Politicians in the media

Very interesting little bit on 'yes' or 'no' answers, or not.
Drives me mad some times, but this is a good explaination of it

"None of us answer all questions truthfully.

We exaggerate, skirt round difficult issues, fail to tell the whole story. We all on occasion are deceitfully charming white-liars who tell Mrs Miggins how lovely she looks when in fact she is a Gorgon.

Who has never said how nice it is to see unexpected visitors when all we wish to do is collapse in a sofa with a strong whisky?

So do not expect sainthood from politicians; they are just like the rest of us.

Remember too that politicians do not operate in isolation. Candour may win them friends in studios, but it could make them enemies in Cabinet. "

"many contemporary Labour politicians came of age politically when the media did nothing but attack their party when it was led by Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock. They learned to be cautious, disciplined, very aware that a word out of place would be blown up as a gaffe on the next day's front pages."

"Let us be frank too. Most journalists are looking for a new line in a story. So we try - through vigorous, rigorous questioning - to wheedle out a confession, a slip, a gaffe, a nugget of information. "