Mark Mckinnon Quotes

Powerful Mark Mckinnon for Daily Growth

About Mark Mckinnon

Mark McKinnon is an eminent American political consultant, ad maker, and commentator, born on June 18, 1960, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Known for his work on both Republican and Democratic campaigns, he has played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of the United States. McKinnon's interest in politics was sparked at an early age, influenced by the turbulent political climate of the 1960s. He earned a degree in Radio-Television-Film from the University of Texas at Austin before venturing into the world of advertising and politics. His career took off in the late 1980s when he co-founded McKinney Vibe, an advertising agency known for its groundbreaking work on campaigns for companies like Southwest Airlines and Chrysler. In the political arena, his agency created memorable ads for candidates such as Texas Governor Ann Richards, former Vice President Al Gore, and the late Senator John McCain. In 2004, McKinnon joined the team of Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush, serving as a senior media strategist during the successful re-election campaign. He later worked on John McCain's 2008 presidential bid. Amidst his busy career, McKinnon has authored several books, including "Both Sides Now: A True Story of Love, Loss, and the Politics That Divide Us" (2017) and "The Secret Lives of Great Advertising Campaigns" (2003). Today, McKinnon continues to work as a political commentator, using his platform to advocate for bipartisanship and understanding in American politics. He is also the co-host of the podcast "No Agenda with Mark McKinnon and Meghan McCain." His impact on the political world, both through advertising and direct involvement in campaigns, is undeniable, making him a significant figure in contemporary American politics.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Politics is not a game of certainty; it's a game of probability."

This quote highlights that politics is not a field where absolute truth or certainties can be achieved, but rather one that operates on the basis of probabilities. It suggests that political decisions and strategies should be based on the most likely outcomes, rather than relying on definitive answers. This perspective encourages flexibility, adaptability, and the willingness to adjust approaches in response to new information or changing circumstances - all key qualities for successful political leadership.


"The role of a communicator in politics is to find the truth and tell it as powerfully and persuasively as possible."

This quote emphasizes the importance of authenticity, clarity, and impact in political communication. It suggests that a communicator in politics should aim to uncover the truth and convey it effectively to influence public opinion or decision-making processes. In other words, the ideal communicator should strive for honesty, persuasive storytelling, and a deep understanding of their audience's values and needs to successfully communicate political messages.


"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."

This quote by Mark McKinnon emphasizes that success isn't solely determined by one's physical abilities or intellectual capacity, but primarily by their determination, or willpower. People who achieve success have an unyielding resolve to pursue their goals despite obstacles, setbacks, or challenges they may face along the way. In other words, it is not the absence of strength or knowledge that holds people back from achieving success; rather, it's the failure to muster the willpower to persevere and make relentless progress toward their aspirations.


"In politics, you don't always get what you want. But you do often get what you negotiate."

This quote emphasizes the importance of negotiation in politics. It suggests that while one may not always achieve their exact desired outcome, a successful negotiation can lead to an acceptable solution or compromise. In essence, it underlines the power of dialogue and understanding in shaping political outcomes.


"Winning an argument in the political arena isn't the end goal; it's merely a means to an end: to make progress for the American people."

Mark McKinnon suggests that winning arguments in politics is not the ultimate objective, but rather a step towards achieving progress for the American people. In other words, the goal of political discourse should be advancing the common good, not simply prevailing over others. It implies a focus on productive dialogue, compromise, and finding solutions that benefit society as a whole, rather than prioritizing personal or partisan victories.


Advocacy groups and voters are not wrong to push candidates to declare their position clearly on policy issues. That is good citizenship. Hard questions should be asked of every candidate, every politician. And those public servants should be prepared to answer, but in their own words.

- Mark McKinnon

Prepared, Voters, Declare, Asked

Presidents should do whatever possible and practical to encourage an environment of cooperation and bipartisanship. And they should maintain a certain level of decorum, diplomacy and decency. But, at the end of the day, presidents get elected to enact change.

- Mark McKinnon

Level, Maintain, Practical, Bipartisanship

I'm no economist. I don't even play one on TV. I'm just a husband, a father, a taxpayer.

- Mark McKinnon

Play, TV, Even, Economist

If Democrats start consistently winning Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada, the electoral outlook for Republicans in the future is mighty bleak.

- Mark McKinnon

Winning, New, Nevada, Mexico

I've spent the better part of my career in politics and public policy working on and fighting for education reforms.

- Mark McKinnon

Education, Politics, Career, Public Policy

I think the press are good people; I think they're educated people.

- Mark McKinnon

Think, Educated, I Think, Educated People

The Newtown massacre created a tipping point on the gun debate in America.

- Mark McKinnon

Debate, Gun, Tipping, Massacre

The Hippocratic Oath says do no harm. It's the Hypocritical Oath that says do no harm to one's political future.

- Mark McKinnon

Future, Oath, Harm, Hypocritical

Ronald Reagan was long thought to be the most conservative of Republicans. And by any standard today he is the most popular Republican in modern history. Yet he raised taxes 11 times, supported a ban on assault rifles and the Brady Bill, which mandated background checks, and established amnesty for 3 million undocumented workers.

