Could it be I’m falling in love with Debbie Birx – and who could blame me? The 63-year-old doctor proves the women of my generation have come a long way, baby! Be honest: isn’t she the star of the daily White House briefings? A little woman’s intuition goes a long way after a Donald Trump filibuster. In fact, Dr. Birx is a perfect role model for my new granddaughter – rather than nutty Madonna or Michigan’s angry governor.
In the daily White House briefings, Dr. Birx stands out amongst the army of dark suits in her signature scarves and shirt dresses. Feminine elegance is a good thing, because a women should not have to wear a pant suit (Hillary) or shop at Brooks Brothers to be a man’s equal. Moreover, she is poised in a pressure-packed job, standing quietly and attentively behind Trump until she steps to the podium with confidence and purpose.
Of all the speakers, Debbie Birx is the key note. She doesn’t suck up to the president and, on occasion, doesn’t even acknowledge Trump. I doubt it’s politics. Rather, she is a doctor who knows her sh*t and refuses to waste time back-slapping. This is true, and Mr. Trump obviously likes and respects Birx, in spite of her being appointed by Obama. It is no surprise to those who know her.
In 2003, she prepared a 180-slide presentation, flew back to Washington from Kenya, waited outside AIDS Policy Director O’Neill’s townhouse to get a meeting, and convinced President Bush to employ the US Army as part of the relief.
This time, she flew home from South Africa to head the COVID-19 response team. If she sounds like a superhero, it’s because she is good at every aspect of her job – even reprimanding the media for reports of do-not-resuscitate plans: “there is no situation in the US right now that warrants that kind of discussion.”
It would be an understatement to suggest Mr. Trump needs her woman’s intuition to calm a panicky nation. Because – – America needs Dr. Birx, of whom the Washington Post wrote, “Birx makes one feel like she’d be the one willing to put a cold compress to a fevered brow while everyone else was backing out of the room.” Perhaps it is being the mother of two, or maybe because she was an army doctor – – whatever! The point here is she’s the right woman to lead the battle against COVID-19.
If baby-boomer men knew in 1978 what we know now, Deborah Birx, the immunology clinician at the Department of Defense, would have been the poster girl instead of Farrah Fawcett. That’s right, because she put herself through medical school after the AIDS/HIV outbreak to be a doctor on the front lines, and she’s protecting our lives today. Celebrate that, mister, and your values are truly intact.
Like most men, I dig a French bikini on a spring-break doll, but not today. I’d much rather hear the calm voice of Deborah Birx. And if we’re going to put American women on a pedestal, shouldn’t it be for the qualities of calm leadership, gently speaking one’s mind, and emotional intelligence. Maybe today is a good time to share this post with wives, daughters and sisters. Let them know you see the same Debbie Birx they see – and you dig it.