What would take precedence in your advocacy as a representative, your country, or your constituency?
What should the answer be? I think there are problems with both, “My country,” and, “My constituency.” Certainly the latter isn’t absolute; that’s how the Civil War started. (It’s also a contributing factor in how long it lasted; Robert E. Lee was given the choice between his country and his state, and he specifically chose his state.) On the other hand, it’s called “representative” government for a reason.
I was expecting “Is that really your hair?”
Why do you believe every politician should be asked this? What useful information do you think you would gain from their answer?
Plus, the simple answer from a politician is that in their view, the needs of their constituency coincide with that of the country.
Would you give them sodium pentothal first ?
This. Not a single politician is going to be dumb enough to say “I will prioritize Colorado’s interests at the expense of the USA at large.” They will certainly say that whatever they do for Colorado is good for the USA as a whole, and perhaps even genuinely believe it.
“A trolley is headed down the tracks. If it continues on the course it’s on, it will run over everyone in your district. If you switch it to the other track, it will run over everyone else in the country. What do you do?”
For some reason, CNN has not invited me to be a debate moderator.
Charles E. Wilson was head of General Motors when Eisenhower tapped him to be Secretary of Defense. At his confirmation hearing he was asked if he could make a decision that would be harmful to the interests of GM, he replied “What’s good for our country is good for General Motors, and vice versa.”
Wilson was confirmed by a vote of 77-6.
What’s good for M&M Enterprises is good for the army.
“We don’t have trolleys in my district. Next question please.”
I may have a jaundiced view of politicians. 
I assume the ly+ng b+st+rds all think their priority is:
- them
- them
- my party
- my constituency
- my country
I think it’s adorable that the OP believes that a politician will give a straight answer to a specific question.
mmm
I think the answer should be “my conscience.” Assuming they have a conscience.
How about “Do you think a politician’s job is to advocate for what’s best for her constituents, or to advocate for what they want? If opinion polls conflict with the politician’s personal assessments, which should prevail?”
My thoughts exactly. Well not exactly, I would have used a different word than ‘adorable’.
Nah, for a lot of them, it’s their religion that’s first.