The worst media disaster in February

The senator’s entire performance was a bit of a mess. He dabbed sweat from his forehead numerous times, repeatedly licked and wiped his dehydrated lips, and even muffled a few words because his tongue was stuck in place.

But it was his awkward lunge for a small bottle of water that turned his performance into fodder for late-night comedy.

That Sen. Rubio received so much mockery for needing a drink of water is, well, unfair. But the media’s commentary about the “sip slip” was also predictable. When Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal—like Rubio, also a potential 2016 presidential contender—gave the rebuttal to the State of the Union in 2009, he was compared unfavorably to “Kenneth the Page” from NBC sitcom “30 Rock” because of the odd optics that diminished his appearance.

The big problem is that those moments distracted from the messages that both politicians were hoping to convey.

I’m not interested in piling on Rubio, but I am interested in offering a couple of tips to prevent a “dry mouth moment,” should you ever find yourself in a similar situation.