Unlike Hillary, Bernie Sanders Never Says, 'When I Become President, I Will Answer Your Questions'

[Purveyor]

One attribute shared by Ronald Reagan and Barrack Obama is the ability to communicate a message. While their messages differ politically, the speeches of both two-term presidents seem to hit the core of what voters were looking for during their respective eras. When a person is straightforward and forthright in their words, even a xenophobic and nativist New York billionaire can reach the hearts and minds of his constituency. After so long of being forced to hear vapid talking points and carefully crafted political rhetoric, Americans yearn for honesty and clarity in leadership.

This is why Hillary Clinton's style of communication is not only vague, but lends itself to criticism. A Washington Post article titled "Hilary Clinton's ridiculous hedge on Keystone XL" quotes the former Secretary of State's answer to a simple question about her stance on the pipeline:

Here's Hillary Clinton's "answer" to a question about whether she supports or opposes the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline at a townhall in New Hampshire today.

"If it's undecided when I become president, I will answer your question," Clinton said. "This is President Obama's decision. I'm not going to second-guess him."

Er, what?

Clinton went on to note that she was in a position unique among the 2016 field due to her time as secretary of state. "I'm in a different position than any other candidate," Clinton said. "I was there. I put this process together. I oversaw it for four years."

Therefore, is Clinton for or against Keystone XL? Her work as Secretary of State doesn't prevent her from answering the question, nor does her answer affect the White House. She could say that Keystone represents the worst in humanity, and the president would be fine with that sentiment, especially since he vetoed the Keystone bill earlier this year.

Also, when has a presidential candidate ever answered a question on a key topic with "If it's undecided when I become president, I will answer your question," as if the media and voters would simply accept this kind of response? A Huffington Post article titled "Hillary Clinton Cops Out On Keystone Question For Second Time In 2 Days" explains that "Environmentalists have ridiculed her rationale for staying neutral on the issue." Other publications have also inquired as to why Clinton is silent, yet she remains firm that America will have to vote her into the White House for an answer on the issue.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/h-a-goodman/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders_b_7893228.html

[NanceGreggs]

1. That's probably because ...

... Bernie knows he's never going to be president.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Hedging her responses is not a smart thing to do.

It may be politic, but it's not what we want from her.

Her indecisiveness puts people off her message, or what purports to be her message.

[MisterP]

11. neolibs can't really campaign: megawar and handing over the mail, schools, prisons, etc.

to corporate raiders so they have to disguise it--NAFTA promised a million jobs and Obama and Clinton are just campaigning on "whatever you want, I'll do, just don't quote me on that or anything" and then for the 20th election cycle in a row we just warm our hands over the trash-can fire while they pop the champagne and lecture us on how GOOD we have it and how much worse the other guy is just don't tell him I said that

[JaneyVee]

3. Wasn't it her State Dept that recommended kxl denial?

http://m.state.gov/md181473.htm

[Purveyor]

4. Which makes it even more curious as to why she is avoiding`

the question.

[JaneyVee]

5. Probably because the savages in media will...

Use any answer she gives against the president, who they hate with almost equal fervor.

[arcane1]

6. I prefer a candidate who doesn't censor their opinions out of fear of the media n/t

[JaneyVee]

7. I didn't say anything about fear.

Hillary knows the media better than anyone.

[arcane1]

10. Nope, that was all me.

[Cheese Sandwich]

8. They denied it on the basis of not enough time to evaluate.

GOP Congress had said a 60-day time limit.

After this permit was denied, Transcanada immediately reapplied an the process started again.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/04/24/the-keystone-xl-pipeline-timeline/

[AtomicKitten]

9. She'll never be president, so nevermind.