My blog about this on Huffington has steps the president might consider in how he responds to GOP rhetoric. They are “spring loaded to a hostile position” – a phrase a former Air Force flight engineer, Dan Wayne, shared with me. It suits the situation.
Take a look at the suggestions on the blog. They’re from Comebacks at Work. They focus on what to say and do in organizations characterized by pathological politics. If you have others to suggest, please do.
When I mention that we’re at least 75% responsible for how people respond to us, that goes for presidents too. Where’s the passion? Yesterday’s comments about opposition to fair paychecks for women should have conveyed that. We should have heard:
“This vote is a travesty. Women are still, in 2010, earning far less then men doing the same work. Today’s vote was a decision against those women and the families that depend on them. It was a selfish act, not pro business because any business paying women fairly has nothing to fear, but rather another stamp of disdain for those who work hard daily to raise their families and better their lives. We will not stand by and let this continue.”
This is a good example of what we describe in Comebacks at Work as a situation where the only good choice is a direct, wish-you’d-never-been-born comeback. For every “No” by Republicans the president needs to respond with the passion he exhibited during the campaign.
More spontaneity and a repertoire of comebacks that demonstrate exactly where he stands are what this president needs. And he needs them starting today!
The gauntlet has been thrown down. This is no time to turn the other cheek.
Comebacks at Work: Using Conversation to Master Confrontation here
