Read other letters about this article

• Friday, April 18, 2008 10:04 AM

  Time for a new tack

  Instead of answering their insipid, puerile line of questioning, why not put the onus back on them? When faced with something like this that is based on personality-driven issues, why not ask something like, "Why should I answer this question? What does it have to do with policy? I find this line of questioning to be quite offensive, and superfluous to the job I intend to do, in the office I am running for?"

  Then calmly sit there and wait for an answer from the moderator(s). It will only be through a thorough public embarassment of these types of media figures, asking these petty questions, that it will it ever begin to cease.

  Personally I think Obama and Clinton are just the two candidates to start this process.

  Another defense to this is to anticipate these types of questions, and bring up examples of press behavior with the Republican party that has been in complete opposition to their modus operandi with the Democratic party.

  And then again, put the ball back in their court by asking, "What does this have to do with the job I intend to perform if elected?" Or "I think that if Republicans aren't expected to answer, or even to be asked in the first place, then these types of questions have no place in our public discourse."

  It isn't until someone confronts their subtle mendacity head on, that anything will likely happen to make it change.

  —Stentor Read Stentor's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel