Strategizing PR for Harvey Weinstein? You're Part of the Problem.

Sexual harassment. Unequal pay. Bullying. Too many men, intelligent by other standards, just don't get it. Here's why. They're unable or unwilling to put themselves in another person's shoes.

After the horrible truth of Harvey Weinstein's not-so-secret life was revealed, two male PR professionals contacted me to get my opinion on blogs they wanted to post about how they'd handle Weinstein's response in the press.

It was just theoretical, they said. Of course, they all professed to be outraged by Weinstein's behavior, but then they proceeded to map out a "clever" plan for his defense. In fact, they showed their potential blog post to several different people (all men!) and they agreed the blogs were "very well written."

Here's a clue to the minority of too many men who just don't begin to get it. There is no PR defense of Harvey Weinstein. If you can't put yourselves in women's shoes, try this on for size.

Imagine if someone spewed bigotry and hatred against blacks, Jews, Muslims, Christians, or people with disabilities, etc. (Unfortunately, it's not so hard to imagine in today's political climate.)

Could you craft a PR campaign that defended any of those venomous practices?

You could? Well then, you're part of the problem.

Jack