.

Answer 8

Well Hillary was in White House for 8 long years close to president Clinton!! She knows , which question to be answered & which deserves only smile!!!

Answer 9

She learned from reagan.

When reagan ran against President Jimmy Carter, he claimed that he had a plan to boost the economy.

President Carter told the truth, that he did not have a plan.

This is the main reason that President Carter lost to the opportunist reagan.

After the election and the votes were tallied up, it was apparent that reagan had won, one commentator asked mr. reagan what was his plan to boost the economy.

he replied "I don't have a plan."

The commentator said, "but Sir, when you were campaigning for the presidency you said you had a plan."

reagan's answer?

"Anybody running for president would have said they had a plan whether they did have one or not."

.

Answer 10

Hillary deserves some tough questions, the steam roller of her candidacy hasn't asked the tough questions, like why she voted in favor of the Iraq War and for illegal immigrant amnesty. It shows bad judgment on her part. She has accepted something 30 million in contributions from CEO's and big corporate donors in the last three months, and what kind of deals is she making to get that money?