# This cycle what are 'gotcha questions' asked of Democrats?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [August 18, 2015, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141 "2015-08-18T03:26:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/21 "2015-08-18T16:17:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> It’ll point out a divide in the left wing base. A lot of [liberals](http://www.ldfp.eu/) support Palestine. But there are also a lot of [liberals](http://www.liberalsforisrael.org/) who support Israel. Any position Sanders takes on this subject is going to offend some of his supporters.
You can “support Israel” and still favor a Palestinian state. In fact, some of us believe that is the best way to support Israel. But yes, some voters won’t like any answer to that question. I assume that’s true of Republican voters too.
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### Author:  [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/22 "2015-08-18T16:27:07Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> I think the word “cycle” is a micro-aggression against Hillary Clinton.
Probably not for the past ten years or so 🙂
Thanks for my laugh of the day, BTW.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/23 "2015-08-18T16:55:01Z")
> [@Procrustus](#):
>
> You can “support Israel” and still favor a Palestinian state. In fact, some of us believe that is the best way to support Israel. But yes, some voters won’t like any answer to that question. I assume that’s true of Republican voters too.
Don’t underestimate the number of people, even in Israel, who think that supporting Israel requires _opposing_ Netanyahu, too. It isn’t a partisan divide, either.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/24 "2015-08-18T16:57:50Z")
So far in this election answering these questions honestly without waffling is working pretty well.
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### Author:  [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/25 "2015-08-18T18:24:55Z")
THe Palestine issue is complicated to resolve, but the path to peace is not complicated at all: two states, living side by side, in peace.
Where a candidate can get into trouble is in choosing sides. The US has historically been more on Israel’s side, and the public is more on Israel’s side. So you have to subtly appear to be more pro-Israel in rhetoric without going too overboard. Which is an issue tailor made for a professional politician who can give a scripted answer, and why sometimes those types of questions can be unfair to honest, less polished candidates.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/26 "2015-08-18T18:43:45Z")
> [@adaher](#):
>
> those types of questions can be unfair to honest, less polished candidates.
That’s an indirect way of saying _unprepared_. And it isn’t unfair all, just revealing.
If you’re going to a job interview, you \*have \*to have answers ready for all the standard questions. That’s especially true if the job is the Presidency.
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### Author:  [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/27 "2015-08-18T18:55:15Z")
Yeah, but should the answers be scripted in such a way as to avoid taking a firm position? Is the ability to avoid taking a firm position a useful quality as President?
If all questions are answered honestly on every issue, a good portion of your base will be strongly disagreeing with you on a number of issues. Being a bullshitter “prepares” you to run for President, but says nothing about your ability to actually be President. And the media and voters should not be rewarding polished candidates for not saying anything of interest.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/28 "2015-08-18T19:00:44Z")
> [@adaher](#):
>
> Is the ability to avoid taking a firm position a useful quality as President?
It’s startling that you even ask. _Of course_ it is.
> [@](#):
>
> Being a bullshitter “prepares” you to run for President, but says nothing about your ability to actually be President.
Bullshitting is a basic requirement of the job.
> [@](#):
>
> And the media and voters should not be rewarding polished candidates for not saying anything of interest.
Are they there to _entertain_ you?
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### Author:  [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/29 "2015-08-18T19:04:38Z")
They are there to answer questions about what their policies will be as President. Not lie about them.
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### Author:  [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/30 "2015-08-18T19:07:19Z")
> [@adaher](#):
>
> They are there to answer questions about what their policies will be as President. Not lie about them.
Maybe from the point of view of the journalist, but from the point of view of the candidate, they are there to _maximize their chance of winning the election_. A candidate’s job is to win the election. A President’s job is to be President. That might suck, but that’s the way it is.
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### Author:  [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/31 "2015-08-18T19:16:21Z")
Which is why the media should reward candidates who give straight answers and punish candidates who don’t. They have the ability and their interests are served by punishing the candidates who won’t give them what they want.
