Yahoo News has done an interesting analysis of the 444 briefings through June 18 by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney and found 13 distinct ways in which he dodges reporters' questions.

For example, he replied with "I don't have the answer" 1,905 times; "I would refer you to someone else" 1,383 times; "You already know the answer" 1,125 times and "I am not going to tell you" 939 times.

Carney, a former Washington bureau chief for Time magazine, may be an expert in evading the media's pursuit of answers. But I assume all government spokespersons do that to a greater or lesser extent. Carney and many US officials have been extremely skillful in dodging questions on the Edward Snowden case and misdirecting public attention.