- Mark McKinnon

Standard, Assault, Reagan, Ban

Consumers can choose from hundreds of channels today, including dozens for kids. At a time of dwindling resources, we don't need to be subsidizing PBS. It's time for Big Bird the mooch to compete with 'Dora the Explorer' and 'Bob the Builder.'

- Mark McKinnon

Big, Compete, Dozens, PBS

It doesn't matter if I go on CBS, PBS or Fox. Whoever is interviewing me is going to want to create some conflict in the story, or it's not interesting. That's just the way the news is.

- Mark McKinnon

News, Some, Interviewing, PBS

Weary of wily politicians who say one thing and do another, voters and advocacy groups insist presidential contenders commit to the cause du jour in writing, but candidates are foolish to comply. Words matter.

- Mark McKinnon

Another, Voters, Commit, Advocacy

The initial attraction of a political convention was that often the outcome was not preordained. There was at least some element of surprise. But, now it's like tuning in to a movie where you already know the plot and the ending. It's just not that interesting.

- Mark McKinnon

Surprise, Some, Convention, Attraction

It's just madness. First email. Then instant message. Then MySpace. Then Facebook. Then LinkedIn. Then Twitter. It's not enough anymore to 'Just do it.' Now we have to tell everyone we are doing it, when we are doing it, where we are doing it and why we are doing it.

- Mark McKinnon

Doing, Madness, Everyone, LinkedIn

When you look at the money spent by labor unions for Democrats, it comes as no surprise the Democrats crafted a campaign-finance 'disclosure' bill with the thresholds adjusted to exempt unions.

- Mark McKinnon

Surprise, Unions, Disclosure, Adjusted

Limited government, low taxes, controlled spending and debt, and a restrained regulatory environment make Texas work.

- Mark McKinnon

Work, Regulatory, Limited, Limited Government

Public employees contribute real value for the benefit of all citizens. Public-union bosses collect real money from all taxpayers for the benefit of a few.

- Mark McKinnon

Taxpayers, Contribute, Real Value

To open up new markets and create American jobs, we need to make global bilateral free trade agreements a priority as they were under the Clinton administration.

- Mark McKinnon

New, Need, Administration, Free Trade

I think that the press has a duty and an obligation to report on local government, state government, federal government - to be aggressive, to do its job. And its job is to report on whatever it's covering.

- Mark McKinnon

Think, I Think, Covering, Aggressive

There's no question that many factors contribute to voters' perceptions about debates and who wins and who loses.

- Mark McKinnon

Question, Wins, No Question, Perceptions

Marco Rubio is interesting because he checks so many boxes when you think about what a Republican nominee needs. He brings Florida, he's young, he's Hispanic, the Tea Party likes him. But that said, he's got issues, actually surprisingly, ironically, with Mexican-American voters.

- Mark McKinnon

Young, Florida, Voters, Surprisingly

A Rick Santorum presidency would be very, very dangerous for America.

- Mark McKinnon

Presidency, Very, Would, Rick

Mention the name George W. Bush in mixed company, and you're likely to spark a lot of debate and emotion - hot and cold, good and bad. Not a lot of neutral reaction. He was elected in the most controversial contest in American electoral history and governed during one of the most tumultuous decades.

- Mark McKinnon

Bad, Electoral, Bush, Tumultuous

I think the press has an interest in communicating to its viewers or readers, and their viewers or readers drive profit for those news organizations, so I think those news organizations have a certain bias toward their own readers. Yeah, I think they are a special interest. Of course they are.

- Mark McKinnon

Think, News, I Think, Profit

The office of the president is the most powerful in the world. It is also, at times, the most powerless.

- Mark McKinnon

Most Powerful, Most, Times, Powerless

America glories in its tradition of the self-made individual. Political candidates compete to be a friend to entrepreneurs, and policymakers, imagining the next Microsoft or Google, design laws to back the innovator in the garage.

- Mark McKinnon

Next, Compete, Laws, Self-Made

Normally, when politicians talk about 'cutting the budget,' they really mean reducing the amount of increase. Actual spending goes up while the politicians claim to have 'cut the budget.'

- Mark McKinnon

Cut, Actual, Amount, Claim

Republicans constantly claim to be the party that defends the Constitution. We have no legitimate right to that claim until we get right on gay rights.

- Mark McKinnon

Constitution, Republicans, Claim

Having been heavily involved in the planning of a couple of G.O.P. conventions, my view is, we should just scrap 'em. Cancel 'em. Just figure out an appropriate forum for the nominee to give an acceptance speech and be done with it.

- Mark McKinnon

Give, Cancel, Appropriate, Forum

I'll tell you, Liz Cheney is going to be a very good candidate. I worked with her during the Bush campaigns. She's smart, she's focused, she's disciplined - and she's got a great back story. She's got a large family. She's a great mom. And she's a hard worker. I think she's going to be a very effective campaigner.

- Mark McKinnon

I Think, Very, Disciplined, Cheney

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