Isn't "working your butt off in counterproductive ways" a spin-doctor's way of saying "scuttle?"
Woolhandler met with Hillary Clinton in 1993 and asked Hillary why she and Bill weren't using their office to promote single-payer, which they implied they'd do during their 1992 campaigning. Hillary replied, "Steffie, tell me something interesting." "Shut up," in other words.