By: Taft Matney — October 7, 2015
Is it possible to make a political statement surrounding a tragic event without politicizing the event itself?
Yes, and the entire field of presidential candidates missed a big opportunity to do that this week.
I say that because as a South Carolinian, this is one that hit too close to home. Admittedly, I may not be looking at this from the most objective point of view, but it’s something that’s bugged me for a few days.
On Monday, Donald Trump’s campaign delivered a case of “Trump Ice Natural Spring Water” to Senator Marco Rubio’s DC campaign office. Along with the water, Trump’s people sent two “Make America Great Again” towels, bumper stickers and a note that read, “Since you’re always sweating, we thought you could use some water. Enjoy!”
Were they serious? Of course not. Was it a joke? Of course it was. Was is poorly timed? You bet your sweet Aunt Mary it was.
California is facing one of the most severe droughts on record. North and South Carolina “got enough rain in the past 5 days to end the California drought.”
In other words, the west coast has no water, and the east coast is drowning.
How did Senator Rubio react?
During an interview on Fox and Friends, he simply said, “It is what it is. Yeah, I drink water. So what?”
The “so what” is that while Trump makes a water joke for giggles, in one part of the country farmers can’t water their crops, and in another part of the country people don’t have water to drink. That’s what.
Nobody – Republican or Democrat – has hit this issue, and it IS an issue.
Water is the most necessary nutritive ingredient for the existence of life (plant or animal) on earth, and the lack of it is causing one region incredible hardship while the overabundance of it devastated another region.
There’s a time for jokes, but there’s also a time to buckle down and be a leader. The two dozen or so people running for president had an opportunity to stand up and show that leadership.
Senator Rubio had a chance to call out the thoughtless timing of Trump’s prank and say, “I wish he’d sent those bottles and more to South Carolina so the people in the state’s Midlands and Lowcountry have safe water to drink.” He didn’t, and neither did any of the other candidates.
Two days removed, they lost the opportunity to stand up and ding the 21st century equivalent of, “Let them eat cake.” (NOTE: Yes. I know Marie Antoinette never actually said that.)
The presidential horse race is about to begin, with the Democrats waiting on one more candidate to be loaded in to the starting gate. After the race starts, people will want to start hearing substance (I hope.). People will start wanting to see leadership (I hope.). People will be looking for which man or woman in the field can and SHOULD be the one to lead this country for the next four years (I hope.).
It is possible to make a political statement surrounding a tragic event without politicizing it, and every candidate in the field blew the chance this go around. Here’s hoping this is a learning experience for some of them and a leader will break away from the pack.
Taft Matney is the managing principal with TM Public Relations & Governmental Affairs, a South Carolina-based strategic communications, planning, and advocacy firm. This commentary is the sole opinion of Taft Matney. It does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of TMPR, its employees, or its clients.
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