Why can't candidates ever give simple yes or no answers to yes or no questions?

[yourout]

I know it's not just Hillary but watching her on face the nation and she was asked if she would ask her supporters no not attack Bernie and she went into the standard political double speak and when pushed she said something about not supporting attack adds but never did give a real answer.

It irritates the shit out of me that most candidates are simply unable to answer yes or no.

They can't do it.

[HassleCat]

1. It's like all out nuclear war

All options remain on the table, and all available weapons can be brought to bear on the enemy. "Never say never," and al that.

[ibegurpard]

2. Because they're always looking for an out

Instead of taking a stand and taking the heat for it. Or taking the heat for changing their position. If they talk about what they BELIEVE then voters will trust them even when their specific stances may not line up with some voters...or if they have to change their position. Most politicians couldn't tell you what they believe though.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

3. Taking a stance makes you unpopular with the people who don't like that stance.

And triangulators don't want to risk alienating anyone they think they might not if they waffle and misdirect.

[yourout]

4. The problem with that is there are a big slice of the electorate like me that are more willing to...

vote for someone who is willing to take a stand even if they do not totally agree with over a wishy washy non committal vote for me cause I know best snake oil salesman.

[PatrickforO]

6. Which is why Trump is leading the clown car race, and Sanders is rising steadily in the polls.

Neither are afraid to take a stand.

[davidn3600]

5. They like to give ambiguous answers so they can weasel out of it later, if needed

If they give an answer now that is unpopular later, they need a way to be able to twist it.

If you say "yes" or "no," you can't twist that.

[Evergreen Emerald]

7. What a stupid question.

Seriously. They wanted her to go on national television, put out fliers, email her constituents and say, "please be nice to Bernie?" What a BS question.

Media has devolved into the high school lunchtime gossip table.

Why should she tell people to be nice to him? This is a campaign. Suck it up. We only need to look at nearly every post here to see Clinton--and everyone who supports her--attacked ad nausem. Double standard?

[Scootaloo]

9. It sounds like the sneering we've been hearing from Clinton supporters here for months

"Bernie won't run negative ads! So why are you saying negative things about Clinton!"

And my favorite,

"I was going to vote for Sanders, but then a Sanders supporter said something on twitter, and I hold Sanders responsible!"

[Evergreen Emerald]

11. The complete lack of self awareness is always stunning.

Right back atcha sneery.

[restorefreedom]

14. so i trust

that when progressive groups run ads highlighting hillarys cozy relationship with Wall Street, her war mongering, and her refusal to take positions on major issues that people want to know about, that you guys will just suck it up too?

[cali]

15. Not stupid at all. Seriously.

Considering how ethically challenged hilly is and considering her despicable history of having high profile surrogates lie, smear and use dog whistles.

[LWolf]

8. I think

Bernie gives straightforward answers. He's a candidate.

[cyberswede]

10. Must be the "revolting unctuousness of incessant calculation"

That a NYT Op Ed mentioned the other day.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/14/opinion/charles-m-blow-bernie-sanders-and-the-black-vote.html?smid=tw-nytopinion&smtyp=cur&_r=2

[merrily]

12. Take a carefully considered guess.

[cali]

13. that's our Hilly. Evasive, dishonest.