Make a woman laugh, Marilyn Monroe supposedly said, and you can make her do anything.
Judging from the women who fell for him, Woody Allen learned this early. Alas, he is the least likely role model for Republican males, who seem to have misinterpreted the meaning of the aphorism.
To clarify: The idea is to make a girl laugh by engaging your wit, not to make her laugh at you. As Republican leaders recently began tutoring their male candidates on “How to Talk to a Lady” (my title), it was tempting to imagine what wisdom was being imparted. A few ideas:
• “Whatever you do, do not mention the V-word.”
• “Steer clear of ‘legitimate rape.’ All rape is illegitimate. Whatever.”
• “No matter what, avoid voicing thoughts such as, ‘This gal is probably not a candidate for Lululemon yoga pants.'”