Hynes 57: Consultant Candid with Patrick Hynes

Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Originally published by the “National Journal’s Hotline” (subscription may be required)

Patrick Hynes is the president of Hynes Communications, a national social media communications agency with offices in DC and Portsmouth, NH. Hynes served as the online outreach consultant for Sen. John McCain’s WH ‘08 camp. Hynes is also the author of the book In Defense of the Religious Right. But today, he is our Consultant Candid.

What was your first job?

The Weirs Beach Water Slide in Laconia, NH, baby.

What is your proudest moment professionally?

Helping Sen. John McCain win the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

If you could be in any other line of work, what would it be?

Well, I would be a stay-at-home dad with my three kids.

Of what political campaign (past, present or future) would you most like to be a part?

I would love to have run online strategy and communications for Ronald Reagan’s 1980 presidential campaign (if such a thing had existed.)

What individual who does your kind of work for the other party do you respect the most, and why?

Peter Daou, who was Sec. Hillary Clinton’s Internet Director. Daou is a straight shooter and an extremely bright guy.

Negative campaigning—good or bad?

A good thing.

What is your favorite restaurant to meet clients?

Rasika on 6th Street in Penn Quarter

What is the first section of the newspaper you read?

Wall Street Journal editorial page.

A question from the previous participant: If you could be any vegetable in the White House garden, what would it be and who would you like to pick you?

A red pepper picked by President Obama himself, I suppose.

Please pose a question for the next interviewee.

Who would win a fantasy presidential match-up between Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama?