Mark Penn on Obama in '07: "Flash in the Pan"

[Youphemism]

A few excerpts from an interesting article that underscores the fallacy of Hillary's "I win the big states" argument. That was precisely her downfall.

Small kids from large families learn how to eat well when there's competition at the dinner table: You go for the smaller side dishes first, and load up from those plates while the big kids are squabbling over the big entrees.

Obama did exactly that and wound up with more on his plate. Hillary won those big states because those were what she focused on, and that was a big strategy flaw on her part.


http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/04/her_first_steps_set_stage_for_fall/?page=1


WASHINGTON - At a social event last spring at the home of Mark Penn, then Hillary Clinton's chief strategist and one of the most prominent and well-compensated Democratic consultants in the business, a fellow Democrat wondered aloud if freshman Senator Barack Obama might wrest the nomination from the well-connected New York senator.

Penn, the dinner guest said, waved his hand dismissively. "Flash in the pan," Penn said, adding that the Clinton campaign saw former North Carolina senator John Edwards as her biggest challenge....

...The Democrats' proportional system of awarding delegates gives special advantages to candidates who win states by large margins - and Obama cleaned up in the smaller states that Clinton had ignored while remaining close enough in the larger ones to minimize her gains in delegates there.

[JI7]

1. from what i read, he is also the one who told her not to concede

the article i read earlier said Hillary listened to Mark Penn and her husband. the others on her staff couldn't do much if Penn disagreed because Penn would just go to Bill. and of course Bill would go to Hillary.

[Youphemism]

4. Who on Earth would be stupid enough to hire that guy now?...

...or hire the services of his company at all?

Given that you somehow discount the incredible number of:

* wrong decisions
* stupid oversights
* professionals within the campaign who disrespect his abilities

Given all that, when hiring for the services he offers your whole point is to be perceived as a winner.

He is now the world's most famous loser. You wouldn't want to be seen standing next to him, let alone hiring him.

[Raine]

2. Interesting read

THANKS for posting it. :thumbsup:

[Skidmore]

3. The hiring of Mark Penn, a Republican operative, is one

of the stupidest things, especially since his firm was also handling McCain's campaign. I don't understand why someone would hire like this. I just don't.

[Youphemism]

5. I agree. See above. /nt

[99th_Monkey]

6. Yes. Like an 8 year flash in the pan. I guess if one takes a broad enough view, he's right.

In the whole scheme of things, 8 years IS a "flash in the pan" ... but I wouldn't miss
the next 8 years for anything.

This is the time we've been waiting for, and we are the people we've been waiting for.

This is America's V for Vendetta moment in history;

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

7. More like the flash of the perfectly seasoned & cherished Cast Iron Pan.

Smacked Penn right in the forehead, too!

[kevinmc]

8. Barack Obama on Mark Penn in 08: HA HA HA n/t

[olkaz]

9. ?

Small kids from large families learn how to eat well when there's competition at the dinner table: You go for the smaller side dishes first, and load up from those plates while the big kids are squabbling over the big entrees.

Typically, a family that could afford to have several side dishes could afford to feed all of their kids. I know this metaphor, but I don't think you're using it right.

Or maybe it's too early and I'm missing something.

[Youphemism]

10. Well, you're over anal-eyesing, but yes...

In my experience, there's often one very undersized meat/poultry tray, almost always some mashed potatoes or other cheap starchy filler, and several veggies. I didn't live in one of these families, but some friends did.

They had special rules for visitors, so I only heard about the dinner scrums secondhand. But I got to see the dinners themselves. I learned to carve very sparingly from that main dish to not deprive others. It was notable to me, because it contrasted my family's meals with guests, who would have to tell my mom they were full at least three times before she would stop trying to plop more food on their plate.

We still refer to one notable episode we call "Steven and the Seven Pancakes."

[Recursion]

11. No. Trust me

You have one meat entree, generally something that can be "padded" like meatloaf or creamed beef, and a bunch of cheap starchy fillers like mashed potatoes and turnips.