Socratic Interview Technique

The best political interviews ever.

Socratic TV interviewing that reveals the truths that politicians are trying to evade by examining the premises they use to support their public policy positions. Interviews that are unique, dramatic, intense and explosive. The best of both worlds: Informative and entertaining. Watch Jan Helfeld nail the politician of your choice. Politicians go crazy as the result of rational, legitimate questions and thus, with no excuse to be upset. You have to see it to believe it.

Congressman Pete Stark screamed, "get the fuck out of my office or I’ll throw you out the window" and then offered to punch my lights out if I did not give him the tape of the interview.

During the interview, Congressman Henry Hyde went blank, panicked, and then stole and tore up the release he had signed for the interview; and Congressman Esteban Torres stole one of the tapes of the interview. All of this, simply as a result of legitimate, rational questions that seek to pursue the truth with regard to the reasoning they use to support their public policy positions. There are no personal questions, attempts to intimidate with tone of voice or manner, simply the use of the Socratic interviewing technique. Politicians also say things that are completely outrageous.

For example: Walter Tucker, a black Congressman, argued that the KKK was not racist; Senator Harry Reid insisted that income taxes are voluntary, and Congressman Pete Stark claimed that "the more we owe, the wealthier we are."

With all the arguing and bickering in the media today, would you like to see someone actually persuade another person to change their mind?

See:

  • Senator Biden say, “I stand corrected.”
  • Mike Wallace say, “I was wrong.”
  • George Will persuaded to accept a principle.
  • A black Congressman persuaded to change the rules of the Congressional Black Caucus.
  • And a Congresswoman persuaded to reveal her true feelings about legalizing marijuana.

This persuasion is possible because the aforementioned guests were willing to reason. They don’t get upset or go crazy, quite the contrary, they are clearly enjoying the interview. However, when guests are unwilling to reason, they say and do things that are so outrageous they could make the news.