I'm among those who like it when a politician does not give a straight answer to the media, because sometimes reporters are either just plain stupid or trying to set a trap. Some in the press remind me of the Pharisees who repeatedly tried to trip Jesus up. One such occasion which I really enjoy is found in Matthew 21:23-27. Jesus was asked who gave him authority and his non-answer was superb.

Jesus did the same thing that many brilliant politicians do. He answered a deceitful question with a skillful question, “The baptism of John, where was it from, heaven or men?” The Pharisees were stumped, because they did not want to give the obvious answer themselves. The source of Jesus’ authority was the same as John the Baptist’s, heaven. The implied reply to the Pharisees’ question was contained in Jesus’ question itself. Is sometimes answering a question with a question sneaky politics or pure genius? That’s what Jesus did.