Congressional witnesses are carefully coached on how to answer hostile questions. One trick is to start by thanking the Congressman or Senator for the question: it keeps a civil, cordial tone—and buys a bit of time to think of how to frame a response that focuses on the witness’ agenda, rather than the questioner’s.
But when Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America SVP Richard Smith thanked Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for her first question...