GAZA, ISRAEL AND GOTCHA

Sometimes the emails from family and friends feel like a gut punch. What to say?

By Susan Wagner

I looked at my in-box with a sick feeling. The flood of emails poured in, all pronouncing that Tim Walz is anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, and cold-hearted. Some wondered how I could work so hard  for the Harris-Walz ticket, but most jumped right into accusations of betrayal.

None of it made sense. I had just been at the DNC Convention and there was not a question in my mind that both Harris and Walz are proud supporters of Israel, anything but anti-Semitic. And both are certainly warm, compassionate individuals, So what was up??

GOTCHA!

Anyone who follows the media and politics knows that Gotcha is a high-stakes game. The object is to bait millions of readers into using headlines as a weapon, a comeback meant to bring a persuasive conversation to a halt. Gotcha players might as well say: “So there, I caught you, and now nothing you can say will change anyone’s mind.”

Gotcha makes for a misguided electorate and for ENDING conversations, not starting them. Shame on the press — and all Gotcha players — for engaging in such disruptive behavior, but such is our world at the moment.

In this case, Tim Walz was at a state fair in St. Paul the day six hostages were found dead in Gaza. Conservative Republican Eli Steinberg (known for this M.O.), approached Walz and asked, in a quiet voice: “What do you think of the six dead hostages being returned to Israel?” Not hearing the question, Walz turned and moved along. It took no less than five minutes for this Gotcha moment to go viral. Right-wing media stoked outrage: "Tim Walz was asked his reaction to the six executed hostages being found in Gaza, including one American citizen. You know what he said? Nothing - he ran away." Writing on X, right-wing political commentator Rogan O'Handley said, "This man is a Grade A coward."

The brouhaha simmered down once the set-up was exposed, but it caused serious damage in a time of tense conversations about Israel, Gaza, and military spending. It is still being used as a talking point. And we all know there will be more of these Gotcha moments in spite of the fact that Harris and Walz are media savvy.  

So how, as activists, can we answer Gotcha? When canvassing, how should you respond to someone who has taken the bait? When phone or text banking, what is the best way to handle irate responses based on GOTCHA? What if a friend or relative uses a GOTCHA moment to make a point?

First, remember: we don’t have to take the bait. Before offering a factual or emotional rebuttal, we can bring our curious, thoughtful selves to the conversation to continue the dialogue (as hard as that might seem.) Here are a few tips for facing Gotcha:

1. Empathize and keep the lines of conversation open: respond to the emotion first. “That clearly struck a nerve” or “That sounds like a disappointing response from the candidate.” Follow up with an open-ended question: “What else did you hear?” or a request: “Tell me more.”

2. If the person has little else to say, they might realize on their own that there is more to the story and that they, too, could use more information. 

3. As with a cropped image that appears damning, context is everything. So try to Zoom out. Ask a question meant to change the pace and focus: “Isn’t this a decades long pain point? Did the journalist ask any questions related to Iran or Russia’s role in the conflict?” Again, position yourself as curious: “Hmm, I’d like to hear more.” Let the conversation unfold so that the person encounters flaws in their logic. 

Antonia Scatton concurs:  “Voters are hit with so much disinformation that they often open a conversation from a conservative perspective. Our goal is NOT to prove them wrong, but to engage them in a conversation about the topic from our point of view, or at the very least, plant a seed that could lead to a change of heart later on.”

Putting a stop to the spread of disinformation and misinformation is critical. But winning rhetorically in the moment may not be as important as making an agreement with the person that you will both keep an open mind, look for more information, and check the credibility of sources. And in the future, you will both take these steps before hitting SEND.

Finally, acknowledge that “There is a lot circulating from bots and paid influencers as well as from self-serving media outlets out for clicks and revenue. We all need to be vigilant. Thanks for reminding me to check my sources, too.”

Remember we have the power to neutralize the GOTCHA Moments.

Susan Wagner is a tireless grassroots advocate and organizer with Markers for Democracy.  

Martha Merson, who contributed to this article, researches science communication strategies to increase civic participation and dialogue in public settings.