Active Grannies

Mark Penn yesterday:

In the relentless quest to find the soccer moms of this election, perhaps the answer will be found in the “active granny” vote — empty-nesters who have found a new freedom in their lives after the kids have left and who look at the world very differently than do their kids graduating college.

Not to rehash the entire Mark Penn debate, but has he missed the point that most people whose kids have just left home aren't grandparents? Surely having grandchildren should be a necessary condition for "active granny" status. Meanwhile, I'm surprised he's not encouraging candidates to play for the sniper vote.

Comments

Maybe he's using the definition from, ahem, some of the more, *cough cough*, libertine folks out there.

From what I've seen, anyone over the age of 19 is a "MILF". Doing a little math in my head, that'd put "Granny" in her late 30's.

Posted by Jaybird | July 30, 2008 12:38 PM

I mean, from what I've overheard others say.

Posted by Jaybird | July 30, 2008 12:44 PM

On the other hand, the only people actively searching, moronically, for some micro-demographic are morons like this guy. Maybe he should just STFU.

Posted by dbt | July 30, 2008 12:50 PM

The "Active Granny" constituency in urban areas would likely have a median age of about 36. Also a little too busy raising those conferring them grandmotherhood to help a politician's ambitions.

Posted by steve duncan | July 30, 2008 1:02 PM

Who will court the Level 12 Wizard vote? Does my opinion not matter?

Posted by Catpain Haddock | July 30, 2008 1:07 PM

Somebody stop this man before he pundits again.

Posted by Deborah | July 30, 2008 1:08 PM

Let's see: the boss of Hillary Clinton's campaign wants you to think that the essential demographic in 2008 is ... older women. Which just happens to be the demographic most supportive of his client.

Stop the presses!

Posted by Amazing | July 30, 2008 1:12 PM

From the CNN political ticker back on May 20:

"Women age 50 or older is the only major demographic group where a majority, 52 percent, still support the New York senator."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/05/20/poll-obama-gaining-support-with-key-clinton-demographics/

Gosh, why would Mark Penn try to propagate the meme that women over age 50 are so important this year?

[...scratching chin and staring off into the distance with an expression of deep thought...]

Posted by Amazing | July 30, 2008 1:18 PM

Man, how do I get paid millions of dollars for saying stupid s***? Nice work if you can get it.

Posted by LFC | July 30, 2008 1:55 PM

Come on, snipers, where ARE you?

Posted by Bart Simpson watching the superbowl halftime show | July 30, 2008 2:10 PM

Come on, snipers, where ARE you?

Posted by Bart Simpson watching the superbowl halftime show | July 30, 2008 2:11 PM

My kids have left home and are in college and so I'm an empty-nester, but what's this "new freedome" of which Mr. Penn speaks?

I'm tied down by the college loans I'll be paying for years. This is my "new freedom?"

Maybe I should go into the political consulting business like Mr. Penn and send out million dollar bills for losing campaigns.

Posted by Garuda | July 30, 2008 3:27 PM

Mark Penn, Jackass.

News at 11.

Posted by jack | July 30, 2008 3:32 PM

So, what do you think you'll most likely be doing in ten years?

Uh...sitting on an overpass with a rifle, picking off people who look like assholes as they drive by. Is that a job?

I'm just going to write down "sniper."

Posted by joe from Lowell | July 30, 2008 4:20 PM