A good example of how sometimes things people say, even here, can get through...

[Berkut]

So, I was up at SUNY-Potsdam last weekend, where my daughter goes to school.

We were driving around with my ex and my daughter, and there was a pro-choice protest going on at one of the local churches. 

A bunch of mostly college students and a smattering of middle aged and older people. Maybe 50 or so total.

So they were holding up a variety of signs, all homemade. Pretty standard stuff. "My body, my choice" "Keep your government away from my uterus" "GOP == Misogyny", etc., etc. And of course we were all supportive.

One of the signbearers had a sign that said "ITS NOT ABOUT BABIES!!!!" and I said to my wife and daughter something like "Uggh, that is terrible messaging! If it isn't about babies, don't bring up babies! It is just going to make anyone who thinks it is about babies, think of babies when they see your sign!"

So we chatted a bit about that. And after we went back and forth, my ex-wife says "Well, regardless of their message, they are actually out there doing *something* which is more then WE can say..."

And it immediately made me think of Oex, and I thought (and said) "You know what, you are absolutely right." 

[Barrister]

So two sayings come to mind.

First of all is "don't let perfect be the enemy of the good".  One shouldn't let worrying about being perfect from doing something positive.

Second though is an old "Yes, Minister" bit - "Government should do something, this is something, therefore government must do this".

I would agree with you that "It's not about babies" is bad messaging, and "my body, my choice" or versions thereof is much much stronger.  Just because you're doing "something" with the right motives doesn't mean you're actually helping the cause.

[CountDeMoney]

One of the signbearers had a sign that said "ITS NOT ABOUT BABIES!!!!" and I said to my wife and daughter something like "Uggh, that is terrible messaging! If it isn't about babies, don't bring up babies! It is just going to make anyone who thinks it is about babies, think of babies when they see your sign!"

Then obviously the message isn't aimed at you.