If you've been watching the news lately, you may have noticed that many of the president-elect's cabinet nominees have been undergoing rigorous examination in Senate committee hearings. These hearings can take some time as each Senator possesses multiple questions for the candidates.
Under Article 2 Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, it reads:
The president [...] with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States.
So what kind of questions are asked? Most pertain to the position which they are asked to fill. Some questions relate to comments or actions made by the individual. Other questions reflect the president. Then there are questions about relationships with companies, people, and organizations. Lastly they are asked questions about their opinions on certain matters.
That brings me to how they answer the questions. This is part of the game known as politics; it's all about pleasing as many people as possible. So how do they succeed?
First of all, avoid giving an answer that locks you in. For example, if the question is about abortion, they will avoid saying yes or no. Instead they might say something like "I will support the prevailing law regarding abortion." The last thing you want is to appear back in front of the committee because you said you would do something when you didn't.
Secondly, avoid specific answers. This can open the door to follow-up questions. It's not a sure-fire guarantee and it depends on who is asking the questions, but by leaving your answer vague or ambiguous you revert back to the first tactic and can avoid committing yourself to a certain position.
Lastly, be honest without disclosing all of the truth or your opinion. This relates to the previous two points in that you don't want follow-up questions and to be committed to a position.
A prime example of a failure is Robert Bork. The answers that Bork gave during his nomination hearing to the Supreme Court were definitive and the Senate Judiciary Committee were not pleased. The hearing ruined Bork's career as he exposed his thoughts and stances on issues. As a result, his last name has become verbiage for opposing and ruining a person attempting to get into a public office position.
Take a minute to watch some people the hearings. Rex Tillerson and Jeff Sessions are two individuals who have received a lot of scrutiny while James Mattis and Ben Carson have had a much easier time.
