How do you get the nation to listen?
Seven AIDS activists — four men and three women — tried a new tactic when they went to the office of House Speaker John Boehner on Tuesday and took off their clothes. According to news reports, they chanted, "Budget cuts are really rude. That's why we have to be so lewd."
They also had "AIDS Cuts Kill" painted on their bodies.
But in what might be construed as sexism, Capitol Police arrested the three women. Maybe the speaker will want to look into Capitol Police policy pertaining to naked protesters. This is a delicate matter for Republicans and the alleged gender gap.
Boehner was not in his office. His staff rushed into offices and closed the doors.
Therein rests an interesting juxtaposition. One would have thought that their instinct would have been to shield the naked activists from public sight; apparently it was to shield themselves from sights new to no one, but not seen in the halls of Congress. The activists obviously had decided that in the lobbying game, there is more than one way to skin a cat.
If Boehner had been present, what would he have done? My suggested course of action would have been for him to invite these folks into his office, offer them a warm drink and hear them out. He could have said, "It's awfully cold in here. You may want to put on your coats."
If lobbying au naturel is here to stay, one wonders whether Boehner will suggest talking-points for his caucus when they are caught by lobbyists who prefer to let it all hang out. Maybe he will suggest that his colleagues avoid such pleasantries as, "It's good to see you."
He may advise against the political habit of hugging lobbyists in the belief that they are good for campaign cash. That sort of thing can be misunderstood when it goes viral on YouTube.
Also, the speaker may advise his caucus to refrain from remarks about Dress-down Friday. What, one wonders, will be the bipartisan response when a grass-roots organization floods in the hundreds and disrobes on cue in favor of saving the whales, or legalizing pot?
What will House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., do when confronted with 500 stark-naked people?
It could drive them to the unthinkable: bipartisan agreement to say that nothing happened and the media are to blame.
King is executive producer and host of "White House Chronicle" on PBS. His email address is lking@kingpublishing.com.