Skip Navigation
David A. Graham

David A. Graham - David Graham is an associate editor at The Atlantic, where he writes and edits for the Politics Channel.

The Life of a Political Operative, Explained

By David A. Graham
Feb 15 2012, 11:48 AM ET Comment

The staffers who strategize, canvass, and coordinate for candidates get in on the latest Facebook meme.

politicaloperativememe.banner.facebook.jpg

No doubt you've encountered the occupational meme by now (if not, follow these simple instructions: log onto Facebook, then scroll through your newsfeed until you see one. It should take about 37 seconds). Now there's one for political operatives -- any delay was caused by furious internal disagreements about how to proceed, extensive polling and focus groups, and then a mishap in which an unpaid volunteer briefly misplaced all of the data. It's good for a chuckle, although it's wishful thinking to believe the public imagines political operatives and staffers to be like The West Wing. They've probably got a bleaker impression than that, and besides, the people who truly obsess over the Bartlett administration are typically either political operatives or political journalists.

Image: Facebook



Presented by

More at The Atlantic

This Photo Uses Every Single Instagram Filter How to Go From Kinkade to Rothko in 18 Easy Steps
Why Are Democrats Losing the Wisconsin Recall? Why Are Democrats Losing in Wisconsin?
Was Mitt Romney a Good Governor? Was Mitt Romney a Good Governor?
The Rock-Mining Children of Sierra Leone Have Not Found Peace 10 Years After Civil War, No Peace for Sierra Leone's Kids
Oops! Now You Can Track the Tweets Politicians Tried to Delete Now You Can Track the Tweets Politicians Tried to Delete

Join the Discussion

After you comment, click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be asked to log in or register.
blog comments powered by Disqus
View All Correspondents

The Biggest Story in Photos

Afghanistan: May 2012

Jun 1, 2012

Subscribe Now

SAVE 59%! 10 issues JUST $2.45 PER COPY

Facebook

Newsletters

Sign up to receive our free newsletters

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)

(sample)