It drives me cuckoo when the town hall candidates often don't answer the question

[mtnsnake]

but instead they give a memorized answer to something else similar, but not to the actual question asked of them.

I'm not singling any particular one out, but so far in most of the town halls, it's annoying how often they avoid the question and just deliver a prepared speech instead. It's just as annoying when they are given a yes or no question and are so afraid to give a simple yes or no answer to it.

[LonePirate]

1. The next questioner should repeat the same question and request a specific answer.

CNN would not like that, though.

[mtnsnake]

2. Yes, or better yet, the questioner should tell them "Hey, you answered a question I didn't ask you!"

That might not go over too well with CNN either, haha.

[rpannier]

3. They're channeling Charles deGaulle

That was a common tactic he used when meeting the press
Though he was less subtle, he'd "repeat their question" with a "What I think you're really asking is..." and then change the topic to what he wanted

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Me too. And all of them do it. I start throwing things when the gish gallop starts.