Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Joe Rospars vs. Michael Palmer

Dude -- the election is over. You lost. Get over it.

I watched Michael Palmer, McCain's eCampaign director and Joe Rospars, Obama's Director of New Media, in a panel discussion of how they "Did It" (Thank God it wasn't James Carville and Mary Matalin, as a how we "did it" discussion may have a whole other meaning).

It should have been on Celebrity Death Match.

Palmer decided to turn the session into a grudge fest.

He didn't have a "celebrity" candidate. He didn't have enough resources. And the media was out to get them.

Rospars got a few digs in too, but it was Palmer who came across as whiney, petulant and unprofessional. I've been in DC for well over 20 years and this is the first time in going to sessions like these I've seen a campaign pro loose his professional detachment post election (see Carville-Matalin). This is either a sign of the time (last shriek of the right as we've known it) or an indication of Palmer's professionalism.

Behavior aside, here's a key take away point.

Palmer made a strong point that new media is just a tool in a tool box (and he did have a great line about Twitter being a bent screw rattling around in the bottom of the tool box). Point taken.

But Rospars pointed out how the Obama campaign made their online activities strategic, by building and reinforcing their message of empowering voters to come together and share their efforts to bring change...to not follow Obama but to work together. To show fundamental respect for voters and their role in the process.

To me, it was that strategic use of new media that puts the Obama campaign ahead...leaving the Michael Palmers nipping at their heels.

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