[gauthr]

The best advice for dealing with the possibility of being "ambushed", or otherwise being made to answer awkward questions, comes from the British television series "Yes, Prime Minister".

(Prime Minister Hacker speaking to Bernard Woolley, his hapless Principal Private Secretary who has made unwise remarks to the press after being ambushed):

"If you have nothing to say, say nothing. But better, have something to say and say it, no matter what they ask. Pay no attention to the question, make your own statement. If they ask you the same question again, you just say, 'That's not the question' or 'I think the more important question is this:' Then you make another statement of your own."

[TrevorJ]

You will see this from a lot of politicians...drives me batty, but I see why they do it.