Media Training: Barack Obama and the hypothetical question

When President Obama held its second conference of its prime time news target was to plan and sense of hope that things have started looking better off. "What I'm confident," he said, "is that we go in the direction correct. "

I leave it to political scientists and pollsters to discuss the way he did in creating that positive reactions sought. I will focus my attention on how he managed the inevitable hypothetical question that journalists love to do. It was from the ABC White House correspondent Jack Tapper.

After noting that planners Democratic Congressional Budget are not even taking into account two priorities of the President, Tapper asked "Would you sign a budget that does not contain a tax cut for the middle class does not include cap and trade?

It was not President Obama's response: "Good. I have stressed repeatedly that I hope that with this budget. I hope that there will be serious efforts to reform health care and we're reducing costs for families and businesses and, ultimately, for federal and state governments will break if we continue down the current path.

"I said we need a serious energy policy that frees us from dependence on foreign oil and energy cost is definitely the type of clean energy. We must invest in K-12 education and beyond to improve the skills of U.S. workers so that we can compete in the international economy. And I said we have to start driving our deficit figures.

"Now, she never expected when you print our budget would simply be that Xerox and vote. We assume that must pass through the legislative process "

Very good! But it is Jake Tapper? Obviously, this was not a response to Obama. If he says yes, he had to sign a bill without tax cuts for the middle class and the CAP and trade provisions, the two proposals are not starting. If he said no, that was the equivalent rhetorical throw down the gauntlet.

So what is a president do? Everything he has done.

When new presidential conferences, journalists in general, ask a question and follow up, Tapper asked, "Will you sign" question again. And, again, the president expressed his "confidence we will be able to get a budget that reflects what is needed to ensure that the U.S. is growing. "

To the right is a hypothetical question and refused to answer. You should not either.

In situations where the facts are yet to be determined, journalists sometimes tempting to hypothetical questions. That is his work, as if their work is not to speculate.

When an interviewer asks such questions, we can say: "I will not answer a hypothetical, but what I can say … "and the bridge to the end of the day, something I want to talk. Or you can use the approach of the President and talk about it.

Reporters love, but hypothetical questions, such as hand grenades should be handled carefully, or avoid. About the Author

David Snell is the principal of Snell Communications and the author of the e-books: Big Speeches to Small Audiences and Mike Fright: How to Succeed in Media Interviews When a Mike Wallace Wannabe Comes Calling. His e-books (available at www.snellcom.com) are based on his rich mix of experience including thirteen years as a correspondent for ABC News, three years as Public Relations Director of a large urban university and more than twenty years as a Communications Consulting helping Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and law firms improve there communications in presentations and media interviews. Snell gives tips on how to succeed in media interviews in his video series – Media Minutes – seen on Youtube and other video sites.

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