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### Author:  [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/32 "2015-08-18T19:19:10Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#):
>
> How is that a gotcha? He does. Again, so?
You have a cite for Sanders supporting **expansion** of migrant visa programs? That seems to be counter to what I’ve seen.
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### Author:  [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/33 "2015-08-18T19:21:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Bernie Sanders says that US citizens already struggling to get jobs would find it even more difficult to find work and that wage growth would be further suppressed by immigration reform that allowed an increase in the amount of foreign workers entering the country via US visas.
> **[Immigration Reform Suppresses Wages, Says Sanders - US Immigration News](https://www.us-immigration.com/us-immigration-news/us-immigration/immigration-reform-suppresses-wages-says-sanders/)**
>
> Bernie Sanders says that US citizens already struggling to get jobs would find it even more difficult to find work and that wage growth would be further
This is a good example though, because Sanders is clear on what he’s in favor of and what he isn’t as far as immigration. Which means he’s at a disadvantage vs. candidates who take positions that are uniformly pro or anti-immigration down the line. His position is based on what he thinks is best for America, rather than catering to specific voting constituencies. Which means that Sanders would make a better President in this regard, but a worse candidate, because practically no voters who care about immigration are going to like his views.
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### Author:  [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/34 "2015-08-18T19:21:45Z")
[My error.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Bernie_Sanders#Immigration) At least he isn’t into forced deportation.
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### Author:  [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/35 "2015-08-18T19:27:09Z")
Yes he is. All candidates are. If you stop forced deportations, that’s known as open borders, which Sanders is vehemently against.
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### Author:  [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/36 "2015-08-18T19:46:58Z")
> [@adaher](#):
>
> Which is why the media should reward candidates who give straight answers and punish candidates who don’t. They have the ability and their interests are served by punishing the candidates who won’t give them what they want.
The media’s job is to make money for their parent company, for the most part. Betting on that the media will do what the media should do is generally unwise.
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### Author:  [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/37 "2015-08-18T23:12:56Z")
“What is your proposal for reducing the national debt? Let’s limit your response to just Medicare, military spending, and Social Security, since those are among the largest expenditures. Specifics, please.”
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/38 "2015-08-18T23:53:41Z")
> [@Procrustus](#):
>
> You can “support Israel” and still favor a Palestinian state. In fact, some of us believe that is the best way to support Israel. But yes, some voters won’t like any answer to that question. I assume that’s true of Republican voters too.
I think it wouldn’t be a major problem for a Republican candidate. From what I can see, it’s the left that’s split on this issue. The right is pretty firmly pro-Israel.
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 18, 2015, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/39 "2015-08-18T23:56:15Z")
> [@adaher](#):
>
> Which is why the media should reward candidates who give straight answers and punish candidates who don’t. They have the ability and their interests are served by punishing the candidates who won’t give them what they want.
It’s not the media’s job to decide which candidates deserve punishments or rewards. The media’s job is to report what the candidates are saying and then let the voters decide who deserves to get elected.
If politicians waffle, it’s because we vote for wafflers.
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [August 19, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-cycle-what-are-gotcha-questions-asked-of-democrats/728141/40 "2015-08-19T00:29:15Z")
> [@adaher](#):
>
> Democrats don’t raise taxes anymore except on the smallest sliver of the richest taxpayers. If that is changing, then they’ll tell us when they answer those questions.
>
> “How do you intend to pay for this massive infrastructure program?”
>
> “I’ll raise taxes 2 percentage points across the board.”
>
> Okay, that would be an adult answer.
Because only an “adult” can understand the awesome benefits of a flat tax? Because it takes an “adult” to understand that a 2% tax hike on the income of a low-income worker who needs _ **all of it** _ to pay for the essentials of life is _ **morally and functionally exactly the same** _ as a 2% hike on a billionaire’s income who would otherwise use it to buy sun hats for his race horses? :rolleyes:
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