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Mark Penn Says Obama Needs ‘Similar Event’ to Oklahoma City to Reconnect with Voters

» 36 comments

Mark Penn, Democratic strategist and former chief strategist for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, let out the kind of doozy, on last night’s Hardball, that must be seen to be believed. Comparing Obama’s current situation to the aftermath of the 1994 “Republican Revolution,” Penn noted that it took the Oklahoma City tragedy in order for President Clinton to “reconnect” with the American people.

He then stepped off the cliff by saying that President Obama needed a “similar event” to achieve that reconnection following his party’s midterm losses. (h/t Eyeblast)

Host Chris Matthews, however, barely notices, as he’s already started his next question:


It is a bit of tone-deafness to make you nostalgically reach for your Yoko Ono records, but Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey puts it in proper perspective:

Occasionally, political pundits get so wrapped up in their analysis that they don’t think through all of the implications of their commentary. That happened to Mark Penn, longtime Democratic pollster, in his appearance on Hardball last night, in the most charitable explanation possible.

Either way, here’s hoping the President gets to reconnect with the American people using a less-deadly medium. Slurpees, anyone?

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Mangan/100000213524770 David Mangan

    Just the kind of thinking that led to the Dems’ performance in the 2010 mid-terms…!

  • The Real Royal King

    Let’s listen to Penn. He was the mastermind behind the brilliant Hillary! campaign.

  • tatboy

    HOLY CRAP… and Chris didn’t even blink and eye!!! Motherf@cker!!! DUDE…What the Hell man!!!

  • NORBIT

    Is this Democratic mouthpiece advocating violence?

    Where is the mainstream media that villified the Tea Party for violence when there was none?

    Will they step up and DEMAND Penn be ostracized – like his pal Olbermann – by the media?

    Where is Nancy Pelosi and her phony tears of concern, not to mention her cartoon gavel?

  • disenlightened

    Well, maybe Barack Hussein Obama can convince some of his Muslim brothers to provide the Democrats with just the tragedy they need to “reconnect” with America. This is the way these idiots think.

  • crclarkNY

    They probably say this kind of stuff behind closed doors, but out in the open… I guess he figured he was among friends….

  • Helix

    New Job announcement: Wanted, saboteurs and agents provocateurs. Must be willing to cause mass casualties, be expert with explosives at the Weather Underground level, underwear bombers need not apply. Be willing to work for Democrats, but change your Facebook page to say you support Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, and Reps before the operation. Be prepared to be thrown under the bus as a teapartier afterwards if you survive and are caught. Favorable media coverage provided by KTVA, CBS, MSNBC, ABC, NYT, with special pre and post attack comments by M. Bloomberg.

    Apply to the DNC or tweet @MarkPenn

  • Frankly My Dear

    Mark Penn? Didn’t he help bring down the Clinton campaign back in 07′-08′?

  • The Real Royal King

    Frankly My Dear said:
    Mark Penn? Didn’t he help bring down the Clinton campaign back in 07′-08′?

    I think “help” diminishes his efforts.

  • lonestar77

    Agree, not a big deal. But, it would be a much, much bigger deal to Tommy had the political roles been reversed. I’m not sure which “ism” it would fit under but ol’ Tommy would find it. Terrorism helpyism?

  • Moderate
  • cjd ohio 1

    tasteless comment, no politics for this

  • Helix

    It’s statements like this that show how insane the top level Democrats are. He has no concern for human life or tragedy at all, except for how it might affect Obama’s and Democratic poll ratings. Statements like this one make you think conspiracy theories are true after all. It also makes you wonder if some top Dems would stoop so low as to plan such an event, to kill hundreds of Americans just to help the Obama admin politically. I certainly hope this is not the case, but in any event, Mark’s statement is psychopathically out of touch, and I hope he is fired. It reminds me of the 10-10 eco-freak commercial with the graphic deaths of schoolchildren. I could easily see Glenn Beck doing a show about this one statement by Mark.

  • Cancon2

    Chrissy was too hypnotized , he didn’t realize this maniac just called for mass murder to help the ONE.

