When was the last time you heard a plea for “shared sacrifice” in our national discourse?

FL Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

We’ve all become better acquainted in the past several months with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz as she joined Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in offering strong support to their severely wounded friend, Gabrielle Giffords. Observing their warmth and compassion for Giffords has been inspirational.

And we’ve been reminded that although Giffords has been temporarily sidelined, these three women are all outstanding leaders in the Democratic Party.

In recognition of her leadership skills, President Obama recently picked Wasserman Schultz to be the next chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Obama chose the right person. Her response to his deficit reduction speech yesterday is among the most intelligent, balanced, and thoughtful that I’ve scanned in this morning’s online coverage. I mean, how often in the last decade – in spite of our two wars - have you heard anyone use the phrase, “shared sacrifice?”

Politico’s Jennifer Epstein reports (emphases mine):

In her first interviews since getting the nod last week, the Florida congresswoman said that Obama’s Wednesday speech began to lay out an adult vision of shared sacrifices that stands in sharp contrast to the position that Republicans* have taken.

“The president envisions trying to address our budget deficit and turn the economy around and focus on job creation and not short-circuit our economic recovery,” she said on NBC’s “Today” show. In contrast, “the direction that the Republicans have proposed … is to balance all of the sacrifice on the backs of our seniors, on the backs of our frail elderly.”

Read more:

*I would add, "and many faux liberals as well."