by Anita K. Blair and Charmaine Yoest

About the authors: Anita K. Blair is deputy assistant secretary of the navy in Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Charmaine Yoest is a Bradley Fellow at the University of Virginia, department of politics, where she conducts in-depth research into social and family policy issues and teaches a course entitled Politics and the Family.

Remember the Super Bowl Sneak of 1993? Even if you’re not a sports fan— stay with us: it wasn’t a football play; it was a brilliant public relations campaign. Seven years later, with this year’s football festivities just behind us, we would do well to recall how effective a sneaky end-run around the truth can be.

Want to get legislation passed? You need to galvanize public opinion. If...