    Could happen to anyone.

  • AntiHyperbole

    If a conservative had said that, the coast to coast convulsions and hysteria in the media would be so strong that only a seismic Richter Scale would be able to put the measurements of their response into perspective.

  • The_Reasonable_Lib

    I love the reactions conservatives give here. How does the supposed majority the victim?

  • Seeing 2012 From My Window

    RL, do you have an actual comment on the topic? I’d love your thoughts.

  • notsofast

    Ahhhhhhhhh, more libs advocating death to America.

    How quaint.

  • Padfoot

    I agree with the conservatives on this one… I do think tragic events bring a country together, I don’t think it is wise to say stuff like this on Live TV… But how many of you criticized the whole psalm 109 thing?… or the “second amendment remedies”…. calling for violence or even just suggesting it is just plain wrong.

  • Orion Antares

    I think the Cons just like those “subtle” messages more then someone just giving a literal analysis and view.

    “Obama needed a ‘similar event’”, psalm 109, “second amendment remedies”, “reload”, it’s really all the same and it’s all disgusting.

  • Helix

    How appropriate for Guy Fawkes Day(Nov. 5) ……
    see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night
    While this is usually a British holiday, perhaps we could rename it for Mark Penn.

  • WhiteGuyInNameOnly

    You just know that this is going to give the lowest common denominators (AJ) ammunition for another government conspiracy if something does happen.

  • AntiHyperbole

    The_Reasonable_Lib said:
    I love the reactions conservatives give here. How does the supposed majority the victim?

    Ask Democrats. They had super majorities in both Houses, and yet they were still somehow the victims of the evil obstructionist “Party of No!” Republicans. I guess it only makes sense from a relativist point of view.

  • Sidhekitten

    The Real Royal King said:
    Let’s listen to Penn. He was the mastermind behind the brilliant Hillary! campaign.

    You know RRK, some days I think you type things like this to get a reaction, any reaction. Counting backwards from one hundred thousand…..

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  • TCinAZ

    Wow! Who Knew that Penn is a member of some Backwoods, Crazy, Christian-Wacko, Right-Wing, Extremist, Hillibilly Militia, Before this has even Happened!? I mean Besides Bill Maher and Rachel Maddow, of course.
    Oh, and Btw, is Mark Penn related to Sean? Or would He just show up independently after the Fact to Beat The Hell out the TV News Cameramen and Photogs out of Habit? Leave Me ALONE!

  • sarainitaly

    i agree with ed morrissey. it’s the kind of stuff as, political strategists, that they analyze, live and breathe. however, better off left unsaid. but it’s also something that matthews should have questioned on the spot, and given him an opp to realize how he sounded, or correct himself, or explain.

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  • LOGICandREASON

    Making this statement in public makes one wonder what dangerous strategies these political pundits discuss behind closed doors.

    It is absolutely scary to imagine what Democrats will think of doing in order to win an election. I wonder how the mainstream media would have reacted if this statement came from someone on the right.

  • StewartIII

    Doug Powers: Inside the Cold Heart and Mind of a Political Strategist
    http://michellemalkin.com/2010/11/06/inside-the-cold-heart-and-mind-of-a-political-strategist/

  • CAconservative

    Ya, that’s all we need, another “wag the dog moment”!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Mangan/100000213524770 David Mangan

    Can you imagine how many days this statement and the aftershocks would be on the front page of the NYT had a GOP republican strategist mouthed sentiments like Mark Penn…?

    The double standard in the MSM is frightening and the American people have noticed.

  • njoy-d-ride

    If a stratigest said my administration needed a major disaster, I’d wonder who he was working for…

    I’m suprised that Penn didn’t “helpfully” outline how Clinton’s actions in the Waco standoff are what the Oklahoma city bomber said compelled him to blow up the federal building.

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  • ellyfaden

    AntiHyperbole said:
    If a conservative had said that, the coast to coast convulsions and hysteria in the media would be so strong that only a seismic Richter Scale would be able to put the measurements of their response into perspective.

    LOL. I must admit, as a liberal, you are correct!

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