While driving to D.C. on Friday, I was listening to Morning Joe on satellite radio, when the panel was interviewing a Democratic representative about Congress’ failure to provide funds to fight Zika. It’s not what he said that raised my ire. It’s what he didn’t say and made me realize Democrats need to stop blaming Republicans for legislative gridlock. They need to blame themselves for not articulating issues in a way that clearly defines what is at stake.
Zika funding is the perfect example. While both Democrats and Republicans agree something needs to be done, Republicans have added a non-germane rider to the Zika bill to attack Planned Parenthood. When asked what he was going to do today to break the deadlock, he said, “I’m going to be talking to a lot of people about this.” He did not specify who this included.
Public policy guru Kevin Gottlieb has always said, “When politicians feel the heat, they see the light.” Gottlieb also reminds us a politician’s primary instinct is survival. But to make an issue a matter of political life or death, it must be presented in a way voters will respond emotionally as well as intellectually. This is where the Democrats fail far too often.
If I were running the Democratic National Committee, I would create and run the following political advertisement in the districts of every congressman and senator who believes Zika funding should be tied to Planned Parenthood.
[Picture of Meryl Streep and her two children in a scene from the movie Sophie’s Choice]
Voice over: Remember the movie Sophie’s Choice, when a mother in a concentration camp was forced to decide which of her children should live and which should die. No woman should ever have to make that kind of decision.
[Picture of the congressman or senator from that jurisdiction]
Voice over: This is a picture of (add your representative/senator’s name) who refuses to vote for emergency funds unless Planned Parenthood is barred from access to these dollars. For many women, Planned Parenthood is their primary health resource. In other words, Zika prevention and treatment will only be available from providers Congress approves.
[Picture of a woman being inoculated against the Zika virus]
Voiceover: Call (add representative/senator’s name) and tell him/her this is a false choice. Tell him/her you are not willing to open the door to defunding Planned Parenthood in exchange for Zika funding. Either vote for a clean bill to address this potential health crisis or come November, you will find someone who will.
If Gottlieb is right, a clean Zika bill will be on the President’s desk post haste.
Sadly, this election cycle is being viewed as a choice between one candidate who tries to keep her cool and presents reasoned policy options and the other candidate who appeals to his supporters’ emotions without much content. This too is a false dichotomy. There is a third choice I like to call “cool heat,” bringing emotional intelligence, not just emotion to the debate.
For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP