Why do politicians avoid telling us straight answers?

[MATTHEW B]

They always have to elaborate round the truth.

[Voda]

Answers are over-rated. Wouldn't you rather hear what i want to tell you?

[GreenPagan 4.0]

I feel that Obama has been the most straight-forward candidate we've ever seen...

When Karl Rove sanctimoniously says that "both candidates are playing dirty" you have to keep in mind that Rove is running McCain's "double talk express".

[The mechanic]

A politician that tells the truth , It must be nice to be able to dream nice things.

[Mysterio]

They're politicians. If they didn't do that, they wouldn't be politicians and nobody would elect them.

[El Tecolote]

Because straight answers would seriously weaken their ability to win campaigns.

[Leanne]

A straight answer immediately separates the the voting block into the proponents and the opponents - an ambiguous answer and your supporters hear what they want to hear and the opponents aren't completely turned off because you really haven't taken a firm stand that they disagree with.

[Smoove B]

Politicians want to appeal to the greatest number of people and offend the least number of people all at once. That's why they won't give straight answers. Bush announced early on that he wouldn't "govern by polls", instead doing what he felt to be right. Look what that got him.

[jafman2000]

They would not get elected if they talked the truth.